Anu Turpeinen, PhD
Nutrition research manager
Anu has a strong academic background, combined with experience in the food industry. She earned her PhD in human nutrition from the University of Helsinki, worked as a researcher for about 10 years and was appointed as an Adjunct Professor in nutrition.
Good nutrition plays a vital role in ensuring optimal growth and overall wellbeing in infants and toddlers. Complex lipids naturally occurring in milk, such as phospholipids, show promise in enhancing brain development and intestinal health.
Breast milk is rich in these vital components and is the best food for babies*. When breastfeeding is not an option, cow’s milk provides another natural source of complex lipids. A growing number of food manufacturers are looking to harness the effects of phospholipids when creating dietary products for infants.
We Valio experts have years of experience studying the health benefits of different dietary fats. In this blog, I break down in detail why phospholipids are so important in early childhood.
*Using infant formulas is second to breastfeeding, a fact supported by WHO. Babies should be breastfed exclusively for 6 months, with continued breastfeeding after introduction of complementary food. A healthcare professional should be consulted before introducing infant formula or complementary food to a child’s diet.
Studies with MFGM as a source of complex lipids and bioactive proteins have reported a wide range of benefits in infants.
Studies have also indicated that children who had been diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) showed signs of improved symptoms and short-term memory after phospholipid supplementation.
While the importance of phospholipids has been known since the 1900s, scientific evidence of their benefits during the early years of life has been growing steadily. Research has revealed that infants fed on breast milk, which naturally contains phospholipids, have better cognitive function than formula-fed infants.
We at Valio are working towards bringing formula milk one step closer to breast milk — by increasing the phospholipid content in infant formula.
The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in cow’s milk is a good natural source of complex lipids. In fact, the phospholipid composition of cow’s milk MFGM is closer to that of breast milk when compared to plant sources of phospholipids such as soy.
MFGM has been the focus of intensive research during the last decade. Apart from phospholipids, MFGM also contains other complex lipids such as gangliosides and sphingomyelins as well as bioactive proteins. All of these may play an important role in infant development.
Milk is a treasure chest of bioactive compounds. The latest advances in research could throw light on more novel fat compounds in milk in the future.
We help baby food manufacturers meet existing regulations and local nutritional recommendations for infants with premium quality dairy ingredients. Our experts at Valio also offer solutions to produce balanced nutrition for infants and children by providing efficient and accurate recipe design and calculation.
Get the scoop from our experts before the competition does. Watch this 10-minute video packed with commercially potent nutritional insights, and you’ll be the first to learn:
In this episode of Expert insights, Valio’s research specialist Anu Turpeinen explains the similarities between cow’s milk fat and breast milk — and why infant formula makers would benefit from using cow’s milk fat as the ingredient.
Valio's Anu Turpeinen shares the latest research showing how MFGM in milk fat enhances brain health – and the new product opportunities this is creating.
In this white paper, Dr Anu Turpeinen explains the effects of phospholipids that are naturally found in dairy fat. Food products rich in phospholipids have effects related to physical activity and cognitive functions in all age groups.
After watching our webinar, you’ll be able to harness the latest research findings on MFGM and natural OPO for developing optimal food products for infants.