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Cow, Goat, and Mare Milk Diets Differentially Modulated the Immune System and Gut Microbiota of Mice Colonized by Healthy Infant Feces.
Abstract: Studies on the possible alternative supplements to breastmilk are gaining research interests. Although milk from cow, goat, and mare is nutritious, its effects on the relationship between the immune system, metabolites, and gut microbiota remain unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of cow, goat, and mare milk on the immune system, metabolites, and gut microbiota of mice colonized by healthy infant feces using human milk as a standard. We examined the serum biochemistry parameters, immunity indicators, T cells, gut microbiota abundance, and metabolites. Results showed that the impact of human milk on alanine transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, total protein, globulin, and glucose values was different from the cow, goat, and mare milk types. The effects of mare milk on the percentage of CD4 T, Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells, and the levels of IL-2, IL-4, sIgA, and d-lactic acid in the serum of the human microbiota-associated mice were comparable to those of human milk. Also, bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that human milk enriched the relative abundance of and , cow milk increased the relative abundance of , goat milk increased the relative abundance of , and mare milk improved the relative abundance of . Besides, mare milk was similar to human milk in the concentration of the metabolites we analyzed. Our findings suggest that mare milk can positively modulate the gut microbiota and immunity status of infants and thus could be a possible replacement for human milk.
Publication Date: 2020-12-10 PubMed ID: 33300339DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06039Google 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.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores the effects of cow, goat, and mare milk on the immune system, metabolites, and gut microbiota of mice ingested with healthy infant feces, with regard to human milk as the standard. The findings indicate that mare milk has similar impacts as human milk, and could potentially be an alternative infant supplement.
Objective of the Study
- The primary goal was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation on how cow, goat, and mare milk affect the immune response, metabolite levels and the composition of gut microbiota in mice.
- Human milk was used as a reference point, considering its widely accepted benefits for infant health.
Methods Undertaken
- The research involved examining serum biochemistry, indicators of immunity, T cells, gut microbiota abundance, and metabolites.
- The studied mice were colonized by healthy infant feces, to mimic the digestive environment of infants.
Key Findings
- The study discovered that the impact of human milk on parameters such as, alanine transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, total protein, globulin, and glucose values, differed from those of cow, goat, and mare milk.
- Mare milk showed comparable effects to human milk on the percentage of various types of T cells, as well as the levels of IL-2, IL-4, sIgA, and d-lactic acid in serum.
- In terms of gut microbiota, different milks resulted in the enrichment of different bacterial species. However, mare milk was similar to human milk in the concentration of the tested metabolites.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that mare milk can positively influence the gut microbiota and immunity status of infants, similar to human milk.
- This suggests that mare milk could be considered as a potential alternative to human milk in certain circumstances or for certain infant populations.
Cite This Article
APA
Li N, Xie Q, Chen Q, Evivie SE, Liu D, Dong J, Huo G, Li B.
(2020).
Cow, Goat, and Mare Milk Diets Differentially Modulated the Immune System and Gut Microbiota of Mice Colonized by Healthy Infant Feces.
J Agric Food Chem, 68(51), 15345-15357.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06039 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Company LTD., Qiqihaer 164800, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria.
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
- Food College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteria / classification
- Bacteria / genetics
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Cattle
- Diet
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome
- Goats
- Horses
- Humans
- Immune System / immunology
- Infant
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Milk / chemistry
- Milk / metabolism
- Milk, Human / chemistry
- Milk, Human / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Lu H, Zhang W, Sun S, Mei Y, Zhao G, Yang K. Effect of Supplementary Feeding on Milk Volume, Milk Composition, Blood Biochemical Index, and Fecal Microflora Diversity in Grazing Yili Mares. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 26;13(15).
- Chen Q, Ma X, Xing Z, Zhao X, Zu H, Guo Z, Li B. Antibiotic Conditioning Shapes Pseudosterile Mouse Models by Deleting Colonic Microbes Rather than Small Intestinal Microbes. Microbiol Spectr 2023 Jun 15;11(3):e0081423.
- Wang S, Lan Q, Badama S, Nashun B, Wu Y, Bai Y, Xu R, Ta L, Bao X, Fang J, He N, Byambaa T, Damba TA, Dalkh T, Si Q. Impact of mare milk-derived small extracellular vesicles on proliferation, phagocytosis, and migration in RAW264.7 macrophage. Sci Rep 2026 Feb 2;16(1):6944.
- Shokrollahi B, Choi JY, Won M, Kim ET, Lee SE, Ham JS. Koumiss (Fermented Mare's Milk) as a Functional Food: Bioactive Proteins, Peptides, and Future Perspectives. Foods 2025 Nov 18;14(22).
- Wang R, Ren W, Liu S, Li Z, Li L, Ma S, Yao X, Meng J, Zeng Y, Wang J. Metagenomic Analysis Reveals the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Mare Milk. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Aug 25;26(17).
- Chen X, Gulbahar K, Ding H, Nie C, Gao X. Comparative analysis of proteomics and transcriptomics reveals novel mechanism underlying the antibacterial activity and immune-enhancing properties of horse milk. Front Nutr 2025;12:1512669.
- Chakraborty A, Dutta P, Amrit R, Dey P, Osborne WJ. Antagonistic activity of butanamine 2,2-dinitro-N-methyl- synthesized by endosymbiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens VITAPRJS1 acquired from horse milk. Int Microbiol 2025 Oct;28(7):1583-1601.
- Han B, Sun J, Gu X, Wang J, Wang X, Tao H, Wang Z, Liu J. The prebiotic potential of lactobin and glucans combined with goat's milk in cats. Can J Vet Res 2025 Jan;89(1):36-42.
- Guo C, Ye J, Liu J, Li Z, Deng M, Guo Y, Liu G, Sun B, Li Y, Liu D. Whole-genome sequencing identified candidate genes associated with high and low litter size in Chuanzhong black goats. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1420164.
- Ulaangerel T, Wang M, Zhao B, Yi M, Shen Y, Mengkh Y, Wen X, Dugarjav M, Bou G. A Comparative Analysis of the Gene Expression Profiles in the Mammary Glands of Lactating and Nonlactating Mares at the Second Month of Gestation. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 9;14(16).
- Wróblewska B, Kuliga A, Wnorowska K. Bioactive Dairy-Fermented Products and Phenolic Compounds: Together or Apart. Molecules 2023 Dec 14;28(24).
- Guo W, Liu S, Khan MZ, Wang J, Chen T, Alugongo GM, Li S, Cao Z. Bovine milk microbiota: Key players, origins, and potential contributions to early-life gut development. J Adv Res 2024 May;59:49-64.
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