Digestive and absorptive properties of human milk fat substitute evaluated by in vitro and in vivo models

Our previous research revealed that human milk fat substitute (HMFS) affects hepatic lipid metabolism in mice, but knowledge concerning its in vivo digestion and metabolism is limited. An in vitro infant digestion simulation and an in vivo metabolism model using Sprague Dawley rats were conducted in this study. In the in vitro model, HMFS showed better digestibility than blended vegetable oil (BVO) or blended vegetable oil plus 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol (BVO + OPO). In in vivo metabolism experiments, the serum concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1 and C18:2) were markedly higher in HMFS than in BVO and BVO + OPO groups. In vivo imaging analysis confirmed that emptied from the gastrointestinal tract significantly faster than BVO and BVO + OPO. These findings suggest that incorporating HMFS in infant formula may enhance nutrient absorption and support infant development.