The effect of calcium palmitate on bacteria associated with infant gut microbiota

• Published in: MicrobiologyOpen (Weinheim) Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. e1187 - n/a
• Main Authors: Wang, Lu, Bravo‐Ruiseco, Gabriela, Happe, Randolph, He, Tao, Dijl, Jan Maarten, Harmsen, Hermie J. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Babies; Baby foods; Bacteria; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; Biochemical fuel cells; Breast; Breastfeeding & lactation; Calcium; calcium palmitate; Cell membranes; cell structure; Colonization; Electron transport; Experiments; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii - genetics; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii - growth & development; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii - metabolism; Fatty acids; Feces - microbiology; Female; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Gas chromatography; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; gut microbiota; Humans; Infant; Infant Formula - analysis; infant nutrition; Infants; Intestinal microflora; Male; Membrane proteins; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Milk; Newborn babies; Original; Palmitic acid; Palmitic Acid - metabolism; Probiotics; Protein transport; Scanning transmission electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; Triglycerides; Vegetable oils; United States > US; infant nutrition; calcium palmitate; Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; cell structure; gut microbiota
• ISSN: 2045-8827; 2045-8827
• DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1187

Gut microbiota development in formula‐fed and breast‐fed infants is known to differ. This could relate to the usage of unmodified vegetable oil instead of mammalian fat in infant formula (IF), causing the enhanced formation of the poorly soluble soap calcium palmitate (CP) in the infant's gut. Here we investigate in vitro the possible influence of CP on the infant gut bacteria. The growth of several bacterial species dominant in the infant's gut was analyzed by culturing in media with CP. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii as a sensitive representative was analyzed in detail by scanning transmission electron microscopy, membrane staining, gas chromatography, and microbial fuel cell experiments. Of all bacteria tested, the growth of several bifidobacteria and F. prausnitzii was reduced at 0.01 mg/ml CP, Bifidobacterium infantis stopped growing completely. CP reduced the cell envelope thickness of F. prausnitzii, disturbed the cell membrane fatty acids and function of membrane proteins involved in electron transport. CP inhibited the growth of bifidobacteria and faecalibacteria. This suggests that modification of fat in IF may benefit the development of the gut microbiota in formula‐fed infants by supporting the colonization of important beneficial bacteria in early life. Future clinical studies are needed to confirm this. The use of unmodified vegetable oil instead of mammalian fat in infant formula causes the enhanced formation of the poorly soluble soap calcium palmitate in the infant's gut. This study shows that calcium palmitate inhibits bacterial growth, reduces the bacterial cell envelope thickness, and disturbs the function of membrane proteins involved in electron transport.