A blend of 9:1 short-chain galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS) mimics the ratio of prebiotic oligosaccharides in breastmilk^7,8, and has been shown to selectively stimulate the growth of friendly bacteria in infant’s gut⁹. This has beneficial outcomes in infants, such as:

• Increasing healthy gut bacteria⁹
• Supressing pathogen and harmful bacteria⁹
• Improved stool consistency and frequency¹⁰

2-‘FL (2'Fucosyllactose) is the most abundant human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) within breastmilk¹¹. 2-‘FL has been suggested to have a role in the development of the immune system in babies¹². A prebiotic mixture including 9:1 GOS/FOS and 2’FL± in infant formula can further mimic the complexity of HMOs⁷. 

Phospholipids: Phospholipids are a type of lipid which can be found in breastmilk and other fat sources e.g. milk fat¹³. Phospholipids play an important role in^14,15,16:

• Cell structure and integrity
• Infants’ inflammatory and immune responses
• Neural development

Fat containing SN-2 palmitate: The milk fat in breastmilk predominantly consists of triglycerides where the palmitic acid has a unique placement in the SN-2 position¹⁷.  Most infant formulas contain palmitic acid not in the SN-2 position. Research has shown that adding milk fat with SN-2 palmitate to infant formula leads to^17,18:

• Improved fatty acid and calcium absorption
• Reduced calcium soaps in baby stools
• Reduced constipation and softer stools

Omega-3 (DHA, EPA, ALA) and Omega-6 (LA, AA) are essential fatty acids which can be found in breastmilk and in specific food sources  and cannot be produced by the body.   

They play an important role in^19,20:

• The structure of cell membranes, 
• In the normal development and function of the brain and the nervous system,
• The normal visual development of infants, and 
• For normal growth and development in babies and children*. 

1. Knol J, Scholtens P, Kafka C, et al. Colon microflora in infants fed formula with galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides: more like breast-fed infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2005;40(1):36-42.  

2. Moro G et al. Dosage-related bifidogenic effects of galacto- and fructooligosaccharides in formula-fed term infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2002;34:291-5.

3. Kim SY, Yi DY. Components of human breast milk: from macronutrient to microbiome and microRNA. Clin Exp Pediatr. 2020;63(8):301-309.

4. Soyyılmaz B, Mikš MH, Röhrig CH, Matwiejuk M, Meszaros-Matwiejuk A, Vigsnæs LK. The Mean of Milk: A Review of Human Milk Oligosaccharide Concentrations throughout Lactation. Nutrients. 2021 Aug 9;13(8):2737. doi: 10.3390/nu13082737. 

5. Ballard O, Morrow AL. Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;60(1):49-74. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2012.10.002.

6. What are prebiotics and why are they important, Nutricia Academy. Available at: 

https://www.nutricia.co.uk/hcp/academy/the-gut-microbiome/what-are-prebiotics-and-why-are-they-important.html  [Accessed April 2023]

7. Salminen S, Stahl B, Vinderola G, Szajewska H. Infant Formula Supplemented with Biotics: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 30;12(7):1952. doi: 10.3390/nu12071952.

8. Danone Nutricia Research, Our specific pre-, pro- and synbiotics. Available at: https://www.danoneresearch.com/allergy/our-specific-pre-pro-and-synbiotics/ (Accessed October 2023)

9. Knol J et al. Acta Paediatr Suppl 2005;94(449):31-3

10. Moro G et al. Dosage-related bifidogenic effects of galacto- and fructooligosaccharides in formula-fed term infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2002;34:291-5.). 

11. Vandenplas et al., Human Milk Oligosaccharides: 2-Fucosyllactose (2-FL) and Lacto-N-Neotetraose (LNnT) in Infant Formula. Nutrients 2018, 10, 116

12. Danone Nutricia Research, Our specific pre-, pro- and synbiotics. Available at: https://www.danoneresearch.com/allergy/our-specific-pre-pro-and-synbiotics/ (Accessed October 2023)

13. Donatella Restuccia, U. Gianfranco Spizzirri, Francesco Puoci, Giuseppe Cirillo, Giuliana Vinci & Nevio Picci (2012) Determination of Phospholipids in Food Samples, Food Reviews International, 28:1, 1-46, DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2011.563398

14. Liu Y, Liu Y, Liu Q, Zhao J, Qiao W, Liu B, Yang B, Chen L. Comparison of phospholipid composition and microstructure of milk fat globules contained in human milk and infant formulae. Food Chem. 2023 Jul 30;415:135762. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135762.

15. Giuffrida F, Cruz-Hernandez C, Flück B, Tavazzi I, Thakkar SK, Destaillats F, Braun M. Quantification of phospholipids classes in human milk. Lipids. 2013 Oct;48(10):1051-8. doi: 10.1007/s11745-013-3825-z. Epub 2013 Aug 28. PMID: 23982210;

16. Cilla A, Diego Quintaes K, Barberá R, Alegría A. Phospholipids in Human Milk and Infant Formulas: Benefits and Needs for Correct Infant Nutrition. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Aug 17;56(11):1880-92. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2013.803951.

17. Bar-Yoseph F, Lifshitz Y, Cohen T, Malard P, Xu C. SN2-Palmitate Reduces Fatty Acid Excretion in Chinese Formula-fed Infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016 Feb;62(2):341-7. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000000971. PMID: 26334255;

18. Looijesteijn, E., Brouwer, R.W.W., Schoemaker, R.J. et al. Effect of bovine milk fat-based infant formulae on microbiota, metabolites and stool parameters in healthy term infants in a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Nutr 8, 93 (2022).

19. The importance of long chain polyunsaturates for infant health and development, Nutricia Academy. Available at: https://www.nutricia.co.uk/hcp/academy/infant-toddler-nutrition/the-importance-of-long-chain-polyunsaturates-for-infant-health-and-development.html [Accessed October 2023]

20. Commission delegated regulation (EU) 2016/2017, supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council). Available at: CL2016R0127EN0050010.0001.3bi_cp 1..1 (europa.eu) 

For more information about the Aptamil range and to find the right product for your patient's needs, visit Aptaclub. Explore the full range of Aptamil milk formulas for infants aged 0-6 months, 6-12 months and toddlers, the range also includes specialised options like Aptamil Advanced, designed with our most advanced formulation.