Model for Human Milk Fat Substitute Evaluation Based on Triacylglycerol Composition Profile

Abstract

Being the dominant components in human milk fat (HMF), triacylglycerol (TAG) composition might be the best approximation index to represent the composing characteristics of HMF. In this study, TAG composition of HMF from different lactation stages was analyzed by RP-HPLC-APCI-MS, and the establishment of a model for the precise evaluation of human milk fat substitutes (HMFSs) based on TAG composition was indirectly realized by employment of fatty acid composition and distribution and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and TAG compositions. The model was verified by the selected fats and oils with specific chemical compositions, and the results revealed the degrees of similarity of these fats and oils in different evaluation aspects reflected their differences in corresponding chemical composition with HMF. The newly established evaluation model with TAG composition as a comparison base could provide a more accurate method to evaluate HMFSs and might have some inspirations for HMFS production in the future.