Vers des formules infantiles biomimétiques de la structure du lait maternel et de son comportement digestif ?

Until recently, infant formula chemical composition had been optimized but not their structure still mainly based on submicronic neoformed lipid droplets (0.5 μm) and thus, differing from milk fat globules (4 μm). And yet, more and more proofs of evidence have shown that lipid structure in human milk modulates digestion kinetics and is involved in metabolic programming. This difference of structure persists along gastric phase, which is mainly dominated by acid and enzyme-induced aggregation. Lipid droplets size is thus the key parameter to control gastric lipolysis and emptying, intestinal lipolysis and influence proteolysis through protein adsorption. In animal models, these differences of lipid structure would also impact digestive and immune systems' maturation, microbiota and be involved in the early programming of adipose tissues and metabolism. The supplementation of infant formulas with bovine milk fractions (milk fat globule membrane extracts, triacylglycerol) along with new fields of innovation in neonatal nutrition, are here reviewed.