Effect of whey hydrolysate formula on the transfer of β-lactoglobulin into serum and milk in mice

Abstract

This study was performed to elucidate the effect of whey hydrolysate formula on the transfer of an antigen into serum and milk. The concentrations of β-lactoglobulin in serum and milk were positively correlated (p < 0.01). The concentration of β-lactoglobulin in serum tended to become low in the mouse and to be accompanied with a high level of fecal anti-~-lactoglobulin IgA concentration. The fecal anti-β-lactoglobulin IgA of mice fed hydrolysate formula for 12 weeks was significantly higher than that of the control formula-fed mice (p<0.05). These results suggest that a high level of intestinal IgA elicited by the feeding of hydrolysate formula may reduce the transfer of β-lactoglobulin into serum and milk.