Infants fed with formula containing InFat, the SN-2 palmitate ingredient from Advanced Lipids, cry less and sleep more, a clinical study has shown.
The study, which is published in the Clinics in Mother and Child Health journal, shows that SN-2 offers a range of benefits for babies, including better fat and calcium absorption. SN-2 palmitate is a bioactive ingredient used in some infant formulas.
The study looked at 171 healthy infants. One group was fed formula containing InFat Advanced Lipids’ SN-2 palmitate ingredient, the second was fed a control formula and a third group of breastfed babies were included for reference.
Frequency of crying, length of crying episodes, daily number of sleep periods and sleep duration were measured at six weeks of age, and again at 12 weeks.
Patterns of both crying and sleep differed significantly between the two formula-fed groups. The breast-fed babies, and those fed on the formula containing SN-2, had fewer crying episodes than the babies fed on standard formula. The duration of their crying was also shorter.
Infants fed on formula containing SN-2 were also found to enjoy longer average sleep duration than those fed on standard formula.
The researchers concluded that SN-2 palmitate is associated with both less crying and better sleeping, thereby improving the well-being of formula-fed infants and consequently the quality of life of their parents.
Dr Sigalit Zchut, clinical marketing manager and technical director at Advanced Lipids, said: “Breast feeding will always be the gold standard. However, by mimicking the fatty acid structure of breast milk, SN-2 helps us offer many of the same benefits in formula.
“This research adds to the growing body of clinical evidence for the many advantages of SN-2 palmitate. It’s great news for manufacturers but also for parents, for whom infant crying and sleep are major concerns.”
Advanced Lipids is a joint venture established by Enzymotec, a biotech company specialising in lipid-based bio-functional ingredients, and AAK, a global producer and supplier of speciality vegetable fats and oils for the infant formula industry.
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