Scientific evidence for the benefits of MFGM to brain development and cognitive function

Numerous randomized, controlled trials have investigated the effect of supplementing MFGM, complex milk lipids, or MFGM components in infants and children. Aligned with preclinical research, the majority of these studies have shown evidence of the benefits in cognition, behavior, immune system development, and gut health. Many trials have specifically focused on supporting brain development by adding MFGM components like gangliosides and sphingomyelin (SM) to the diets of pediatric populations across various age groups.

 

The following table summarizes the clinical studies reporting the role of Milk Fat Globule Membrane components in supporting brain myelination, cognitive function, and social-emotional function in infants and children offering valuable insights into the potential benefits of incorporating MFGM into infant nutrition.

Table illustrating the clinical trials investigating MFGM components
Table illustrating the clinical trials investigating MFGM components
  1. Deoni S, Dean D, Joelson S, O’Regan J, Schneider N. Early nutrition influences developmental myelination and cognition in infants and young children. Neuroimage. 2018;178:649-659.
  2. Schneider N, Bruchhage MMK, O’Neill BV, Hartweg M, Tanguy J, Steiner P, Mutungi G, O’Regan J, McSweeney S, D’Sa V, Deoni SCL: A Nutrient Formulation Affects Developmental Myelination in Term Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Nutr 2022, 9:823893.
  3. Deoni S, D’Sa V: Enhanced brain myelination and cognitive development in children assocated with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) intake: a temporal cohort study. In European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) 55th Annual Meeting; Vienna, Austria. European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN); 2023: 1407;N-O001.
  4. Timby N, Domellof E, Hernell O, Lonnerdal B, Domellof M: Neurodevelopment, nutrition, and growth until 12 mo of age in infants fed a low-energy, low-protein formula supplemented with bovine milk fat globule membranes: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2014.
  5. Xia Y, Jiang B, Zhou L, Ma J, Yang L, Wang F, Liu H, Zhang N, Li X, Petocz P, Wang B: Neurodevelopmental outcomes of healthy Chinese term infants fed infant formula enriched in bovine milk fat globule membrane for 12 months - A randomized controlled trial. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2021, 30:401-414.
  6. Gurnida DA, Rowan AM, Idjradinata P, Muchtadi D, Sekarwana N: Association of complex lipids containing gangliosides with cognitive development of 6-month-old infants. Early Hum Dev 2012, 88:595-601.
  7. Tanaka K, Hosozawa M, Kudo N, Yoshikawa N, Hisata K, Shoji H, Shinohara K, Shimizu T: The pilot study: Sphingomyelin-fortified milk has a positive association with the neurobehavioural development of very low birth weight infants during infancy, randomized control trial. Brain and Development 2013, 35:45-52.
  8. Veereman-Wauters G, Staelens S, Rombaut R, Dewettinck K, Deboutte D, Brummer RJ, Boone M, Le Ruyet P: Milk fat globule membrane (INPULSE) enriched formula milk decreases febrile episodes and may improve behavioral regulation in young children. Nutrition 2012, 28:749-752.
  9. Li F, Wu SS, Berseth CL, Harris CL, Richards JD, Wampler JL, Zhuang W, Cleghorn G, Rudolph CD, Liu B, et al: Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Associated with Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane and Lactoferrin in Infant Formula: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. J Pediatr 2019, 215:24-31 e28.
  10. Colombo J, Harris CL, Wampler JL, Zhuang W, Shaddy DJ, Liu BY, Wu SS: Improved Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 5.5 Years of Age in Children Who Received Bovine MFGM and Lactoferrin in Infant Formula Through 12 Months of Age: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Pediatr 2023:113483.
  11. Nieto-Ruiz A, Garcia-Santos JA, Bermudez MG, Herrmann F, Dieguez E, Sepulveda-Valbuena N, Garcia S, Miranda MT, De-Castellar R, Rodriguez-Palmero M, et al: Cortical Visual Evoked Potentials and Growth in Infants Fed with Bioactive Compounds-Enriched Infant Formula: Results from COGNIS Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients 2019, 11.
  12. Nieto-Ruiz A, Diéguez E, Sepúlveda-Valbuena N, Catena E, Jiménez J, Rodríguez-Palmero M, Catena A, Miranda MT, García-Santos JA, M GB, Campoy C: Influence of a Functional Nutrients-Enriched Infant Formula on Language Development in Healthy Children at Four Years Old. Nutrients 2020, 12.
  13. Nieto-Ruiz A, Diéguez E, Sepúlveda-Valbuena N, Herrmann F, Cerdó T, López-Torrecillas F, De-Castellar R, Jiménez J, Pérez-García M, Miranda MT, et al: The Effects of an Infant Formula Enriched with Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Synbiotics on Child Behavior up to 2.5 Years Old: The COGNIS Study. Nutrients 2020, 12.
  14. Cerdo T, Ruiz A, Acuna I, Nieto-Ruiz A, Dieguez E, Sepulveda-Valbuena N, Escudero-Marin M, Garcia-Santos JA, Garcia-Ricobaraza M, Herrmann F, et al: A synbiotics, long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and milk fat globule membranes supplemented formula modulates microbiota maturation and neurodevelopment. Clin Nutr 2022, 41:1697-1711.
  15. Nieto-Ruiz A, Garcia-Santos JA, Verdejo-Roman J, Dieguez E, Sepulveda-Valbuena N, Herrmann F, Cerdo T, De-Castellar R, Jimenez J, Bermudez MG, et al: Infant Formula Supplemented With Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, and Synbiotics Is Associated With Neurocognitive Function and Brain Structure of Healthy Children Aged 6 Years: The COGNIS Study. Front Nutr 2022, 9:820224.


Related Content

q%26a_hero_0.74_1_option_2.jpg

Expert Q&A Series with Dr Sean Deoni

30 min
Research
deoni_video_thumbnail.png

New Study Reveals How MFGM Supports Brain Development

1 min
fullscaleiq_ra_hero_image.png

How to Assess Executive Function in Young Children: An Interactive Module

3 min
rkn2501_mfgm_timeline_hero_610x820.png

7 decades of research: MFGM and its components

2 min
Evidence of MFGM benefits for brain development and cognition