title: Fermented Infant Formula Increases Ileal Protein Digestibility and Reduces Ileal Proteolytic Activity Compared with Standard and Hydrolyzed Infant Formulas in Piglets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An infant formula that contained milk fermented by the bacteria Bifidobacterium breve and Streptococcus thermophilus (Lactofidus) was reported to alleviate functional digestive symptoms in infants. It was hypothesized that improved protein digestibility of the fermented infant formula could contribute to this effect.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein digestibility of a specific fermented (FF), a standard (SF), and an extensively hydrolyzed protein (HF) formula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-week-old piglets (n = 7) were fitted with a T-cannula at the terminal ileum and received each formula in a Latin square design. FF, SF, and HF contained 11.7%, 9.3%, and 11.9% (w/w) crude protein; 1.5%, 5.4%, and 5.6% (w/w) fiber; and had a casein/whey ratio of 60:40, 50:50, and 0:100 per kilogram of powder, respectively. Ileal digesta were collected and analyzed for amino acids and proteolytic activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FF had a significantly higher apparent ileal crude protein digestibility (92.1% ± 1.0%) than SF and HF (84.4% ± 1.0% and 83.9% ± 0.9%, respectively). FF also had a significantly higher dry matter digestibility than SF and HF. The ileal crude protein flow of FF was significantly lower than that of SF and HF. The ileal flow of FF total proteolytic activity was significantly lower than that of SF but not significantly different from that of HF (412 ± 163 kU/8 h vs. 1530 ± 163 and 703 ± 156 kU/8 h, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FF in piglets had a significantly higher apparent ileal crude protein digestibility than the SF and HF and displayed lower ileal proteolytic activity than the SF. Both effects may contribute to the alleviation of functional gastrointestinal symptoms reported in infants fed fermented infant milk formula.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abrahamse
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huybers
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martine S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alles
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingrid B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Renes
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hetty
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouritius
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Physiology and Nutrition, Nutricia Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands thomas.ludwig@danone.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000378:metabolism; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005285:Fermentation; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism*; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000737:chemistry*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D048249:Streptococcus thermophilus; D013552:Swine; D000067816:Whey Proteins
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins; D000067816:Whey Proteins
keywords: fermented infant formula; functional gastrointestinal disorder; infantile colic; protein digestibility; protein hydrolyzate