Formula Fats and Micronutrients

The following is supplementary material to Chapter 9: Formula Feeding of the Fed Is Best book.

Fats or lipids in both formula and human milk not only serve as a source of energy but also help absorb fat soluble vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A, D, E, and K. Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are important for bone growth; vitamin A is important for vision and immune function; vitamin E is an antioxidant that reduces cell damage, and vitamin K is important for the prevention of bleeding by allowing our blood to clot.

Infant formulas commonly use vegetable oils as a source of fat. The blend of oils is formulated to match the fatty acids found in human milk and may include palm olein, soy, coconut, high-oleic sunflower, or safflower. Hydrogenated fats and oils are not permitted in infant formula.

Palm Olein (Palm Oil)

There has been some controversy regarding the effect of adding palm olein or palm oil to formula, which is added to mimic palmitic acid found in human milk. Palmitic acid helps absorb calcium, which is essential for bone growth.

Newer research has found that formula with palm oil may in fact reduce the body’s ability to absorb calcium because of differences in the structure of the molecule. According to the authors of a 2020 review, based on all the available research, formula with palm olein reduces bone mineral content in infants.[1] “This observation is consistent with the overwhelming clinical data which demonstrated that formulas with [palm olein] produce lower calcium absorption compared to formulas without [palm olein].”

They also stated that “all the studies reviewed consistently reported softer stool consistency in infants fed formulas without [palm olein],” which the authors stated may lead to constipation and discomfort for infants fed formula without palm oil. However, the authors also reviewed the few available studies on the effect of palm oil containing formula on infant growth and found that most infants had no differences in weight and growth with only 3 out of 9 studies showing minimal improvement in growth for infants fed no palm oil containing formula.

It is important to note that while the review received no external funding, three of the review authors were employees of Abbott Nutrition, a formula company that makes formula without palm oil. Ultimately, the jury still is out on palm oil–free formula.