AUTHOR=Christensen Chloe , Kok Car Reen , Harris Cheryl L. , Moore Nancy , Wampler Jennifer L. , Zhuang Weihong , Wu Steven S. , Hutkins Robert , Izard Jacques , Auchtung Jennifer M. 

TITLE=Microbiota, metabolic profiles and immune biomarkers in infants receiving formula with added bovine milk fat globule membrane: a randomized, controlled trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1465174

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1465174

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Few studies have evaluated the effects of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) on microbiota and immune markers in early infant nutrition.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In this double-blind randomized study, infants (7–18 days of age) received either bovine milk-based infant formula (Control) or similar formula with an added source (5 g/L) of bovine MFGM (INV-MFGM) for 60 days. A reference group received mother’s own human milk over the same period (HM). Oral and stool samples were collected (Baseline and Day 60) to evaluate microbiota, immune markers, and metabolites.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>At Day 60, stool bacterial diversity and richness were higher in formula groups vs HM, as were <italic>Bifidobacterium bifidum</italic> and <italic>B. catenulatum</italic> abundance. Compared to HM, stool pH was higher in Control, while acetate, propionate, isovalerate, and total short- and branched-chain fatty acids were higher in INV-MFGM. Butyrate and lactate increased for INV-MFGM from baseline to Day 60. No group differences in oral microbiota or immune markers (α- and β-defensin, calprotectin, or sIgA) were detected, although sIgA increased over time in all study groups. Added bovine MFGM in infant formula modulated stool microbiota and short- and branched-chain fatty acids compared to human milk; changes were modest relative to control formula.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Overall, distinct patterns of stool metabolites and microbiota development were observed based on early nutrition.</p></sec><sec><title>Clinical trial registration</title><p><uri xlink:href="https://clinicaltrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ClinicalTrials.gov</uri>, identifier NCT04059666.</p></sec>