August 5-7, the 2nd China Breast Milk Science Conference sponsored by the Chinese Nutrition Society and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. At the meeting, Professor Zhai Qixiao from the School of Food Science of Jiangnan University shared the results of the joint cooperation between Jiangnan University and China Feihe – “The Application of Microbiome in Clinical Feeding Trials of Infants and Young Children”.
At the meeting, experts from China Student Nutrition and Health Promotion Association, China Maternal and Child Health Association, China Health Management Association and other industry associations, as well as authoritative experts in the field of national breast milk scientific research shared breast milk The current situation and development trend of scientific research, and exchanged new knowledge and new ideas.
The fat structure in Chinese breast milk is very unique, with the SN-2 palmitic acid content approaching 70%. In order to understand the effect of SN-2 palmitic acid-containing formula powder on the fecal microbiota and metabolites of healthy term infants, Jiangnan University and China Feihe and other units jointly conducted a study. The study found that infant formula containing SN-2 palmitate was more beneficial to the health of infants and played an active role in the maturation of the infant’s gut microbiome and the maintenance of gut homeostasis, which was reflected in the structure of the gut microbiota and feces. on metabolites.
Zhai Qixiao introduced at the meeting that a total of 1,257 infants (within two weeks of birth) were screened in this trial, and 450 infants were finally enrolled and randomly divided into three groups—— Study group (fed infant formula containing high palmitate), control group (plain vegetable oil infant formula) and breastfeeding group.
The research team collected fecal samples at 8 and 16 weeks of infants, respectively, and performed correlation analysis on the collected fecal samples such as microbiome analysis, short-chain fatty acid and metabolomic analysis . The study found that SN-2 palmitic acid promoted the proliferation of bifidobacteria and reduced the abundance of Escherichia coli Shigella at 8 weeks; compared with the control group, the intestinal flora and metabolites of the infants in the study group were closer in breastfed infants.
In January 2022, Feihe, Jiangnan University, etc. published this clinical research article on Chinese infants and young children in international journals – “SN-2 Palmitic Acid Containing The influence of infant formula milk powder on microorganisms and metabolites in feces of infants and young children: a randomized, double-blind, parallel, controlled study, with an impact factor of 5.396 (IF=5.396). This is also the first clinical article on infant formula powder published by a domestic brand as the corresponding author, providing clinical verification for the feeding effect of high-content SN-2 formula.
Actually, due to the huge cost, difficult implementation, and long cycle, there are very few domestic dairy companies that carry out clinical trials. Feihe is one of the first batch of domestic dairy companies to carry out clinical trials. One of the dairy companies in feeding trials, only one product of Xingfeifan has conducted two clinical trials in 2010 and 2020, and the research content has also changed from focusing on growth and development, gastrointestinal tolerance to improving immunity strength, reduce colds and diarrhea, and affect brain development. The research results are the latest clinical trial results published by Feihe, and related research has also been applied to the products.
For example, Feihe uses a new generation of patented OPO in Xingfeifan, Xingfeifan Zhuo Rui and other products, in which the content of SN-2 palmitic acid reaches 67%, which is closer to The parent “gold standard”.
Previously, the Feihe team, through long-term collection and analysis of breast milk from all over China, found that the ratio of ARA to DHA in Chinese breast milk is 1:1.7, which is similar to that in foreign breast milk. Inconsistent, the DHA/ARA ratio is set to 1:1.7 in the formulas of Xingfeifan and Xingfeifan Zhuorui, which is closer to the gold standard of Chinese motherhood and provides Chinese babies with more suitable and higher-quality nutritional choices. .
R&D innovation has always been the core driving force supporting Feihe’s sustainable development, and it is also the basis for Feihe’s product innovation. Since 2019, Feihe has cooperated with high-level scientific research teams such as Jiangnan University, Harvard Medical School, and Peking University School of Medicine to jointly promote continuous and in-depth research on Chinese breast milk and achieve fruitful results. In 2021 alone, Feihe has published 39 articles in top international journals, domestic core journals, etc., and the output of academic achievements ranks among the top dairy enterprises in China.
The relevant person in charge of Feihe said that in the future, it will continue to increase investment, join hands with domestic and foreign research institutions and authoritative experts to deepen breast milk research, break through the no-man’s land of research and development, and let the Chinese dairy industry Its scientific research has reached the international leading level in more aspects, making Chinese milk powder synonymous with high quality.