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International audience; Dietary diversification, which starts between 4 and 6 months, is a pivotal period in the infant development. After this diversification, complementary foods such as infant flours are therefore widely consumed throughout the world, particularly in southern countries. However, infant flours have often an unbalanced lipid profile in favor of omega 6 and overages in certain vitamins content (especially A and E). The aim of this study was to optimize the formulation of enriched infant flour in order to improve its nutritional profile and oxidative stability. For this purpose, the nutritional values and ingredient lists of 96 infant flours were analyzed to formulate model flours representative of the marketed products. The lipid profile of these model flours was then optimized by including flours with balanced omega 6/omega 3 ratios, i.e. teff and cowpea flours, and/or by adding long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) powder (DHA and ARA). After 3 months of storage, the optimized flour showed a quite good resistance to oxidation with a low evolution of peroxide values and a low tocopherols degradation. However, the inclusion of LC-PUFA significantly increased the oxidation sensitivity of the flours. In order to counteract this phenomenon, phenolic compounds were added via the addition of brown rice bran which did not seem to have a positive effect on stabilization regardless the particle size. Nevertheless, optimized omega 3 enriched and fortified infant flours could be proposed with fair stability over 3 months of storage.

International audience; Infancy period is a key window of development during which the requirements in lipids and more particularly in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are specific. In order to abide by the recommendations, European regulation now requires a fortification of infant follow-on formulas (IFF) with docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6, DHA) which strongly impacts their oxidative stability. The aim of this study was to optimize the structure and formulation of DHA-enriched IFF in order to improve their lipid profile and oxidative stability. To do so, a model IFF representative of marketed products was formulated and declined by varying the saturated fatty acids sources (refined (POM) or unrefined (RPOM) palm oil, coconut oil (COM), and dairy fat (DFOM)), the emulsifiers (soy lecithin or dairy phospholipids (DPL)) and the structure (droplet size). These model IFF were submitted to an accelerated storage test of 20 days at 40°C during which peroxide values (PV), tocopherols, vitamin A, and fatty acids profiles were monitored. Despite the addition of DHA, all model IFF had quite good oxidative stability with PV lower than 10 meqO2/kg of lipids until 9 days of storage. DFOM and POM had equivalent kinetics of PV increase and tocopherols degradation. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between these two IFF regardless of droplet size (0.4 or 0.7 µm). RPOM was more stable than POM, very likely due to its higher carotenoids content. Regarding emulsifiers, DFOM-DPL (stabilized with DPL) had a PV twice lower than POM (stabilized with lecithin) at 20 days and a tocopherols degradation of 67.5% vs 88.8% for POM. This result translates a more important resistance to oxidative degradation of DFOM-DPL. This favorable effect was even reinforced for smaller droplet sizes. The introduction of dairy lipids but also of carotenoids in DHA-enriched IFF composition are interesting levers of stabilization. Moreover, dairy lipids lead to a more complex lipid profile and a higher content of short and medium-chain saturated fatty acids which is beneficial for infant nutrition.

