[i]In vivo[/i] digestion of infant formula in piglets: protein digestion kinetics and their potential bioactivity
Résumé
Infant formula (IF) are major sources of proteins for the neonate and represent the only alternative when breast-feeding is not possible. During IF manufacture, protein structures are modified by processing conditions. The resistance of IF proteins to digestion in different compartment of the digestive tract is still unknown. Aim. The objective was to study the digestion of IF milk proteins i.e. caseins (Cns), b-lactoglobulin (b-lg) and a-lactalbumin (a-la), over time in the stomach, jejunum and ileum of 18 piglets (taken as a model of human neonates), and to identify peptides present in the small intestine.