Formulation, invitro digestive study, and comparative fatty acid analysis of walnut oil-based infant formula, with human milk, animal milk, and commercial infant formula

Abstract

Fatty acids content in walnut oil was investigated and compared with human milk, infant formula (IF) and animal milk (AM), then subjected to in-vitro digestion. Walnut oil (80.04 mg/g) and Human milk (73.11 mg/g) were comprised of unsaturated fatty acids, while AM (52.23 mg/g) and IF (40.50 mg/g) were significantly lower in unsaturated fatty acids. Confocal micrographs and particle size showed complete digestion of walnut oil-based infant formula (IFW) than AM and IF. Total fatty acid released during in-vitro digestion in different samples was IFW (2563.26 μmol/g fat), HM (2420.38 μmol/g fat), AM (1863.70 μmol/g), and in IF (3001.20 μmol/g). In IFW and HM, C18:2n6c was the highest single fatty acid released, with 47% and 40%, respectively, which was substantially different from AM and IF. Our research findings might help design an infant formula closer to human milk.