Milk coagulation properties (MCP) are conventionally measured using computerized renneting meters, mechanical or optical devices that record curd firmness over time (CFt). The traditional MCP are ...rennet coagulation time (RCT, min), curd firmness (a30, mm), and curd-firming time (k20, min). The milk of different ruminant species varies in terms of CFt pattern. Milk from Holstein-Friesian and some Scandinavian cattle breeds yields higher proportions of noncoagulating samples, samples with longer RCT and lower a30, and samples for which k20 is not estimable, than does milk from Brown Swiss, Simmental, and other local Alpine breeds. The amount, proportion, and genetic variants (especially κ-casein) of milk protein fractions strongly influence MCP and explain variable proportions of the observed differences among breeds and among individuals of the same breed. In addition, other major genes have been shown to affect MCP. Individual repeatability of MCP is high, whereas any herd effect is low; thus, the improvement of MCP should be based principally on selection. Exploitable additive genetic variation in MCP exists and has been assessed using different breeds in various countries. Several models have been formulated that either handle noncoagulating samples or not. The heritability of MCP is similar to that of other milk quality traits and is higher than the heritability of milk yield. Rennet coagulation time and a30 are highly correlated, both phenotypically and genetically. This means that the use of a30 data does not add valuable information to that obtainable from RCT; both traits are genetically correlated mainly with milk acidity. Moreover, a30 is correlated with casein content. The major limitations of traditional MCP can be overcome by prolonging the observation period and by using a novel CFt modeling, which uses all available information provided by computerized renneting meters and allows the estimation of RCT, the potential asymptotic curd firmness, the curd-firming rate, and the syneresis rate. Direct measurements of RCT obtained from both mechanical and optical devices show similar heritabilities and exhibit high phenotypic and genetic correlations. Moreover, mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy can predict MCP. The heritabilities of predicted MCP are higher than those of measured MCP, and the 2 sets of values are strongly correlated. Therefore, mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy is a reliable and cheap method whereby MCP can be improved at the population level; this is because such spectra are already routinely acquired from the milk of cows enrolled in milk recording schemes.
Objectives To prospectively evaluate the effect of different dietary management strategies on the rate of acquisition of tolerance in children with cow's milk allergy (CMA). Study design Otherwise ...healthy children (aged 1-12 months) diagnosed with CMA were prospectively evaluated. The study population was divided into 5 groups based upon the formula used for management: (1) extensively hydrolyzed casein formula (EHCF, n = 55); (2) EHCF + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG LGG, n = 71); (3) hydrolyzed rice formula (RHF, n = 46); (4) soy formula (n = 55); and (5) amino acid based formula (n = 33). A food challenge was performed after 12 months to assess acquisition of tolerance. Results Two hundred sixty children were evaluated (167 male, 64.2%; age 5.92 months, 95% CI 5.48-6.37; body weight 6.66 kg, 95% CI 6.41-6.91; IgE-mediated CMA 111, 42.7%). The rate of children acquiring oral tolerance after 12 months was significantly higher ( P < .05) in the groups receiving EHCF (43.6%) or EHCF + LGG (78.9%) compared with the other groups: RHF (32.6%), soy formula (23.6%), and amino acid based formula (18.2%). Binary regression analysis coefficient (B) revealed that the rate of patients acquiring tolerance at the end of the study was influenced by 2 factors: (1) IgE-mediated mechanism (B −2.05, OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.06-0.26; P < .001); and (2) formula choice, such that those receiving either EHCF (B 1.48, OR 4.41, 95% CI 1.44-13.48; P = .009) or EHCF + LGG (B 3.35, OR 28.62, 95% CI 8.72-93.93; P < .001). Conclusions EHCF accelerates tolerance acquisition in children with CMA if compared with other dietetic choices. This effect is augmented by LGG.
Critical advancement is needed in the study of human milk as a biological system that intersects and interacts with myriad internal (maternal biology) and external (diet, environment, infections) ...factors and its plethora of influences on the developing infant. Human-milk composition and its resulting biological function is more than the sum of its parts. Our failure to fully understand this biology in a large part contributes to why the duration of exclusive breastfeeding remains an unsettled science (if not policy). Our current understanding of human-milk composition and its individual components and their functions fails to fully recognize the importance of the chronobiology and systems biology of human milk in the context of milk synthesis, optimal timing and duration of feeding, and period of lactation. The overly simplistic, but common, approach to analyzing single, mostly nutritive components of human milk is insufficient to understand the contribution of either individual components or the matrix within which they exist to both maternal and child health. There is a need for a shift in the conceptual approach to studying human milk to improve strategies and interventions to support better lactation, breastfeeding, and the full range of infant feeding practices, particularly for women and infants living in undernourished and infectious environments. Recent technological advances have led to a rising movement towards advancing the science of human-milk biology. Herein, we describe the rationale and critical need for unveiling the multifunctionality of the various nutritional, nonnutritional, immune, and biological signaling pathways of the components in human milk that drive system development and maturation, growth, and development in the very early postnatal period of life. We provide a vision and conceptual framework for a research strategy and agenda to change the field of human-milk biology with implications for global policy, innovation, and interventions.
