title: Effect of high β-palmitate content in infant formula on the intestinal microbiota of term infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Palmitic acid (PA) constitutes 17% to 25% of the human milk fatty acids, and ~70% is esterified in the sn-2 position of triglycerides (β-palmitate). In the sn-2 position, PA is not hydrolyzed and thus is efficiently absorbed. The PA in palm oils, commonly used in infant formulas, is esterified in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions. In these positions, PA is hydrolyzed and forms poorly absorbed calcium complexes. The present study assessed whether high β-palmitate in infant formulas affects the intestinal flora.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six term infants were enrolled: 14 breast-fed (BF group) and 22 formula-fed infants who were randomly assigned to receive formula containing high β-palmitate (HBP group, n=14), or low β-palmitate (LBP group, n=8), where 44% and 14% of the PA was β-palmitate, respectively. The total amount of PA in the formulas was 19% and 22% in the LBP and HBP groups, respectively. Neither formula contained pre- or probiotics. Stool samples were collected at enrollment and at 6 weeks for the quantification of bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 weeks, the HBP and BF groups had higher Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria counts than the LBP group (P<0.01). The Lactobacillus counts at 6 weeks were not significantly different between the HBP and BF groups. Lactobacillus counts were 1.2×10¹⁰, 1.2×10¹¹, and 5.6×10¹⁰ CFU/g for LBP, HBP, and BF groups, respectively. Bifidobacteria counts were 5.1×10⁹, 1.2×10¹¹, and 3.9×10¹⁰ CFU/g for LBP, HBP, and BF groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBP formula beneficially affected infant gut microbiota by increasing the Lactobacillus and bifidobacteria counts in fecal stools.
authors.affiliation: Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Bnai Zion Medical Center affiliated with Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel. simay@tx.technion.ac.il
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaron
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shachar
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abramas
authors.forename: Arik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riskin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Ita
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Litmanovitz
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bar-Yoseph
authors.forename: Tzafra
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Liora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lifshitz
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shamir
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shaoul
mesh_terms: D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015930:Diet Records; D004063:Digestion; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007536:Isomerism; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D019308:Palmitic Acid