The LCPUFAs DHA and ARA (omega-3 and omega-6) are important nutrients for infant milk formula. Since the synthesis is limited in infants, the dietary intake of DHA and ARA is of key importance in early life ⁵³Hadley, K. B., Ryan, A. S., Forsyth, S., Gautier, S., & Salem, N. (2016). The essentiality of arachidonic acid in infant development. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8040216 ⁶¹Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. In Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.4.855. LCPUFAs are very sensitive to oxidation, so have limited stability and shelf life. Micro-encapsulating these oils in a powder matrix preserves their nutritional properties and ensures sensory stability over time. This enables fortification of the finished formula without affecting production efficiency.

DHA and ARA are considered essential nutrients for infant milk formula to support normal brain and visual development ⁶¹Innis, S. M. (2007). Dietary (n-3) fatty acids and brain development. In Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.4.855 ⁸²Koletzko, B., Bergmann, K., Thomas Brenna, J., Calder, P. C., Campoy, C., Clandinin, M. T., Colombo, J., Daly, M., Decsi, T., Demmelmair, H., Domellöf, M., Fidlermis, N., Gonzalez-Casanova, I., Van Goudoever, J. B., Hadjipanayis, A., Hernell, O., Lapillonne, A., Mader, S., Martin, C. R., … Carlson, S. E. (2020). Should formula for infants provide arachidonic acid along with DHA? A position paper of the European Academy of Paediatrics and the Child Health Foundation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqz252 and may play a beneficial role in immune development and function ¹²³Radzikowska, U., Rinaldi, A. O., Sözener, Z. Ç., Karaguzel, D., Wojcik, M., Cypryk, K., Akdis, M., Akdis, C. A., & Sokolowska, M. (2019). The influence of dietary fatty acids on immune responses. In Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122990 ¹²⁸Richard, C., Lewis, E. D., & Field, C. J. (2016). Evidence for the essentiality of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid in the postnatal maternal and infant diet for the development of the infant’s immune system early in life. In Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme. https://doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0660. Infants fed with infant formula supplemented with DHA and ARA showed lower incidence of common respiratory symptoms (e.g. croup, nasal congestion, cough) and diarrhoea requiring medical attention compared to infants who received formula without DHA and ARA ¹²Birch, E. E., Khoury, J. C., Berseth, C. L., Castañeda, Y. S., Couch, J. M., Bean, J., Tamer, R., Harris, C. L., Mitmesser, S. H., & Scalabrin, D. M. (2010). The Impact of Early Nutrition on Incidence of Allergic Manifestations and Common Respiratory Illnesses in Children. Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.002 ⁸⁴Lapillonne, A., Pastor, N., Zhuang, W., & Scalabrin, D. M. F. (2014). Infants fed formula with added long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have reduced incidence of respiratory illnesses and diarrhea during the first year of life. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-168. Lower incidence of clinical symptoms resulted in fewer doctors’ visits during the first three years of life ¹²Birch, E. E., Khoury, J. C., Berseth, C. L., Castañeda, Y. S., Couch, J. M., Bean, J., Tamer, R., Harris, C. L., Mitmesser, S. H., & Scalabrin, D. M. (2010). The Impact of Early Nutrition on Incidence of Allergic Manifestations and Common Respiratory Illnesses in Children. Journal of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.002 ⁸⁴Lapillonne, A., Pastor, N., Zhuang, W., & Scalabrin, D. M. F. (2014). Infants fed formula with added long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have reduced incidence of respiratory illnesses and diarrhea during the first year of life. BMC Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-14-168. Positive changes were observed in the profile of immune cells and cytokines after supplementation with DHA and ARA in infant formula, bringing it closer to the profile of immune cells and cytokines of breastfed infants ³⁸Field, C. J., Van Aerde, J. E., Robinson, L. E., & Clandinin, M. T. (2008). Effect of providing a formula supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on immunity in full-term neonates. British Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114507791845.

Vana®-Sana encapsulates offer a flexible way to incorporate LCPUFAs during the infant formula production process: this creates new opportunities for differentiation. The use of Vana®-Sana allows efficient operation of the manufacturing process bringing higher capacity and decrease in losses.

• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil
• Cleaner label with only four E-numbers

• Free of added proteins, so suitable for hypo-allergenic, soy-based and goat milk infant and young child formula
• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil

• Free of added proteins, so suitable for hypo-allergenic, soy-based and goat milk infant and young child formula
• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil

• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil
• Cleaner label with only four E-numbers

• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil

• Free of added proteins, so suitable for hypo-allergenic, soy-based and goat milk infant and young child formula
• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil

• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil
• Cleaner label with only four E-numbers

• Preserved nutritional and sensory properties thanks to protection of oil from environmental factors
• Increases shelf-life of final formula
• Powder format: easier to handle and more flexible than liquid oil

We are specialists in the encapsulation of nutritional oils, with a production line designed specifically for infant milk formula. We have over 20 years of experience in producing encapsulated LCPUFAs and have an exemplary track record in stability and in offering nutritional quality with sensory excellence. Our mild drying technology has been designed to manufacture high-quality encapsulates. Our customers also benefit from high flexibility in oil sourcing, thanks to the multiple trusted suppliers across our global network.