Size Distribution of Fat Globules in Human Colostrum, Breast Milk, and Infant Formula

Abstract Only a few results are available on the size of human milk fat globules (MFG), despite its significance regarding fat digestion in the infant, and no data are available at μ m vs 2.8 ±0.3 μ m at 96h PP. Thus, the surface area of MFG increased from 1.1 ±0.3 to 5.4 ±0.7m 2 /g between colostrum and transitional milk. In mature milk, the MFG diameter was 4 μ m on average and increased with advancing lactation, whereas the droplets in infant formula measured 0.4 μ m. The ζ potential of mature MFG was −7.8±0.1mV. The fat globules are larger in early colostrum than in transitional and mature human milk and in contrast with the small-sized fat droplets in infant formula. Human MFG also have a low negative surface charge compared with bovine globules. These structural differences can be of nutritional significance for the infant.