National audience; La période postnatale est caractérisée par une croissance et un développement rapide. Les lipides et plus particulièrement les acides gras polyinsaturés à longues chaînes (AGPI-LC) tels que les acides docosahexaénoïque (DHA) et arachidonique (ARA) jouent un rôle essentiel durant cette période. L’objectif principal des formules infantiles est d’être biomimétique de « l’étalon d’or » : le lait maternel, aussi bien en termes de composition que de structure, pour ainsi offrir la meilleure alternative possible à l’allaitement lorsqu’il a échoué et/ou n’est pas possible. Dans ce contexte, la réglementation européenne a évolué pour encourager une optimisation de la composition des préparations infantiles. Ainsi, depuis février 2020 la supplémentation des formules en DHA a été rendue obligatoire. Ces formules sont également fortifiées en ARA, autre AGPI indispensable pour le développement de l’enfant, bien qu’aucune obligation ne soit établie quant à sa teneur minimale. Leur important degré d’insaturation rend ces acides gras particulièrement sensibles à l'oxydation lipidique, complexifiant ainsi leur introduction dans les formules infantiles. Les lipides laitiers du fait de leur haute teneur en certains acides gras saturés constituent donc un atout pour la stabilisation contre l’oxydation. De plus, d’un point de vue structurel, des différences persistent entre le lait maternel et les formules infantiles ce qui a un fort impact sur les cinétiques de digestion et donc d’absorption des nutriments. Une fois de plus, les lipides laitiers (polaires ou apolaires) du fait de leur structure et composition complexe, présentent un intérêt particulier pour le développement de l’enfant notamment en modulant la digestion des protéines, le développement intestinal et en contribuant à l’éducation immunitaire et à celle du microbiote. L’objectif de cet exposé est de mettre en évidence, à travers une étude de stockage, l’intérêt technologique et nutritionnel de la réintroduction des lipides laitiers dans la composition des préparations de suite afin de les stabiliser contre l’oxydation.

National audience; The lipid fraction of infant follow-on formulas is mainly composed by a mixture of oils mainly of vegetable origin with palm oil as the main source of saturated fatty acids and are enriched in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to support the infant development. However, these oil blends are not optimal for nutritional needs of infants and are particularly sensitive to lipid oxidation. This study aimed to substitute palm oil with other sources of saturated fatty acids in order to ensure a more suitable nutritional profile for infant without impacting or improving stability against lipid oxidation. A panel of model IFF representative of marketed products was formulated depending on the lipid sources including refined or unrefined palm oil, coconut oil and dairy fat. After an accelerated storage to follow their oxidative stability, the results show that the inclusion of carotenoids and dairy lipids in the composition of the oil phase improved the stability against lipid oxidation and provides bioactive compounds that are involve in the infant development. This study has thus highlighted the importance of the balance between nutritional profile and oxidation stability.

The main objective of follow-on formulas is to mimic as closely as possible the composition and structure of mature breast milk. In order to optimize the formulas, important regulatory changes have taken place, including the obligation to supplement the formulas with DHA. The oil phase is therefore formulated from a mixture of oils mainly of vegetable origin with palm oil as the main source of saturated fatty acids and enriched in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, these oil blends are not optimal for nutritional needs of infants and are particularly sensitive to lipid oxidation. The aim of this study was to substitute palm oil with other sources of saturated fatty acids in order to ensure a more suitable nutritional profile for infant without impacting or improving stability against lipid oxidation. To reach this objective a model system representative of marketed follow-on formulas was formulated and declined into a panel of model systems depending on the source of saturated fatty acids used. The results showed that depending on the composition of the oil phase the stability against lipid oxidation could be improved. This study has thus highlighted the importance of the balance between nutritional profile and oxidation stability. (Texte intégral)

International audience

Neonatal and infancy period is characterized by significant growth and development. From a nutritional point of view, this translates into specific requirements, notably in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid. To ensure an adequate nutritional intake different types of products, such as infant formulas and flours are designed. The aim of the present work is to assess the adequacy of these products with the infants aged from 6 to 12 months' requirements and with recent changes in European regulations. To reach this objective, a meta-analysis of the nutritional values of 91 follow-on formulas and 68 infant flours from northern et southern hemispheres was carried out with special focus on lipid profiles. For follow-on formulas, a significant homogeneity of macro- and micronutrient contents is observed from one product to another, and a good similarity of macronutrients contents with mature breast milk despite the persistence of differences in the lipids organisation and FA profiles. In the case of infant flours, the regulatory framework being less strict, an important heterogeneity of nutritional values is observed with, in particular, a significant difference in energy density among flours marketed in northern and southern countries. This analysis is part of a larger study which aims to understand the mechanisms of lipid oxidation in LC-PUFA-enriched infant foods.