Comparison of milk oligosaccharides pattern in colostrum of different horse breeds.
Abstract: Colostrum oligosaccharides are known to exhibit prebiotic and immunomodulatory properties. Oligosaccharide composition is species-specific, and equine colostrum has been reported to contain unique oligosaccharides. Therefore, equine oligosaccharides (EMOS) from colostrum from different horse breeds were analyzed by CE-LIF, CE-MS(n), HILIC-MS(n), and exoglycosidase degradation. Sixteen EMOS were characterized and quantified, of which half were neutral and half were acidic. EMOS showed about 63% structural overlap with human milk oligosaccharides, known for their bioactivity. Seven EMOS were not reported before in equine oligosaccharides literature: neutral Gal(β1-4)HexNAc, Gal(β1-4)Hex-Hex, β4'-galactosyllactose, and lactose-N-hexaose, as well as acidic 6'-Sialyl-Hex-Ac-HexNAc, sialyllacto-N-tetraose-a, and disialylacto-N-tetraose (isomer not further specified). In all colostrum samples, the average oligosaccharide concentration ranged from 2.12 to 4.63 g/L; with β 6'and 3'- galactosyllactose, 3'-sialyllactose, and disialyllactose as the most abundant of all oligosaccharides (27-59, 16-37, 1-8, and 1-6%, respectively). Differences in presence and in abundance of specific EMOS were evident not only between the four breeds but also within the breed.
Publication Date: 2015-05-08 PubMed ID: 25924866DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01127Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study explores the composition of sugar molecules, or oligosaccharides, in horse colostrum (early milk) from different breeds, focusing on their variety and quantities, while comparing them with those found in human milk.
Introduction
Equine colostrum, referred to as ‘first milk’, is the milk produced shortly after the birth of a foal. It’s laden with antibodies and nutrients, and also contains a special class of sugar molecules termed oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides, more specifically termed as equine milk oligosaccharides (EMOS), play significant roles in foals’ health, functioning both as prebiotics to beneficial gut bacteria and factors that influence the immune system.
Study Methodology
- The researchers collected colostrum samples from different horse breeds.
- A series of scientific techniques, including CE-LIF, CE-MS(n), HILIC-MS(n), and exoglycosidase degradation, were utilized to analyze these samples.
- The aim was to identify the structure of the different oligosaccharides, quantify their presence, and make intra and inter-breed comparisons.
Results
- A total of 16 EMOS were identified and quantified, and the identified species were classified as either neutral or acidic.
- About 63% of these oligosaccharides were structurally similar to human milk oligosaccharides, known for their benefits in human gut health and immunity.
- Seven of the identified EMOS were not previously reported in the literature pertaining to equine oligosaccharides.
- The quantity of these oligosaccharides in the colostrum samples ranged from 2.12 to 4.63 g/L, with β 6’and 3′- galactosyllactose, 3′-sialyllactose, and disialyllactose as the most abundant.
- There were marked differences both within and between different horse breeds regarding the presence and abundance of specific EMOS.
Conclusion
The breadth of oligosaccharides found in horse colostrum is not only breed-specific but can also vary within a particular breed. This critical revelation could potentially impact equine nutrition strategies for newborn foals, pertaining particularly to improving gut health and immunity, through understanding the implications of the variation of these beneficial oligosaccharides. Furthermore, the identification of several EMOS not previously reported adds to the existing body of knowledge in veterinary and equine science.
Cite This Article
APA
Difilippo E, Willems HA, Vendrig JC, Fink-Gremmels J, Gruppen H, Schols HA.
(2015).
Comparison of milk oligosaccharides pattern in colostrum of different horse breeds.
J Agric Food Chem, 63(19), 4805-4814.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01127 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- ‡Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Subdivision of Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, and Toxicology, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- ‡Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Subdivision of Veterinary Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy, and Toxicology, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- †Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Colostrum / chemistry
- Colostrum / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / classification
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / metabolism
- Humans
- Milk / chemistry
- Milk, Human / chemistry
- Molecular Structure
- Oligosaccharides / chemistry
- Oligosaccharides / metabolism
Citations
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