This study builds on a previous study by this group in which 6–11-month-old Peruvian infants who were fed bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) containing complementary food had significantly fewer episodes of infection-related bloody diarrhea relative to those consuming a control food (skim milk powder). Micronutrient deficiencies including zinc deficiency were prevalent in this study population. To understand the mechanism behind the health benefits of consuming MFGM, the serum metabolome and cytokine levels, as markers for systemic immune responses, were evaluated using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics and a multiplex system, respectively. Combined with data on micronutrient status and anthropometry, a comparative analysis was performed. Supplementation with MFGM tended to improve micronutrient status, energy metabolism, and growth reflected as increased levels of circulating amino acids and weight gain, particularly in female infants compared to controls. Decreased levels of the microbial choline metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide in the MFGM-supplemented group (both male and female infants) suggest a functional perturbation in the intestinal microbiota. A cytokine shift toward a less T helper type 1 response was observed in those receiving the MFGM supplement, which was mainly attributed to decreases in interleukin-2 levels. Our findings suggest that consumption of MFGM with complementary food may reverse the metabolic abnormalities found in marginally nourished infants, thereby improving metabolic regulation, which may lead to enhanced immunity.

该研究基于该小组先前的研究，在该研究中，喂食含辅食的牛脂肪球膜（MFGM）的6-11个月大的秘鲁婴儿与感染相关的血性腹泻的发生率相比，食用这些食品的婴儿明显减少了。控制食物（脱脂奶粉）。在该研究人群中普遍存在微量营养素缺乏症，包括锌缺乏症。为了了解食用MFGM对健康有益的机理，使用¹评估了血清代谢组和细胞因子水平，作为全身免疫反应的标志物基于H核磁共振的代谢组学和多重系统。结合微量营养素状况和人体测量学的数据，进行了比较分析。补充MFGM倾向于改善微量营养素状态，能量代谢和生长，这反映为循环氨基酸水平的增加和体重增加，尤其是与对照组相比，在女婴中。微生物胆碱代谢物三甲胺-N水平降低MFGM补充组（男性和女性婴儿）中的一氧化氮表明肠道菌群有功能性扰动。在接受MFGM补充剂的人群中，观察到细胞因子向1型辅助T应答的转变，这主要归因于白介素2水平的降低。我们的研究结果表明，与辅食一起食用MFGM可以逆转边缘营养不良婴儿的代谢异常，从而改善代谢调节，从而增强免疫力。