MFGMpre – Bovine milk fat globule membrane for premature neonates

The nutritional needs of infants born prematurely (~10% of all infants) are quite different from those of infants born at term. Donor human milk (DM) is the recommended food for preterm infants in resource-rich countries, such as Denmark, as mother’s own milk is often absent or insufficient after preterm birth. An ingredient with bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), a highly bioactive milk component, is available for commercial use in infant formula for term infants as it is shown to improve gut and neurological development. The MFGMpre project will provide evidence on how MFGM as a supplement to DM improves development of the gut and brain in preterm newborns.

By: Anne Lau Heckmann

DM is stored mature human milk with lower levels of nutrients compared to milk from women delivering prematurely. Additionally, it must undergo heat treatment such as pasteurization, reducing the levels of bioactive components. With clear inferiority to mother’s own milk, supplementation of DM with bovine dairy products rich in nutrients and bioactive components is required. An optimal supplement to DM must provide the required nutrients (protein and lipids) together with bioactive components to support development of the gut, brain and immunity. Currently used supplements are associated with increased risk of various gut complications in preterm infants. Quality bovine milk ingredients, such as MFGM, serving as supplements can positively fit the recommendations for human milk feeding and the milk industry can hereby support human milk feeding of the most sensitive.

Currently, lack of evidence hinders application of the MFGM ingredient in preterm infants. This study will combine in vitro cell studies and a clinically relevant preterm pig study. To provide preclinical evidence for the use of MFGM as a supplement in the fast-growing global population of preterm infants, this study will investigate how a commercial bovine MFGM ingredient (Lacprodan® MFGM-10), supplemented to DM, improves development of the gut and brain and potentially leads to better growth in preterm pigs. In depth studies in preterm pigs, coupled with cell studies, will document how MFGM improves gut function by affecting the gut barrier, and development of the brain in preterm pigs. Findings from these preclinical studies on feasibility will pave the way for a later pilot study in preterm infants. Collectively, the study will test if a bovine MFGM ingredient is an ideal supplement to DM to improve development of preterm infants.