Infants are at higher risk of infections and illness
Infants are born with an immature immune system 1. Due to their reduced capability to fight harmful pathogens, they are more susceptible to infections and illness 2.
Infections during early life are severely detrimental. In addition to diverting resources away from growth and development 3, they may lead to faulty immune development and increase the risk of various diseases in adulthood 4. This is why ensuring optimal immune development and functionality, and preventing infections in early life is so important.
Breastmilk protects at a critical time
Breastmilk is naturally designed to provide infants with excellent protection from infections. It has been suggested that the content of bioactive components, such as immunoglobulins, osteopontin (OPN) and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), could be part of the explanation why breast milk supports the immature immune system, thus protecting infants at a critical time of immune immaturity 5,6.
When breastmilk is not an option, it’s important to use an infant formula that provides the right nutrition. However, as such, breastfed infants have been found to have a better-developed immune system and better protection against infections and diseases than infants fed a traditional infant formula 7.
To help closing this gap between breastmilk and infant formula, Arla Foods Ingredients has developed whey-based OPN and MFGM ingredients: Lacprodan® OPN-10 and Lacprodan® MFGM-10.
Lacprodan® OPN
Present in high levels in human milk, osteopontin addition to infant formula could potentially support immune protection in the infant. A clinical study has shown that dietary supplementation with Lacprodan® OPN-10 is safe and well-tolerated, and it was found that it increased blood immune parameters, resulted in a less pro-inflammatory immune response and reduced fever incidences in early life 5.
Lacprodan® MFGM-10
Multiple clinical studies found that dietary supplementation with Lacprodan® MFGM-10 was safe and well-tolerated8–14, and that it improved immune blood parameters, reduced infections in early life and reduced the need for antipyretic and antibiotic treatment along with doctor visits and hospitalisation8,9,11,15,16
References:
1. Simon, A. K. et al. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 282, (2015)
2. Pabst, H. et al. Acta Paediatr. 1291–1297 (1997)
3. Dewey, K. G. et al. Matern. Child Nutr. 7, 129–142 (2011)
4. Jain, N. Gut Microbes 12, 1–20 (2020)
5. Lönnerdal, B. J. Pediatr. 173, S4–S9 (2016)
6. Van Den Elsen, L. W. J. et al. Nestle Nutr. Inst. Workshop Ser. 90, 137–149 (2019)
7. Brahm, P. et al. Rev Chil Pediatr. 88, 15–21 (2017)
8. Zavaleta, N. et al. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 53, 561–8 (2011)
9. Timby, N. et al. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 60, 384–389 (2015)
10. Billeaud, C. et al. Clin. Med. Insights Pediatr. 9, 63–64 (2014)
11. Li, X. et al. Front. Pediatr. 7, 1–13 (2019)
12. Hedrick, J. et al. Nutrients 13, (2021)
13. Li, F. et al. J. Pediatr. 215, 24-31.e8 (2019)
14. Jaramillo-Ospina, A. M. et al. Nutrition 97, 111599 (2022)
15. Li, X. et al. PLoS One 16, 1–13 (2021)
16. Lee, H. et al. npj Sci. Food 2, (2018)
