Evaluation of fatty acid composition in commercial infant formulas on the Chinese market: A comparative study based on fat source and stage

The fatty acid compositions of 180 commercial infant, follow-on and growing-up formulas with different fat sources (plant-oil, cows' milk, goats' milk) on the Chinese market were analysed and compared with mature human milk. Fatty acid composition in formulas was dependent on fat source. The plant-oil formulas were more similar to mature human milk, while the cows' milk and goats' milk formulas contained higher levels of saturated (C4:0–C10:0) and lower levels of oleic acid and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids than those of mature human milk. There was little difference among formulas for the three stages except for the goats' milk formulas. The major fatty acids of formulas were similar to those of mature human milk, while levels of some micro-fatty acids in formulas, such as nervonic acid and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, were significantly lower than in mature human milk.