Ingredient 'closest to breast milk' introduced to Philippines
September 21, 2017 | 7:47pm
MFGM is said to be “the biggest breakthrough in pediatric nutrition” since DHA.
MANILA, Philippines — Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), said to be the closest formula to human breast milk, has been recently introduced to the Philippines by one of the leading experts on the formula.
Tore Jesper Andersen, an expert on MFGM, said that MFGM was discovered recently from filtered cow’s milk and cheese.
“Cow’s milk is the closest to human milk in terms of fat. Soy and eggs are very different and do not look like the human brain,” Andersen explained to the Manila media in a recent press conference. “MFGM has a lot of phospholipids that when added to formula milk, makes it look like human milk.”
He explained that human milk is so complex and has hundreds of components, but three are the main: energy, structure and function. MFGM, he said, is the nearest to human milk in terms of these three components, making it “the biggest breakthrough in pediatric nutrition” since Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
He said that research shows breastfed kids have a higher intelligence quotient (IQ) or has a 3.2 percent higher IQ score than formula-fed babies. According to him, studies show that MFGM is made up of lipids or fat that serve as building blocks for the human brain and critical for giving a natural defense against infections.
Andersen cited several studies in Sweden that showed that after six months, speech developed the fastest among breastfed babies, followed by babies who took MFGM, while those into formula milk only came third in developing language skills, the most important skill for learning.
Separate studies done in Belgium reportedly found out that after 120 days, there was an improved behavior or emotional quotient (EQ) among MFGM drinkers 2.5 to 6 years old.
Ear infection, which is common among kids, said Andersen, was allegedly none existent among breastfed kids, while among those who tried MFGM only one had an infection, while nine cases of infection were reported for those into formula milk.
In Peru, where diarrhea is a big problem, reportedly claiming at least 499 babies under one year old in a year, there was no difference seen in the growth of children taking MFGM, but it was able to significantly reduce diarrhea cases because MFGM helps strengthen the immune system, Andersen said.
MFGM, he noted, was pioneered in Denmark and has been emerging in China, Europe, and US. He said it can also be produced in the Philippines, only that there is no technology yet available in the country that could extract MFGM from cow’s milk.
Because of studies that show MFGM’s benefits like boosting EQ and IQ, strengthening the gut, and helping against virus and bacteria, Andersen believes that the new ingredient, now available in some milk formulas, could help address malnutrition in countries like the Philippines.
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