Cow, Goat, and Mare Milk Diets Differentially Modulated the Immune System and Gut Microbiota of Mice Colonized by Healthy Infant Feces.

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.