A Gently Processed Skim Milk-Derived Whey Protein Concentrate for Infant Formula: Effects on Gut Development and Immunity in Preterm Pigs

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 68; no. 6; p. e2300458
• Main Authors: Aasmul-Olsen, Karoline, Akıllıoğlu, Halise Gül, Christiansen, Line Iadsatian, Engholm-Keller, Kasper, Brunse, Anders, Stefanova, Denitsa Vladimirova, Bjørnshave, Ann, Bechshøft, Mie Rostved, Skovgaard, Kerstin, Thymann, Thomas, Sangild, Per Torp, Lund, Marianne Nissen, Bering, Stine Brandt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Accumulation; Animals; Antibacterial activity; Baby foods; Cytotoxicity; Digestive system; Gastrointestinal tract; Heat treatment; Heat treatments; Humans; Infant; Infant Formula; Infant formulas; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infants; Inflammation; Intestine; Intestines - physiology; Lactase; Lactoferrin; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Maillard reaction; Maillard reaction products; Material requirements planning; Milk; Oxidative stress; Protein interaction; Proteins; Skim milk; Swine; Whey; Whey protein; Whey Proteins; preterm neonates; infant formula; Maillard reaction products; bioactive whey protein; gut maturation
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.202300458

Processing of whey protein concentrate (WPC) for infant formulas may induce protein modifications with severe consequences for preterm newborn development. The study investigates how conventional WPC and a gently processed skim milk-derived WPC (SPC) affect gut and immune development after birth. Newborn, preterm pigs used as a model of preterm infants were fed formula containing WPC, SPC, extra heat-treated SPC (HT-SPC), or stored HT-SPC (HTS-SPC) for 5 days. SPC contained no protein aggregates and more native lactoferrin, and despite higher Maillard reaction product (MRP) formation, the clinical response and most gut and immune parameters are similar to WPC pigs. SPC feeding negatively impacts intestinal MRP accumulation, mucosa, and bacterial diversity. In contrast, circulating T-cells are decreased and oxidative stress- and inflammation-related genes are upregulated in WPC pigs. Protein aggregation and MRP formation increase in HTS-SPC, leading to reduced antibacterial activity, lactase/maltase ratio, circulating neutrophils, and cytotoxic T-cells besides increased gut MRP accumulation and expression of TNFAIP3. The gently processed SPC has more native protein, but higher MRP levels than WPC, resulting in similar tolerability but subclinical adverse gut effects in preterm pigs. Additional heat treatment and storage further induce MRP formation, gut inflammation, and intestinal mucosal damage.