Evaluation of antioxidant capacity and aroma quality of breast milk.

Objective: It is important to understand the difference and similarity in antioxidant capacity and aroma quality between formula and breast milk for purposes of modifying infant formulas. We evaluated the antioxidant properties and aroma quality of infant formula and breast milk.

Methods: Six breast milk samples and four infant formulas were used. Antioxidant properties were measured using the following methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl free radical scavenging capacity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, total phenolic content, and phenolic composition. Aroma quality was determined using the electronic nose.

Results: The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity for formula and breast milk ranged from 45.3% to 61.8% and from 52.8% to 61.2%, respectively. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity ranged from 28.8 to 31.9 g/kg for formula and from 25.5 to 39.2 g/kg for breast milk. Total phenolic content ranged from 422 to 751 mg/kg and from 329to 797 mg/kg for formula and milk, respectively. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid were detected with values ranging from 614 to 635, 1391 to 1444, and 1425 to 1490 microg/kg in breast milk and from 783 to 3594, 1449 to 1510, and 1447 to 1561 microg/kg in formulas. Electronic nose results indicated that the aroma quality of formula controls 2, 3, and 4 was similar to that of breast milk.

Conclusion: Differences and similarities in antioxidant properties and aroma quality were found among some of the formulas and breast milk. The contribution of phenolic acids to total antioxidant capacity was limited.