Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review

Infant formulas are an alternative to replace or supplement human milk when breastfeeding is not possible. The knowledge of human milk’s bioactive compounds and their beneficial effects has attracted the interest of researchers in the field of infant nutrition, as well as researchers of technology a...

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Main Authors: Cristine Couto Almeida, Bianca Figueiredo Mendonça Pereira, Katia Christina Leandro, Marion Pereira Costa, Bernardete Ferraz Spisso, Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Food Science
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8850080
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author Cristine Couto Almeida
Bianca Figueiredo Mendonça Pereira
Katia Christina Leandro
Marion Pereira Costa
Bernardete Ferraz Spisso
Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
author_facet Cristine Couto Almeida
Bianca Figueiredo Mendonça Pereira
Katia Christina Leandro
Marion Pereira Costa
Bernardete Ferraz Spisso
Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
author_sort Cristine Couto Almeida
collection DOAJ
description Infant formulas are an alternative to replace or supplement human milk when breastfeeding is not possible. The knowledge of human milk’s bioactive compounds and their beneficial effects has attracted the interest of researchers in the field of infant nutrition, as well as researchers of technology and food sciences that seek to improve the nutritional characteristics of infant formulas. Several scientific studies evaluate the optimization of infant formula composition. The bioactive compound inclusion has been used to upgrade the quality and nutrition of infant formulas. In this context, the purpose of this systematic literature review is to assess the scientific evidence of bioactive compounds present in infant formulas (α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, taurine, milk fat globule membrane, folates, polyamines, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, prebiotics, and probiotics) and their effects on infant nutrition and health. Through previously determined criteria, studies published in the last fifteen years from five different databases were included to identify the advances in the optimization of infant formula composition. Over the last few years, there has been optimization of the infant formula composition, not only to increase the similarities in their content of macro and micronutrients but also to include novel bioactive ingredients with potential health benefits for infants. Although the infant food industry has advanced in the last years, there is no consensus on whether novel bioactive ingredients added to infant formulas have the same functional effects as the compounds found in human milk. Thus, further studies about the impact of bioactive compounds in infant nutrition are fundamental to infant health.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-ef59382f726c44858faf9e7bfb7429bf2025-02-03T05:52:57ZengWileyInternational Journal of Food Science2356-70152314-57652021-01-01202110.1155/2021/88500808850080Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature ReviewCristine Couto Almeida0Bianca Figueiredo Mendonça Pereira1Katia Christina Leandro2Marion Pereira Costa3Bernardete Ferraz Spisso4Carlos Adam Conte-Junior5Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCentro Laboratorial Analítico, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, BrazilInstituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInfant formulas are an alternative to replace or supplement human milk when breastfeeding is not possible. The knowledge of human milk’s bioactive compounds and their beneficial effects has attracted the interest of researchers in the field of infant nutrition, as well as researchers of technology and food sciences that seek to improve the nutritional characteristics of infant formulas. Several scientific studies evaluate the optimization of infant formula composition. The bioactive compound inclusion has been used to upgrade the quality and nutrition of infant formulas. In this context, the purpose of this systematic literature review is to assess the scientific evidence of bioactive compounds present in infant formulas (α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, taurine, milk fat globule membrane, folates, polyamines, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, prebiotics, and probiotics) and their effects on infant nutrition and health. Through previously determined criteria, studies published in the last fifteen years from five different databases were included to identify the advances in the optimization of infant formula composition. Over the last few years, there has been optimization of the infant formula composition, not only to increase the similarities in their content of macro and micronutrients but also to include novel bioactive ingredients with potential health benefits for infants. Although the infant food industry has advanced in the last years, there is no consensus on whether novel bioactive ingredients added to infant formulas have the same functional effects as the compounds found in human milk. Thus, further studies about the impact of bioactive compounds in infant nutrition are fundamental to infant health.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8850080
spellingShingle Cristine Couto Almeida
Bianca Figueiredo Mendonça Pereira
Katia Christina Leandro
Marion Pereira Costa
Bernardete Ferraz Spisso
Carlos Adam Conte-Junior
Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review
International Journal of Food Science
title Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review
title_full Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review
title_fullStr Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review
title_short Bioactive Compounds in Infant Formula and Their Effects on Infant Nutrition and Health: A Systematic Literature Review
title_sort bioactive compounds in infant formula and their effects on infant nutrition and health a systematic literature review
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8850080
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