Milk proteins and iron absorption: contrasting effects of different caseinophosphopeptides.

Clusters of phosphoserine residues in cow milk caseins bind iron (Fe) with high affinity. Casein inhibits Fe absorption in humans, but protein hydrolysis lessens this effect. Phosphopeptides from different caseins gave conflicting results on Fe absorption; release of phosphate residues by intestinal alkaline phosphatase could be a key point of that metabolism. The objectives of this study were to compare the absorption of Fe complexed to caseinophosphopeptides (CPP) of the main cow milk caseins beta-casein (beta-CPP) and alpha(s)-caseins (alpha(s1)-CPP) and to assess the role of alkaline phosphatase on this absorption. Two experimental models were used: an in vivo perfused rat intestinal loop and an in vitro Caco-2 cell culture model. In addition, we determined the effect of an intestinal phosphatase inhibitor on these various forms of Fe. Gluconate Fe was used as control. In both models, uptake and net absorption of Fe complexed to CPP from alpha(S1)-caseins were significantly lower than from Fe complexed to beta-CPP. Inhibition of the intestinal phosphatase significantly increased the uptake and the absorption of Fe complexed to beta-CPP without effect on the other forms of Fe. These results confirm the enhancing effect of beta-casein and its CPP on Fe absorption. The differences between CPP could be explained by their structural and/or conformational features: binding Fe to alpha(S1)-CPP could impair access to digestive enzymes, whereas beta-CPP-bound Fe is better absorbed than its free form. The differences in protein composition between cow and breast milk, which does not contain alpha-casein, could explain some of their differences in Fe bioavailability.

Zinc status and bone mineralisation in adolescent girls.

The aim of the project was to assess the relationship between zinc status and bone mineralisation in pre-menarcheal adolescent girls. One hundred and thirty-nine healthy pre-menarcheal girls (Tanner pubic hair stage < or = 4), aged 12.4 +/- 1.0 years, had two visits at an interval of 2 years. Serum and urine zinc concentrations (Zn S; Zn U; Zn U/ creatinine), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I), and markers of bone turn-over, i.e. osteocalcin and parathormone (PTH), concentrations were measured at the first visit. Lumbar (L2-L4) bone mineral content and density (BMC, BMD) were measured at both visits. BMC and BMD and their increase at the follow-up after 2 years were compared with biochemical data by multiple regression. The stage of puberty was added as a covariable in the analysis. At the first visit, a significant correlation was found between sexual maturity and initial BMC, BMD, height, weight, and IGF-I. Zn S was negatively correlated with osteocalcin. Zn U showed a positive correlation with BMC, BMD, IGF-I, height, weight, and PTH. At the second visit, sexual maturity showed a positive correlation with BMD and weight increments and a negative one with BMC and height gains. Zn S was significantly related with BMD increase. These correlations suggest that zinc plays a role in normal growth and bone mineralisation during puberty onset.

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes After Irradiation Treatment of Camembert Cheeses Made from Raw Milk.

Raw milk camembert cheeses have been inoculated with a pathogenic strain of Listeria monocytogenes (V7 serotype ½ a) and irradiated with gamma or X-rays. The D10 of L. monocytogenes irradiated in cheese was 0.50 ± 0.05 kGy as compared to 0.35 in pure culture. A treatment dose of 2.6 kGy which does not alter the organoleptic properties of camembert, allows a complete destruction of 104 L. monocytogenes /g; When 105 bacteria/g are inoculated some of them are still viable after the irradiation and at the end of 45 days; however, the surviving bacteria have lost their ability to multiply.