β-Palmitate in Infant Formula: Benefits for Digestion & Comfort

Kabrita MedHub Team

β-Palmitate is an important fat structure found in breast milk that supports infant digestion, calcium absorption, and overall comfort. When breastfeeding is not possible, infant formulas with added β-palmitate can provide similar benefits.

What Is β-Palmitate?

Palmitic acid is a main saturated fat found in breast milk. When palmitic acid is bound in the middle or beta position of the glycerol backbone, it is called β-Palmitate or OPO fat. About 60% of the palmitic acid in human milk bonds to this beta-position and is β-palmitic acid. Standard infant formulas typically contain much less β-palmitate, which affects how well infants digest fat and absorb important nutrients.

β-Palmitate and Calcium Soaps

Calcium is a critical mineral during infancy, a period marked by rapid skeletal growth and bone mineralization. In the gastrointestinal tract, β-palmitic acid is not hydrolyzed into free palmitic acid and therefore does not form insoluble calcium soaps, meaning that both calcium and fatty acids can be better absorbed. ^1,2 This better calcium and fatty acid absorption can reduce infant discomfort. If the palmitic acid is not bound in the beta position, it can be hydrolyzed into free palmitic acid which can form insoluble calcium soaps, resulting in hard stools.

β-Palmitate Impact on Crying Duration and Sleep

A recent double-blind study involving 300 healthy term infants showed that a high content of β-Palmitate in infant formula resulted in higher faecal bifidobacteria concentrations and improved stool consistency, similar to human milk-fed infants.³ Two randomized double-blind studies showed that an infant formula with β-Palmitate reduced crying time and improved infant sleep. These studies concluded that β-Palmitate improved the well-being of formula-fed infants and consequently the quality of life of their parents.^4-6

Influence of β-palmitate on gut microbiota development

Moreover, β-Palmitate/ OPO Fat has been reported to have a positive influence on the development of the gut microbiota, because calcium soaps limit the growth of important beneficial bacteria in early life stages.⁷ Clinical research published by Ausnutria In collaboration with University Medical Center Groningen, investigated the negative effects of calcium soaps on the gut microbiota.⁸

All the details about this study can be found in the paper below.

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Conclusion

Kabrita formula contains a fat blend rich in β-Palmitate, resembling the fatty acid profile of human milk more closely. The β-Palmitate in Kabrita infant formula is proven to offer comfort to infants, with benefits such as reduced crying time, prevention of hard stools and a well-balanced gut microbiota.

References

1. Bronsky, J., et al., Palm Oil and Beta-palmitate in Infant Formula: A Position Paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 2019. 68(5): p. 742-760.
2. Havlicekova, Z., et al., Beta-palmitate – a natural component of human milk in supplemental milk formulas. Nutr J, 2016. 15: p. 28.
3. Yao, M., et al., Effects of term infant formulas containing high sn-2 palmitate with and without oligofructose on stool composition, stool characteristics, and bifidogenicity. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 2014. 59(4): p. 440-8.93
4. Litmanovitz, I., et al., Reduced crying in term infants fed high beta-palmitate formula: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. BMC Pediatr, 2014. 14: p. 152.
5. Bar-Yoseph, F., et al., SN2-Palmitate Improves Crying and Sleep in Infants Fed Formula with Prebiotics: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Clinics Mother Child Health, 2017. 14:2.
6. Miles, E.A. and P.C. Calder, The influence of the position of palmitate in infant formula triacylglycerols on health outcomes. Nutr Res, 2017. 44: p. 1-8.
7. Havlicekova, Z., et al., Beta-palmitate – a natural component of human milk in supplemental milk formulas. Nutr J, 2016. 15: p. 28.
8. Wang, L., et al., The effect of calcium palmitate on bacteria associated with infant gut microbiota. Microbiologyopen, 2021. 10(3): p. e1187.