Gastric digestion of bovine lactoferrin in vivo in adults.

F.J.J. Troost*, J. Steijns, W.H.M. Saris, R.J.M. Brummer

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

J Nutr 2001 Aug;131(8):2101-4 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut


Gastric digestion of bovine lactoferrin in vivo in adults.

Troost FJ, Steijns J, Saris WH, Brummer RJ.

Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Institute Maastricht, Universiteitssingel, Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected]

Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein present in milk and other endocrine and exocrine secretions, may exert a number of physiologic effects in the intestines. To study the effects of oral LF supplementation in vivo in the gastrointestinal tract, information about the gastric survival of LF in vivo is important. We tested 12 healthy volunteers (age 21 +/- 0.3 y) on 3 separate d according to a randomized, cross-over design. A test drink containing 4.5 g of bovine LF (20% iron-saturated LF; apoLF) in the presence of a gastric pH buffer (0.1 mol/L sodium citrate/citric acid; apoLFbuf), apoLF without the buffer (apoLF) or iron-saturated LF (holoLF) was administered into the stomach using nasogastric intubation. Gastric emptying rate, determined by a marker dilution technique, did not differ among any of these drinks. Gastric survival of LF, analyzed by gel permeation chromatography under denaturing conditions, was 64%, 62% and 79% after consumption of the apoLFbuf, apoLF and holoLF test drinks, respectively. Addition of the gastric pH buffer initially lowered intragastric pH because of its hydroxide buffering effect. However, it did not elevate intragastric pH over a prolonged period and thereby inhibit intragastric LF breakdown. We conclude that after oral administration, substantial amounts of apoLF and holoLF survive gastric transit.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2101-2104
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Nutrition
Volume131
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2001

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