Effect of protein fortification on heat damage and occurrence of β-casomorphins in (un)digested donor human milk intended for nutrition of preterm infants

Abstract

Pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM) for preterm infant nutrition is fortified with hydrolyzates of cow's milk proteins, which have been poorly investigated in relation to heat-damage and occurrence of the bioactive peptides β-casomorphins (BCMs). Therefore, thermal protein modifications of three commercial fortifiers were assessed by measuring well-recognized indexes of heat load. The fortifiers did not contain pyrraline, whereas furosine and lysinoalanine levels roughly overlapped the lowest values reported for liquid formulas addressed to term infant nutrition. Bovine BCMs 3 to 7 and human BCMs 3 to 9 were searched. Bovine BCMs 3, 4, 6 and 7 were found in the undigested fortifiers. Following in vitro digestion simulating the digestive conditions of premature infant, bovine BCMs still occurred in fortified PDHM; the human BCMs 3, 7, 8 and 9 formed. Overall, these results better address the nutritional features of protein fortifiers and fortified PDHM intended for nutrition of preterm infants.

Keywords: Casomorphins; Digestion; Heat damage; Milk protein hydrolyzates; Preterm infant.