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Size Distribution of Fat Globules in Human Colostrum, Breast Milk, and Infant Formula

¹ INRA-UMR 1253, Science et Technologie du Lait et de l’Oeuf Agrocampus 65, rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
² Maternité de l’Hôtel Dieu, CHU de Rennes-2, rue de l’Hôtel Dieu, 35000 Rennes, France

Corresponding author: M. C. Michalski; e-mail: marie-caroline.michalski{at}rennes.inra.fr.

Only a few results are available on the size of human milk fat globules (MFG), despite its significance regarding fat digestion in the infant, and no data are available at <24 h postpartum (PP). We measured the MFG size distribution in colostrum and transitional human milk in comparison with fat globules of mature milk and infant formula. Colostrum and transitional milk samples from 18 mothers were collected regularly during 4 d PP and compared with mature milk samples of 17 different mothers and 4 infant formulas. The size distribution was measured by laser light scattering. For further characterization, the -potential of some mature MFG was measured by laser Doppler electrophoresis. The MFG diameter decreased sigmoidally in the first days. At <12 h PP, the mode diameter was 8.9 ± 1.0 µm vs 2.8 ±0.3 µm at 96 h PP. Thus, the surface area of MFG increased from 1.1 ±0.3 to 5.4 ±0.7 m²/g between colostrum and transitional milk. In mature milk, the MFG diameter was 4 µm on average and increased with advancing lactation, whereas the droplets in infant formula measured 0.4 µm. The potential of mature MFG was –7.8 ± 0.1 mV. The fat globules are larger in early colostrum than in transitional and mature human milk and in contrast with the small-sized fat droplets in infant formula. Human MFG also have a low negative surface charge compared with bovine globules. These structural differences can be of nutritional significance for the infant.

Key Words: human milk • milk fat globule • size distribution • -potential

Abbreviation key: d₃₂ = volume-surface average diameter, d₄₃ = volumic average diameter, MFG = milk fat globule, PP = postpartum, SSA = specific surface area.

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