MFGM FOR INFANTS
MFGM AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
MFGM and the components it contains are integral to cognitive development and function, allowing closer match to mother’s milk. This has been demonstrated in practice, where infants fed MFGM-enriched formula from 2m-6m of age performed significantly better in cognitive tests at 12m compared to those fed a standard formula during the same period. Notably, the MFGM supplemented infants did not differ from breastfed infants.
MFGM AND GUT HEALTH
The gut is part of the natural defense system for the body and is immature in infants. Breastfed infants are known to be better protected against both gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections versus formula fed infants; MFGM is proposed as part of the reason for this. Multiple studies have shown a protective effect of MFGM diet enrichment on gastrointestinal wellness in infants. For example, MFGM supplementation for 6 months in 6-11-month-old infants reduced incidence of bloody diarrhea and showed a tendency for less diarrhea overall. These results were echoed in another study that found supplementation of MFGM in 8-24-month-old toddlers reduced the duration of rotavirus.
MFGM AND IMMUNE HEALTH
However, the immune benefits of MFGM have been shown to go beyond the gut. MFGM supplemented. formula also showed a reduced incidence of acute otitis media (ear infection) and subsequently, less use of pharmaceuticals in the form of antipyretics, in formula-fed infants.