Pubmed - 15N-labeled immunoglobulins from bovine colostrum are partially resistant to digestion in human intestine

Institut für Physiologie und Biochemie der Ernährung, Kiel, Germany.

Abstract
To evaluate true ileal digestibility of bovine immunoglobulins, seven healthy human adults ingested a 15N-labeled preparation of an immunoglobulin concentrate. After fasting overnight, subjects drank 400 mL of immunoglobulin concentrate (77 mmol), and ileal effluents were collected for 8 h at 20-min intervals using a naso-intestinal intubation technique. In addition to osmolality and pH, the concentrations of exogenous and endogenous nitrogen and ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+) in the effluents were measured. Bovine immunoglobulin concentrations (IgG, IgM, IgA) were estimated by a radial immunodiffusion technique. The mean flow rate of the liquid phase was 22.3 +/- 6.1 mL/20 min and did not vary significantly during the collection period. No change was observed for osmolality, pH or Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations. Two hours after meal ingestion, Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05). The recoveries of nitrogen of ingested IgG and IgM still immunologically active were 19 +/- 3% and 19 +/- 4%, respectively. No IgA was detected in the ileum. Mean digestibility of the exogenous nitrogen fraction was 79 +/- 3%. In comparison to literature data, which show that other milk proteins have ileal digestibilities of > 90%, our results demonstrate a lower ileal digestibility of bovine immunoglobulins in humans.

PMID: 7738684 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7738684