Effect of processing of infant milk formula on growth performance, protein digestibility & gut barrier physiology in vivo.

Background: Infant milk formula (IMF) was produced at pilot scale by cascade membrane filtration (IMF-CMF) as an alternative to high temperature (IMF-HT) processing. Methods: At weaning, 20 piglets were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (1) IMFHT OR (2) IMF-CMF. Piglets were fed twice daily and water was available ad libitum for 28 days. Piglets were slaughtered 3 hours after their final feeding. Results: Piglets fed IMF-CMF had significantly higher average daily feed intake from day 0 - 7 in comparison with IMF-HT fed piglets (269.49 V's 200.87 ± 17.85 g/day; P <0.001). Piglets fed IMF-HT had significantly lower average daily gain in contrast with piglets fed IMF-CMF (140.20 V's 200.82 ± 22.63 g/day; P = 0.013). The degree of protein hydrolysis was significantly higher (P = 0.027) in the duodenum of piglets who received IMF-CMF (1530 ± 136 µmol of NH2/mg of protein) versus IMF-HT (1174 ± 124 µmol of NH2/mg of protein). The IMF-CMF fed piglets had a significantly higher number of goblet cells in the jejunum versus the IMF-HT fed piglets (17.4 V's 11.7 ± 1.9 goblet cells: P = 0.028). Conclusions: IMF-CMF increases feed intake, milk protein hydrolysis during duodenal digestion, and goblet cells in jejunum.