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Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) may cause gastrointestinal motility disorders. Symptoms of both conditions overlap and diagnostic tests do not reliably differentiate between both. A decrease of ...symptoms with an extensive hydrolysate and relapse during challenge is not a proof of allergy, because hydrolysates enhance gastric emptying, a pathophysiologic mechanism of gastro‐oesophageal reflux (GER). Thickened formula reduces regurgitation, and failure to do so suggests CMPA. A thickened extensive hydrolysate may induce more rapid improvement, but does not always differentiate between CMPA and GER. Different hypotheses are discussed: is the overlap between CMPA and functional disorders coincidence, or do both entities present with identical symptoms, or does the fact that symptoms are identical indicates that there is only one entity involved? Studies on the prevention of CMPA focused on ‘at‐risk families’, and resulted in a decrease of CMPA and atopic dermatitis, but did not provide data on the incidence of GER.
Conclusion: As long as there are no objective diagnostic tools to separate GER from CMPA, the physician has two options: first treat the most likely diagnosis, and switch if after 2–4 weeks there is no improvement, or treat both conditions with one intervention, what will not result in a diagnosis.
The objectives were to evaluate the effects of elevated pre- and postpartum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations during the transition period on reproductive ...performance and milk production in dairy cattle. In a prospective cohort study of 91 freestall, total mixed ration-fed herds in the northeastern United States, blood samples were collected from approximately 15 prepartum and 15 different postpartum transition animals in each herd. All samples were stratified based on pre- or postpartum status at the time of sample collection, and 2,259 and 2,290 animals were used to evaluate reproductive and milk production performance, respectively. Reproductive performance was assessed by time to conception within 70 d post-voluntary waiting period (VWP) and milk production was assessed using mature-equivalent 305-d (ME305) milk yield estimated at 120 d in milk. While controlling for body condition score (BCS), calving season, median ME305 milk production, and parity, NEFA and BHBA concentrations were evaluated with time to event analysis to investigate reproductive performance. These same predictor variables were used to determine the effects of elevated NEFA and BHBA concentrations on ME305 milk yield with herd as a random effect. Heifers and cows were grouped in the final analyses if the results between groups were similar. In all animals sampled prepartum, the risk of pregnancy within 70 d post-VWP was reduced by 19% when NEFA concentrations were ≥0.27mEq/L. In all animals sampled postpartum, those with NEFA concentrations ≥0.72mEq/L had a 16% decrease in risk of pregnancy and those with BHBA concentrations ≥10mg/dL had a 13% decrease in risk. In cows and heifers, ME305 milk yield was decreased by 683kg when prepartum NEFA concentrations were ≥0.33mEq/L. In heifers sampled postpartum, ME305 milk yield was increased by 488kg when NEFA concentrations were ≥0.57mEq/L and increased by 403kg when BHBA concentrations were ≥9mg/dL. In cows sampled postpartum, ME305 milk yield was decreased by 647kg when NEFA concentrations were ≥0.72mEq/L and decreased by 393kg when BHBA concentrations were ≥10mg/dL. With the exception of milk production in heifers, this study indicates that increased concentrations of serum NEFA and BHBA had a detrimental effect on reproductive performance and milk production.
Nutraceutical and functional food market are one of the fastest-growing food segments in the newer food product development category. In the recent past, focus of beverage industry has shifted ...towards making food more nutritious and functionally enriched. To load the food with nutraceutical functionality, herbal sources having target functional compounds are either directly used as food or for separation of target compounds. Among beverages, milk is considered as a wholesome complete food providing macro (fat, proteins, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (calcium, selenium, riboflavin, vitamin B
12
, and pantothenic acid vitamin B
5
) in balanced proportions. However, limited access to milk in some regions of globe, low availability of certain minerals (iron), vitamins (folate), and other biomolecules (amino acids) compounded with issues like milk allergy, lactose intolerance, and hypercholesterolemia have forced some specific population groups to search for better milk alternatives which are more or at least equi-nutritional to conventional milk. Plant-based wholesome or blended milk analogs are better studied as inexpensive alternates to conventional milk for people who are in search of better alternates for one or other reason. The market of milk analogs is currently dominated by soya bean milk, oat milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, cocoa milk, multigrain milk etc. most of which are produced by controlled fermentation which owes to their functional bioactive composition. Such analogs are appreciated for their functionally active components which are often correlated to their health-promoting and disease-preventing properties. One major advantage of analogs over conventional milk is that the energy input per unit of milk produced is much less compared to animal milk while there is always an opportunity to manipulate their composition based on demand. However, the major limiting factor in the acceptance of such non-conventional beverages is their challenging production technology and poor sensory profile which is true particularly for beverages derived from legumes. These challenges provide an opportunity for both industries and research personals to put in major concerted efforts in the field of functional bioactive food segment to produce tailor-made novel beverages which are nutritional, economic and have improved functionality. Keeping in view the potential of plant-based milk alternates and associated challenges the aim of the present review is to give a scientifically comparative and conclusive overview of the present status, market potential, and health concerns of plant-based nondairy milk beverages.
