FHKAM (Community Medicine), Specialist in Public Health Medicine

Breastmilk is the preferred food for all infants to support their optimal growth and development. The composition of breastmilk changes continuously to suit the infant's circumstances (e.g. prematurity, at times of infection) whereas that of infant formula remains unchanged over time. Yet formula milks are often promoted as having a composition close to human milk, implicitly suggesting that they function like the latter. Recently, manufactures are promoting claims that the addition of complex lipids (originated from cow milk) in formula milk would mimic human milk in improving brain (cognitive) functions.

Examples of Claimed Benefits of Additives in Formula Milk*

(1)   “ALPHA-LIPIDS is a unique ingredient scientifically shown to help speed-up brain connections by up to 100x faster through myelination.  It contains the 5 major phospholipids, including Sphingomyelin which has been shown by recent observational studies to impact myelination across all the regions of the brain.”

(2)   “S-Lipids (神經鞘磷脂)- 磷脂是腦細胞膜的主要成份，對於髓鞘形成十分重要，髓鞘有效加快訊息傳遞。髓鞘形成支持腦部連接，有助打好學習及認知基礎。”

(3)   “星級親體乳脂配方乳脂球膜(MFGM)含豐富的極性脂質 (Polarlipids)，親和寶寶，促進寶寶腦部發展，腸道健康及提升抵抗力。”

(4)   “Polarlipids 有助支持大腦神經圓的髓鞘形成，促進腦內訊息傳遞，提升寶寶認知力。”

(Note: “Alpha-lipids” and “S-Lipids” are Phospholipids which are Polar Lipids. Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) contains mainly Polar Lipids.)

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***Please click here to read more or download the whole article with the note of references.*** 

Can Formula Milk be ‘Close’ to Breastmilk?

In 2014, the EFSA conducted an independent review and issued the Scientific Opinion on the Essential Composition of Infant Fomula and Follow-on Formula. It states that while "human milk composition can provide guidance for the composition of infant formula, formula milk having composition similar to human milk is not the only appropriate indicator to show its safety and nutritional suitability… The mere presence of a substance in human milk does not necessarily indicate a specific benefit of this substance for the infant… because absorption efficiency of certain nutrients differ between breastmilk and formula."⁹

Given the unique biochemical structures of human milk and its myriad bioactive constituents, it is virtually impossible for formula milk to imitate breastmilk in functions.  Nurturing an environment conducive to breastfeeding for families remains a public health priority.   For parents who cannot or opt not to breastfeed their child, they should be given adequate and unbiased information on the choices and safe use of formula milk products from credible sources.

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