title: Glycomacropeptide and alpha-lactalbumin supplementation of infant formula affects growth and nutritional status in infant rhesus monkeys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in dairy technology make it possible to enrich infant formula with specific bovine milk components that may enhance nutrient status. Glycomacropeptide, a carbohydrate-rich casein peptide, may increase absorption of calcium, iron, or zinc. alpha-Lactalbumin, a major breast-milk protein, may contribute to a balanced amino acid pattern and increase calcium and zinc absorption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We determined the effects of glycomacropeptide- and alpha-lactalbumin-supplemented infant formula on growth; trace mineral status; iron, zinc, and calcium absorption; and plasma amino acid, blood urea nitrogen, and plasma insulin concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infant rhesus monkeys (n = 5 infants per group) were breastfed or fed control or alpha-lactalbumin- or glycomacropeptide-supplemented formula from birth to 4 mo of age. Hematologic measures and growth were assessed monthly. Mineral absorption was measured with radioisotopes and whole body counting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants fed glycomacropeptide had higher food intake than did other formula-fed infants. Infants fed glycomacropeptide or control formula had higher hematocrit values than did infants that were breastfed or fed alpha-lactalbumin. Infants fed glycomacropeptide or control formula had higher plasma zinc and zinc absorption than did breastfed infants. Where differences were observed, breastfed infants and infants fed alpha-lactalbumin had similar plasma essential amino acid and insulin profiles, which were different from those of infants fed glycomacropeptide or control formula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glycomacropeptide- or alpha-lactalbumin-supplemented formula has no adverse effects on nutritional status in infant monkeys. Glycomacropeptide supplementation increases zinc absorption, which may permit the reduction of formula zinc concentrations, and alpha-lactalbumin supplementation promotes a plasma amino acid pattern similar to that of breastfed infant monkeys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: Dereck
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chatterton
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lönnerdal
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002657:Child Development; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007501:Iron / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000254:growth & development*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D023421:Models, Animal; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015032:Zinc / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002364:Caseins; D006020:Glycopeptides; D014131:Trace Elements; D007768:Lactalbumin; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium