Ausnutria Hyproca study says goat milk infant formula digestion closer to human milk
The study was published in December’s issue of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
In the study, a dynamic in vitro digestion model was used to simulate the conditions in the stomach and small intestine of infants between one and six months of age.
Three samples, human milk, cow milk infant formula and Kabrita goat milk infant formula, were tested.
The results show that kinetics of protein digestion of Kabrita infant formula is similar to that of human milk, while protein digestion of the cow milk infant formula is delayed in comparison to the other two tests.
No difference in protein quality
The protein quality is not different among the three tested samples, and Ausnutria Hyproca said any potential benefits of these results need further investigation.
Alfred Haandrikman, R&D director at Ausnutria Hyproca said there is increasing consumer demand for goat milk infant formula.
He said knowledge about the functionalities of goat milk is not yet complete.
“As a company we strive to expand the knowledge on how the natural composition of goat milk can contribute to the health and wellbeing of our smallest consumers,” Haandrikman said.
“For that purpose we collaborate with universities and research institutes all over the world.”
Seeing FDA approval
Ausnutria Hyproca has three infant formula factories in the Netherlands, and collects around 50m kilos of goat milk per year, which is used to produce Kabrita goat milk infant formula.
The goat milk is supplied by around 50 Dutch goat farmers.
Kabrita is currently sold in the EU, the Middle East, China and Russia, and is working on FDA approval for Kabrita infant formula (0-12 months) in the US.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Protein Digestion and Quality of Goat and Cow Milk Infant Formula and Human Milk Under Simulated Infant Conditions
Authors: Maathuis, A., Havenaar, R. He, T. and Bellmann, S.
