Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
A Systematic Review of the Bioactive Components, Nutritional Qualities and Potential Therapeutic Applications of Donkey Milk.
Abstract: In addition to providing individualized, specific, and ample nutritional compounds, donkey milk (DM) offers immunological modulation during health and disease. Recently, DM has attracted major interest in preparing infant formulas due to its similarity to human milk in terms of high protein and lactose content and low-fat concentration. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and hypo-allergenicity properties of DM in human infants are well-documented. The purpose of this review is to summarize the knowledge of studies done in characterizing the composition of DM, including bioactive macronutrient levels influenced by the lactation status. The manufacture of DM-based food products and promising therapeutic applications in humans will also be discussed. The beneficial health effects of DM have been extensively studied as a valuable alternative source to breast milk. DM has proven to be a suitable nutrient to relieve milk-related allergies in human infants as opposed to cow's milk. Factors that influence the levels of macronutrients in DM include lactation status, processing, and manufacturing techniques. A wide variety of dairy products have been prepared using DM, such as cheese, ice cream, milk powder, novel functional fermented beverages, and milk powder for infant formulas. The bioactive macromolecules of DM exhibit antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects as well as hypo-allergenicity, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant properties.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2022-05-06 PubMed ID: 35526725DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104006Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Review
- Systematic Review
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article discusses the nutritional properties and potential therapeutic uses of donkey milk (DM), which is shown to have high protein and lactose content, low fat concentration, and bioactive compounds which contribute to overall health.
Composition and Bioactive Compounds of Donkey Milk
This section of the review summarises the existing knowledge on the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds found in donkey milk (DM).
- The bioactive compounds found in DM, such as proteins and lactose, are influenced by the current lactation status of the donkey.
- DM is known for its high protein and lactose content and low-fat concentration.
- The components of DM offer nutrient-richness and have immunomodulatory properties, which means they can regulate or normalize the immune system.
Manufacturing of Donkey Milk-based Food Products
The researchers delve into how DM is used in the production of various food items.
- DM is being used to manufacture various dairy products like cheese, ice cream, milk powder, fermented beverages.
- These products are designed not just for their taste, but also for their potential health benefits.
- DM is promising for its application in preparing infant formulas due to its closeness in composition to human milk.
Therapeutic Applications of Donkey Milk
The review also explores the potential therapeutic applications of DM in human health.
- DM is documented to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
- DM is also hypoallergenic, making it a suitable alternative to cow’s milk for infants with milk-related allergies.
- The bioactive macromolecules in DM show a marked resistance against bacterial, viral, and fungal effects.
- Moreover, the immunomodulatory properties of DM make it beneficial during health and disease conditions.
Each of these factors, combined with DM’s closeness in composition to human milk, makes it a promising alternative to traditional milk sources. The manufacturing of DM into various food items and its potential therapeutic benefits could broadens its applications in human nutrition and health.
Cite This Article
APA
Garhwal R, Sangwan K, Mehra R, Kumar N, Bhardwaj A, Pal Y, Buttar HS, Kumar H.
(2022).
A Systematic Review of the Bioactive Components, Nutritional Qualities and Potential Therapeutic Applications of Donkey Milk.
J Equine Vet Sci, 115, 104006.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India; Department of Food Science and Technology, Institute of Hotel Management, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India.
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
- ICAR- National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India. Electronic address: dranu.biotech@gmail.com.
- ICAR- National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, School of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. Electronic address: harishkanwar3@gmail.com.
MeSH Terms
- Allergens
- Animals
- Antioxidants
- Cattle
- Cattle Diseases
- Equidae
- Female
- Humans
- Milk Hypersensitivity / veterinary
- Milk, Human
- Powders
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Laus F, Laghi L, Bazzano M, Cifone MG, Cinque B, Yang Y, Marchegiani A. Donkey Colostrum and Milk: How Dietary Probiotics Can Affect Metabolomic Profile, Alkaline Sphingomyelinase and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity. Metabolites 2023 Apr 30;13(5).
- Garhwal R, Bhardwaj A, Sangwan K, Mehra R, Pal Y, Nayan V, Iquebal MA, Jaiswal S, Kumar H. Milk from Halari Donkey Breed: Nutritional Analysis, Vitamins, Minerals, and Amino Acids Profiling. Foods 2023 Feb 16;12(4).
- Zhu Q, Khan MZ, Peng Y, Wang C. A Comparative Review of Donkey Genetic Resources, Production Traits, and Industrial Utilization: Perspectives from China and Globally. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 21;15(23).
- Plotuna AM, Hotea I, Nichita I, Popa I, Imre K, Herman V, Tîrziu E. Phytogenic and Nutritional Strategies to Improve Milk Production and Microbiological Quality in Lactating Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 21;15(20).
- Yang L, Ni H, Gou X, Zhong B, Wen K, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Wang Y. Donkey Milk Improves Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis by Protecting Gut Barrier Function, Inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway, and Modulating Gut Microbiota. Food Sci Nutr 2025 Sep;13(9):e70989.
- Li Y, Ma Q, Li M, Liu W, Liu Y, Wang M, Wang C, Khan MZ. Non-Bovine Milk as Functional Foods with Focus on Their Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Bioactivities. Antioxidants (Basel) 2025 Jun 27;14(7).
- Xu Q, Wei L, Chen X, Zhu H, Wei J, Zhu M, Khan MZ, Wang C, Zhang Z. Nutritional Composition and Biological Activities of Donkey Milk: A Narrative Review. Foods 2025 Jul 1;14(13).
- Vidaković Knežević S, Vranešević J, Popov N, Knežević S, Ljubojević Pelić D, Živkov Baloš M. Impact of Balkan and Banat Donkey Milk on the Technological Process, Microbiological Quality, Composition, and Consumer Acceptability of Rolled Cheese. Foods 2025 Jun 10;14(12).
- Sami M, Azizi S, Kheirandish R, Ebrahimnejad H, Alizadeh S. Protective Effects of Donkey Milk on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rat. Vet Med Sci 2025 Jan;11(1):e70156.
- Ljubojević Pelić D, Lazić S, Živkov Baloš M. Chemical contaminants in donkey milk: A review of literature on sources, routes and pathways of contamination, regulatory framework, health risks, and preventive measures. Heliyon 2024 Nov 15;10(21):e39999.
- Khan MZ, Chen W, Li M, Ren W, Huang B, Kou X, Ullah Q, Wei L, Wang T, Khan A, Zhang Z, Li L, Wang C. Is there sufficient evidence to support the health benefits of including donkey milk in the diet?. Front Nutr 2024;11:1404998.
- Kourti D, Angelopoulou M, Makarona E, Economou A, Petrou P, Misiakos K, Kakabakos S. Photonic Dipstick Immunosensor to Detect Adulteration of Ewe, Goat, and Donkey Milk with Cow Milk through Bovine κ-Casein Detection. Sensors (Basel) 2024 Aug 31;24(17).
- Wei M, Ning C, Ren Y, Hu F, Wang M, Li W. Characterisation and comparison of enzymatically prepared donkey milk whey protein hydrolysates. Food Chem X 2024 Jun 30;22:101360.
- Singh P, Bhardwaj A, Nayan V, Legha RA, Pal Y, Soni S, Giri SK, Bhattacharya TK. Milk somatic cell DNA isolation and characterization of κ-casein gene in Halari donkey milk. Heliyon 2024 Jan 30;10(2):e24991.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
