Table 1.
List of bioactive proteins investigated in this study
| Item | Molecular weight (kDa) | Compartment in human milk | Digestibility by infant's gut | Functions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| α‐Lactalbumin | 14 | Whey | Partial digestion | Zn & Fe absorption; immunomodulation; prebiotics |
| Lactoferrin | 80 | Whey | No or limited digestion; intact proteins found in stool | Fe absorption; Immunomodulation; antimicrobial activity; intestinal development; prebiotics; cognitive development |
| Serum albumin | 67 | Whey | Easily digested | Unclear |
| Secretory IgA (sIgA) | 60 | Whey | No or limited digestion; intact proteins found in stool | Immunomodulation; antimicrobial activity |
| IgM | 74 | Whey | Easily digested | Immunomodulation |
| IgG | 50 | Whey | Easily digested | Immunomodulation |
| Lysozyme | 14 | Whey | No or limited digestion; intact proteins found in stool | Antimicrobial activity |
| Osteopontin | 44–75 | Whey | Partial digestion | Immunomodulation |
| Bile salt‐stimulated lipase (BSSL) | 90 | Whey | No or limited digestion; intact proteins found in stool | Lipid digestion and absorption; antimicrobial activity |
| Haptocorrin | 60 | Whey | No or limited digestion; intact proteins found in stool | Vitamin B12 absorption; antimicrobial activity |
| Milk fat globule membrane protein (MFGMP) | N/A | Mucin | N/A | Antimicrobial activity, prebiotics |
| β‐Casein | 24 | Casein | Partial digestion | Ca, Zn, and P absorption |
| κ‐Casein | 19 | Casein | Partial digestion | Antimicrobial activity |
Abbreviation: N/A, data not available.