Thermal or membrane processing for Infant Milk Formula: Effects on protein digestion and integrity of the intestinal barrier

Infant Milk Formula (IMF) is designed as a breastmilk substitute to satisfy the nutritional requirements during first months of life. This study investigates effects two IMF processing technologies on cow milk protein digestion using an infant static in vitro gastrointestinal model. The degree hydrolysis at end gastric phase was 3.7-fold higher for produced by high temperature (IMF-HT), compared cascade membrane filtration (IMF-CMF), assessed free N-terminal group analysis. type also influenced panel bioavailable peptides detected basolateral compartments Caco-2 monolayers exposed digested IMFs. In addition, IMF-CMF significantly increased tight junction protein, claudin 1, whilst IMF-HT reduced integrity. conclusion, producing CMF may preserve intestinal barrier integrity and can deliver its own unique inventory with potential bioactivity.