Research of quality and antioxidant potential of human milk and infant formula for lactose-intolerant infants

Abstract

Infant food is a crucial component of development and normal growth of infants. Nutritive characteristics and methods for determination of the antioxidant potential of the infant food were compared in order to test the quality and biological value of human milk and infant formula with and without lactose. The antioxidant potential was determined using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Used electrochemical methods revealed high antioxidant potential of infant formula compared to human milk, while electron paramagnetic resonant spectroscopy revealed that the infant food possesses a significant capability to capture ∙OH radicals and form carbon-centred radical in Fenton reaction. Lactose-free infant formula has high antioxidant potential and its application is important during diarrhea because infant food contributes to the reduction of pathogens by changing redox state of the environment in the infant's gastrointestinal tract.