Formules infantiles et lait maternel : leur digestion est-elle identique ?

Beside differences in composition, infant formula and human milk exhibit structural differences. Native milk fat globule is a 4-5 μm particle composed by a core of triglycerides surrounded by a tri-layer of phospholipids. Fat in infant formula appears as small droplets stabilized by milk proteins. Similarly, type of proteins and casein micelle size differ between these two foods. Two infant formulas and human milk were submitted to a simulated in vitro dynamic digestion mimicking the gastro-intestinal tract of a 1-month old baby. Digested samples were collected and characterized at different scales. Structure of the native human milk fat globule persisted in the stomach during the first 2 h of digestion. Kinetics of proteolysis and lipolysis presented some differences with casein being digested more rapidly in the formula than in the human milk. It now needs to determine whether these differences have some physiological consequences on the neonate.