Donkey Milk Proteins: Digestibility and Nutritional Significance

Marletta, Donata; Tidona, Flavio; Bordonaro, Salvatore

doi:10.5772/62597

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…In the last few years, in different countries, including Italy, donkey milk has become a commercially interesting product because of the growing demand by various categories of consumers. In fact, although this milk is particularly suitable for patients suffering from cow milk's protein allergies [1], it has a range of nutritional claims, confirmed by recent studies, especially those related to its high digestibility [2], antiviral [3], antimicrobial [4], antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, as recently reviewed [5]. For these peculiar health-promoting properties, donkey milk is defined as "nutraceutical" and "pharmafood" and considered a suitable matrix to deliver a fermented beverage of new generations [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

New Insights into Chemical and Mineral Composition of Donkey Milk throughout Nine Months of Lactation

Malacarne

Criscione

Franceschi

et al. 2019

Animals

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Donkey milk is increasingly being proposed as a natural alternative milk for various categories of consumers, especially infants and the elderly population. However, its potential production, gross, and mineral composition have not been deeply investigated yet. Sixty-two individual milk samples were collected monthly from nine Ragusano donkeys reared in a specialized dairy farm. Milk yield as well as chemical and mineral composition, including macro and micro elements, were investigated over an entire lactation, from the second to the ninth month of milking. Milk yield averaged 1.64 kg/day, which highlights good aptitude of the Ragusano breed for the production of milk. Gross composition was characterized by low content of dry matter (8.19%), a high amount of lactose (6.07%), low protein (1.34%), and very low-fat content (0.16%). Whey proteins represented 58% of the total protein, and proteose-peptones accounted for 0.35 ± 0.07 g per 100 g. Total ash content was 0.36 g per 100 g and represented 4.40% of the dry matter. The most abundant element was K, which was followed by Ca, Na, and P. As expected, the micro elements Fe, Zn, and Cu were found in low amounts or in traces. Dry matter, fat, whey proteins. The total ash, Ca, P, Mg, and mineral ratios were significantly affected by the lactation stage.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

New Insights into Chemical and Mineral Composition of Donkey Milk throughout Nine Months of Lactation

Malacarne

Criscione

Franceschi

et al. 2019

Animals

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“…Given the almost total absence of the toxin in milk, it can be assumed that the feed was safe and effective controls have always been carried out. Another explanation could be that the non-detection of AFM 1 in practically all milk samples is due to the very low casein content of donkey milk compared to the cow milk [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. In fact, this toxin has a high affinity for casein [ 50 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ], and therefore in the milk of animals exposed to AFs via feed, there could be a correlation between the amount of AFM 1 and the percentage of casein.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in Donkey Milk Collected in Northern Italy

Altafini

Tassinari

Guerrini

et al. 2020

Veterinary Sciences

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Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a well-known mycotoxin that can be found in the milk of animals that have ingested feed contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). In Italy, the development of donkey farms is mainly due to growing request of donkey milk, which is considered an incomparable substitute for human mother’s milk for its chemical composition and organoleptic characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of AFM1 in donkey milk produced in a farm in Northern Italy, also in view of the few data available about the presence of this mycotoxin in this type of milk. Therefore, 63 milk samples were collected and analyzed using a fast and sensitive HPLC and fluorescence detection (FLD) method previously optimized and validated. None of the milk samples collected were found to be contaminated at a level above the limit of quantification (LOQ) (0.0125 ng/mL), while only one sample showed traces of the mycotoxin at a concentration between the limit of detection (LOD) and LOQ (0.0044 ng/mL), well below the legal limit established for infant milk and follow-on milk (0.025 ng/mL). These results are in line with those of the few similar surveys carried out on donkey milk and seem to indicate a low risk of AFM1 contamination for this food.

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“…LZ is present in higher quantity in DM compared to ruminant milks and seems quite resistant to human gastrointestinal enzymes (75% resistance) in vitro [ 74 ]. Although human studies in infants are still controversial [ 43 ], investigations in mouse models show that LZ can reach the intestinal tract intact [ 72 ].…”

Section: Protection Of the Intestinal Barrier And Modulatory Effect Of The Intestinal Floramentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Knowledge on Functionality and Potential Therapeutic Uses of Donkey Milk

Martini

Altomonte

Tricò

et al. 2021

Animals

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The increase of knowledge on the composition of donkey milk has revealed marked similarities to human milk, which led to a growing number of investigations focused on testing the potential effects of donkey milk in vitro and in vivo. This paper examines the scientific evidence regarding the beneficial effects of donkey milk on human health. Most clinical studies report a tolerability of donkey milk in 82.6–98.5% of infants with cow milk protein allergies. The average protein content of donkey milk is about 18 g/L. Caseins, which are main allergenic components of milk, are less represented compared to cow milk (56% of the total protein in donkey vs. 80% in cow milk). Donkey milk is well accepted by children due to its high concentration of lactose (about 60 g/L). Immunomodulatory properties have been reported in one study in humans and in several animal models. Donkey milk also seems to modulate the intestinal microbiota, enhance antioxidant defense mechanisms and detoxifying enzymes activities, reduce hyperglycemia and normalize dyslipidemia. Donkey milk has lower calorie and fat content compared with other milks used in human nutrition (fat ranges from 0.20% to 1.7%) and a more favourable fatty acid profile, being low in saturated fatty acids (3.02 g/L) and high in alpha-linolenic acid (about 7.25 g/100 g of fat). Until now, the beneficial properties of donkey milk have been mostly related to whey proteins, among which β-lactoglobulin is the most represented (6.06 g/L), followed by α-lactalbumin (about 2 g/L) and lysozyme (1.07 g/L). So far, the health functionality of donkey milk has been tested almost exclusively on animal models. Furthermore, in vitro studies have described inhibitory action against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. From the literature review emerges the need for new randomized clinical trials on humans to provide stronger evidence of the potential beneficial health effects of donkey milk, which could lead to new applications as an adjuvant in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, malnutrition, and aging.

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Donkey Milk Proteins: Digestibility and Nutritional Significance

Cited by 15 publications

References 53 publications

New Insights into Chemical and Mineral Composition of Donkey Milk throughout Nine Months of Lactation

New Insights into Chemical and Mineral Composition of Donkey Milk throughout Nine Months of Lactation

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in Donkey Milk Collected in Northern Italy

Current Knowledge on Functionality and Potential Therapeutic Uses of Donkey Milk

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