Design of new lipids from bovine milk fat for baby nutrition.

The lipid phase of infant formulas is generally composed of plant-based lipids structured with a high concentration of palmitic acid (C16:0) esterified at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerol since this structure favors the absorption and metabolism of fatty acids. Palm oil is commonly used to make up the lipid phase of infant formulas due to its high concentration of palmitic acid and solids profile and melting point similar to human milk fat. However, the addition of palm oil to infant formulas has been associated with the presence of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) esters, a group of glycerol-derived chemical contaminants (1,2,3-propanotriol), potentially toxic, formed during the refining process of vegetable oil. Bovine milk fat obtained from the complex biosynthesis in the mammary gland has potential as a technological alternative to replace palm oil and its fractions for the production of structured lipids to be used in infant formulas. Its application as a substitute is due to its composition and structure, which resembles breast milk fat, and essentially to the preferential distribution pattern of palmitic acids (C16:0) with approximately 85% distributed at the sn-1 and sn-2 position of triacylglycerol. This review will address the relationship between the chemical composition and structure of lipids in infant nutrition, as well as the potential of bovine milk fat as a basis for the production of structured lipids in substitution for the lipid phase of vegetable origin currently used in infant formulas.

Physicochemical characteristics of anhydrous milk fat mixed with fully hydrogenated soybean oil.

There is a growing demand for fats that confer structure, control the crystallization behavior, and maintain the polymorphic stability of lipid matrices in foods. In this context, milk fat has the potential to meet this demand due to its unique physicochemical properties. However, its use is limited at temperatures above 34 °C when thermal and mechanical resistance are desired. The addition of vegetable oil hard fats to milk fat can alter its physicochemical properties and increase its technological potential. This study evaluated the chemical composition and the physical properties of lipid bases made with anhydrous milk fat (AMF) and fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSBO) at the proportions of 90:10; 80:20; 70:30; 60:40; and 50:50 (% w/w). The increased in FHSBO concentration resulted in blends with higher melting point, which the addition of 10% of FHSBO increase the melting point in 12 °C of the lipid base. Also, FHSBO contributed for a higher thermal resistance conferred by the coexistence of polymorphs ß' and ß, which remained stable for 90 days. Co-crystallization was observed for all blends due to the total compatibility of milk fat with the fully hydrogenated soybean oil. The results suggest a potential of all blends for various technological applications, makes milk fat more appropriate to confer structure, and improve the polymorph stability in foods. The blends presenting singular characteristics according to the desired thermal stability, melting point, and polymorphic habit.

Dairy-based solid lipid microparticles: A novel approach.

The objective of this work was to produce solid lipid microparticles using fully hydrogenated anhydrous milk fat (FHAMF) and to evaluate their physical stability during 90 days of storage at different temperatures. To obtain the lipid microparticles, the FHAMF was sprayed in a double fluid atomizer at 1 bar pressure, in a chilled chamber (2 °C). After atomization, the microparticles were divided into three batches and stored for 90 days at three different temperatures (5, 15 and 25 °C). During storage, samples were periodically removed (7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days) for evaluation of particle size, melting behavior, morphology, and polymorphic habit. The microparticles presented spherical shaped, with a smooth surface and wide size variation. When stored at 5 °C, the microparticles showed the smaller size and smaller agglomeration, due to the lower liquid fat content in the system, which that makes it difficult the adhesion of one particle to another. The lipid microparticles presented ß' crystals immediately after processing and at all temperatures during the storage. This study demonstrated the potential of FHAMF as an appropriate lipid phase for the production of lipid microparticles, and may contribute to further studies on the delivery of active compounds.

Milk fat crystal network as a strategy for delivering vegetable oils high in omega-9, -6, and -3 fatty acids.

