Assistant Professor University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Abstract: Milk is an important source of bioactive compounds and essential nutrients for human health. The macronutrients derived from dairy have demonstrated positive effects on various health indicators. A significant component of milk is the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which serves as a carrier for biologically active molecules in the gastrointestinal tract. The MFGM is composed of approximately 60% proteins, including glycoproteins, and 40% lipids, such as phospholipids. MFGM plays several roles, including supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and influencing developmental physiology. The dairy industry generates various by-products rich in valuable bioactive compounds that are often underutilized. One such by-product is whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC), produced during the manufacture of whey protein isolate. Our recent research demonstrated that WPPC contains bioactive phospholipids and glycoproteins, with phospholipids making up 20% of the total fatty acid content and MFGM proteins accounting for 23% of the total protein content. These bioactive proteins and lipids are thought to confer various physiological benefits. We successfully fractionated the lipids and proteins from MFGM in WPPC using temperature-dependent centrifugation and membrane filtration techniques. An in vitro assessment evaluated the functional capacity of the glycosylated proteins from the WPPC fractions, specifically their ability to selectively promote the growth of key probiotic lactic acid bacteria strains. The results indicated that glycosylated proteins in WPPC served as growth substrates for select lactic acid bacteria. Furthermore, our study showed that supplementation with WPPC and its lipid and protein fractions led to increased femur length and bone mineral density in weanling mice transitioning into early adulthood. These findings highlight the potential of WPPC for broader applications in targeted nutrition.
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