Phospholipid Profiles of Human Milk Fat Globule Membrane Across Lactation Stages: A Comprehensive Analysis from Colostrum to Mature Milk

Infant formulas (IF) are designed to mimic human milk in order to support the growth of infants, but information on human milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) composition across extended lactation remains limited. This study analyzed human MFGM phospholipid profiles across lactation stages (0-300 days). Colostrum (0-5 days) showed the highest protein (3.01%) and unsaturated fatty acid (UFA, 58.82%) contents. Transitional milk (6-14 days) contained the most fatty acid species (13) and the highest fat content (3.61%). Mature milk (15-300 days) exhibited superior stability (D4,3 = 7.01 mu m, zeta-potential = -8.50 mV), the largest number of phospholipid species (142), and the highest saturated fatty acid (SFA, 44.90%) proportion. Based on the analysis of differential lipids, sphingomyelin (d18:1/22:0), phosphatidylcholine (18:0/18:2) and phosphatidylethanolamine-NMe (18:1/18:1) should be the priority for critical targets for IF fortification. These findings may provide a scientific basis for designing better IF that mimic HM.