ENZYMATIC PRODUCTION OF HUMAN MILK FAT ANALOGUE ENRICHED WITH PUNICIC ACID AND EVALUATION OF OXIDATIVE STABILITY

Human milk fat analogue (HMFA) enriched with punicic acid was synthesized by an enzymatic interesterification of tripalmitin with hazelnut oil (HO) and pomegranate seed oil (PSO), at molar ratio of tripalmitin:HO:PSO(2:3:3), at 60°C for 8 h, in hexane. The chemical properties and oxidative stability of the developed HMFA were determined. The HMFA contained palmitic acid (25.9 g/100 g), oleic acid (31.1 g/100 g), linoleic acid (9.3 g/100g), and punicic acid (22.3 g/100 g) as the main constituents, and it comprised 38.6 g/100 g palmitic acid at sn-2 position. The antioxidants (BHT, BHA, and rosemary extract) enhanced the oxidative stability of the HMFA. The developed HMFA may be utilized in infant formulas to ensure conjugated linolenic acids (mainly punicic acid).