As an alternative to the strategies currently used to deliver unsaturated fatty acids, especially, the essentials omega-6 and 3- fatty acids, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the incorporation of 25 e 50% (w/w) of olive, corn and linseed oil into the crystal structure of anhydrous milk fat (AMF). Fatty acid composition, atherogenicity (AI), and thrombogenicity (TI) index, crystallization kinetics, polymorphism by Rietveld method (RM), microstructure, thermal behavior, solid fat content, and lipid compatibility was evaluated. The addition of vegetable oils reduced the saturated fatty acids, and the AI and TI indices of AMF, and increased the concentration of unsaturated, specifically omega-6 and -3 fatty acids. Although vegetable oils caused changes in nucleation and crystallization kinetics, the spherulitic and crystalline morphology and the ß' polymorphism of AMF were maintained. The study demonstrated the possibility of using the crystal structure of AMF as a vehicle for unsaturated fatty acids in food formulations, as an alternative to nutritional supplementation. In addition, studies on the use of RM in blends made with AMF and vegetable oil have not been found in literature, thus demonstrating the relevance of the present study.

Potential of Milk Fat to Structure Semisolid Lipidic Systems: A Review.

Food production and consumption patterns have changed dramatically in recent decades. The universe of oils and fats, in particular, has been changed due to the negative impacts of trans fatty acids produced industrially through the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils. Regulations prohibiting its use have led the industry to produce semisolid lipid systems using chemical methods for modification of oils and fats, with limitations from a technological point of view and a lack of knowledge about the metabolization of the modified fats in the body. Milk fat is obtained from the complex biosynthesis in the mammary gland and can be a technological alternative for the modulation of the crystallization processes of semi-solids lipid systems, once it is naturally plastic at the usual processing, storage, and consumption temperatures. The natural plasticity of milk fat is due to its heterogeneous chemical composition, which contains more than 400 different fatty acids that structure approximately 64 million triacylglycerols, with a preferred polymorphic habit in ß', besides other physical properties. Therefore, milk fat differs from any lipid raw material found in nature. This review will address the relationship between the chemical behavior and physical properties of semisolid lipids, demonstrating the potential of milk fat as an alternative to the commonly used modification processes.

Improvement in the functionality of spreads based on milk fat by the addition of low melting triacylglycerols.

Although butter is valued for its characteristic flavor and aroma, it has the disadvantage of unsatisfactory spreadability at low temperatures. To increase the butter functionality, modifications have been proposed by associating the physical and nutritional characteristics. In this study, lipid bases composed of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) and high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) were used in butter formulations, and the physicochemical characteristics and the physical properties were evaluated. Lipid bases made from AMF:HOSO blends at 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 (% w/w) were emulsified in skimmed milk, and added to milk cream (35% fat) prior to the beating step. The control butter (cream with 35% fat) and spreads were stored for 30 days at 5 °C and evaluated for the physicochemical properties, fatty acids composition, solid fat content, melting point, crystallization parameters, thermal stability, hardness, melting behavior, and polymorphism. The increase in HOSO content significantly reduced hardness of the spreads, which increased during storage for all formulations. A preference for crystallization in the polymorphic habit ß' was observed for both butter and spreads during 30 days of refrigerated storage. However, there was a tendency for crystal formation in the ß form, which suggests the formation of unstable crystals during processing and storage of the products. The modification of functionality allowed obtaining softer structured milk fat products with increased concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, without the use of chemical modifications of oils and fats.

Milk fat as a structuring agent of plastic lipid bases.

The global legislation regarding the elimination of trans fat in foods has led to the need for technological solutions to produce plastic fats. Currently, the industrial method used to obtain lipid bases with different physical properties is the chemical interesterification of blends from hardfats and vegetable oils. Milk fat can be an alternative to this process, which is natural plastic fat, as a structurant to obtain plastic lipid bases containing vegetable oils. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the anhydrous milk fat (AMF) to structure lipid bases made from AMF and high oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) (~80% oleic acid) blends. The blends were prepared in the following AMF:HOSO proportions (% w/w): 100:00 (control); 90:10; 80:20; 70:30; 60:40; and 50:50, and characterized for fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition, solid fat content, compatibility, melting point, thermal behavior of crystallization and melting, crystallization kinetics, microstructure, polymorphism and hardness. All blends showed compatibility between the constituents, which is fundamental for the stability of plastic fats. The anhydrous milk fat governed the crystallization of these lipid bases, presenting crystals of <30 µm of diameter, crystallized in polymorphic form ß'. The blends 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50 AMF:HOSO exhibited suitable profile for technological applications in the food industry, characterized by a solid fat content lower than 32% at 10 °C, and higher than 10% at 21 °C, and melting point near the body temperature.