Sialic Acid and Ganglioside Contents in Starter Infant Formulas

Objective: To compare the content of total sialic acids (SA) and gangliosides, measured as lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA), in a series of starter infant formulas from different brands and countries and to compare these results with the human milk data from the literature. Methods: Total SA were analyzed by fluorometric HPLC after derivatization with 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene dihydro-chloride. Gangliosides were purified in a step procedure and quantified as lipid-bounf sialic acid by the same method. Results: The average content of SA in formulas was 19.4+/-0.6 mg/100 mL, and the average content of LBSA was 0.24+/-0.10 mg/100 mL. Both data laid far from those reported for human milk. k816c0408.pdf