Infant formula and

The health benefits for adding Omega-3 oil to kids are well known. Omega-3 EPA/DHA contributes to a normal development of vision, heart and brain and its positive effects are documented in a number of available studies.

Vesteraalens offer a high quality oil with a quality that enable direct use in various applications without the need for micro-encapsulation.  Our oil would work as an functional ingredient in both liquid and non-liquid applications.

Already with the introduction of infant formula products in the 30´s of the last century, efforts were made to adapt these formulae to the specific composition of mothers milk and the specific need of the growing newborn. Still, and for many years the fat part in these products was based on cows milk fat (butter) with the addition of different vegetable oils.

In the late 80´s academic research revealed the fact, that mothers milk is characterised by significant amounts of specific Long-Chain –Polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP, both of the Omega3- and Omega6-type), which were not found in classical infant formula at that time. Furthermore basic scientific research showed, that substantial growth of the brain in utero and also postnatal goes along with an enormous accumulation primarily of the Omega 3-fatty acid DHA in the fetus and the newborn.

In order to balance this obvious deficit, a new type of infant formula products (with added DHA and ARA) was developed and extensively tested in randomised, controlled clinical trials (RCT) for their safety and efficacy. In a large number of RCT-studies, both in term and per-term infants, beneficial effects on the biochemical composition of body cells (like red blood cells), but also functional benefits related to visual acuity and IQ were described for babies fed with LCP-supplemented formula, similar to control groups receiving mothers milk.

Altogether, these and following scientific studies led to the market introduction of first commercial products added with DHA and ARA already in 1991/1992. Meanwhile, globally most starting formula products are supplemented with these fatty acids, backed by a number of legal recommendations from paediatric organisations (ESPGHAN) and legal authorities (like EFSA, WHO, FDA). Most actually, EU Regulation 2016/127 calls for a content of 20 – 50 mg DHA per 100kcal in infant and follow-on formula products, which has to be implemented by 2020.

DHA (and ARA) supplemented formulae currently introduced to the market place are based on the use of tuna fish oil and/or so-called Single-Cell – Oils (SCO), the latter derived from heterotrophic fermentation of specific strains of micro-algae/fungi. Mostly due to stability and taste concerns, these oils are typically used as microencapsulated powders and dry-blended into a powdered base formula product.

In contrast, Vesteraalens premium omega-3 fish oil products offer excellent sensory characteristics, which allow for a direct incorporation of the liquid oils into ready-to-use liquid formulations (mostly for preterm babies) and also into spray-dried powdered products (starting- or follow-on formula mostly for term-born babies).