Background Cow's milk allergy is the most common childhood food allergy. Previously we noted that children who outgrew their milk allergy had milk-specific IgE antibodies primarily directed against ...conformational epitopes; those with persistent milk allergy also had IgE antibodies directed against specific sequential epitopes. Objective Because high temperature largely destroys conformational epitopes, we hypothesized that some children with milk allergy would tolerate extensively heated (baked) milk products. Methods Children with milk allergy were challenged with heated milk products; heated milk–tolerant subjects were subsequently challenged with unheated milk. Heated milk–tolerant, unheated milk–reactive subjects ingested heated milk products for 3 months and were then re-evaluated. Immune responses were assessed in all subjects; growth and intestinal permeability were followed in heated milk–tolerant subjects. Results One hundred children (mean age, 7.5 years; range, 2.1-17.3 years) underwent heated milk challenges. Sixty-eight subjects tolerated extensively heated milk only, 23 reacted to heated milk, and 9 tolerated both heated and unheated milk. Heated milk–reactive subjects had significantly larger skin prick test wheals and higher milk-specific and casein-specific IgE levels than other groups. At 3 months, subjects ingesting heated milk products had significantly smaller skin prick test wheals and higher casein-IgG4 compared with baseline; other immunologic parameters, growth, and intestinal permeability were not significantly different. Heated milk–reactive subjects had more severe symptoms during heated milk challenge than heated milk–tolerant subjects experienced during their unheated milk challenge. Conclusion The majority (75%) of children with milk allergy tolerate heated milk.
Research on milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) is gaining traction. The interest is two-fold; on the one hand, it is a unique trilayer structure with specific secretory function. On the other hand, it ...is the basis for ingredients with the presence of phospho- and sphingolipids and glycoproteins, which are being used as food ingredients with valuable functionality, in particular, for use as a supplement in infant nutrition. This last application is at the center of this Review, which aims to contribute to understanding MFGM's function in the proper development of immunity, cognition, and intestinal trophism, in addition to other potential effects such as prevention of diseases including cardiovascular disease, impaired bone turnover and inflammation, skin conditions, and infections as well as age-associated cognitive decline and muscle loss. The phospholipid composition of MFGM from bovine milk is quite like human milk and, although there are some differences due to dairy processing, these do not result in a chemical change. The MFGM ingredients, as used to improve the formulation in different clinical studies, have indeed increased the presence of phospholipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids, and glycoproteins with the resulting benefits of different outcomes (especially immune and cognitive outcomes) with no reported adverse effects. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism(s) of action of MFGM remain to be elucidated and further basic investigation is warranted.
Background
Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most commonly reported childhood food problems. Community‐based incidence and prevalence estimates vary widely, due to possible misinterpretations of ...presumed reactions to milk and differences in study design, particularly diagnostic criteria.
Methods
Children from the EuroPrevall birth cohort in 9 European countries with symptoms possibly related to CMA were invited for clinical evaluation including cows' milk‐specific IgE antibodies (IgE), skin prick test (SPT) reactivity and double‐blind, placebo‐controlled food challenge.
Results
Across Europe, 12 049 children were enrolled, and 9336 (77.5%) were followed up to 2 years of age. CMA was suspected in 358 children and confirmed in 55 resulting in an overall incidence of challenge‐proven CMA of 0.54% (95% CI 0.41–0.70). National incidences ranged from 1% (in the Netherlands and UK) to <0.3% (in Lithuania, Germany and Greece). Of all children with CMA, 23.6% had no cow's milk‐specific IgE in serum, especially those from UK, the Netherlands, Poland and Italy. Of children with CMA who were re‐evaluated one year after diagnosis, 69% (22/32) tolerated cow's milk, including all children with non‐IgE‐associated CMA and 57% of those children with IgE‐associated CMA.
Conclusions
This unique pan‐European birth cohort study using the gold standard diagnostic procedure for food allergies confirmed challenge‐proven CMA in <1% of children up to age 2. Affected infants without detectable specific antibodies to cow's milk were very likely to tolerate cow's milk one year after diagnosis, whereas only half of those with specific antibodies in serum ‘outgrew’ their disease so soon.
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