Current knowledge of lipids in human milk and recent innovations in infant formulas

•Recent knowledge of lipid classes, fatty acid profiling and digestion mechanism in human milk are updated.•Progress in spectroscopic imaging and lipidomics analysis advances knowledge development of HM lipids.•New spectroscopic techniques help to deciphering of human fat globule membrane structure.•Current innovations in infant formulas preparation are highlighted.

Human milk (HM) is recognized as the exclusive natural source that provides infants with the essential nutrients for development and growth. Lipids in HM are present as a unique colloidal structure of milk fat globules enveloped by a biological membrane. Benefiting from the advances in spectroscopic imaging and lipidomics analysis technology, the knowledge about HM lipids regarding lipid class profile and distribution, and their digestion mechanism have been greatly updated; the nano/microstructures of human fat globule membrane and heterogeneous distribution of HM lipids are deciphered. Accordingly, innovative infant formulas, to larger extent mimicking HM to promote the cognitive development and maturation of the digestive system of infants, have been developed, including the supplementation with milk fat globule membranes.