Functional serum protein product for use in infant food and therapeutic compositions and methods for the preparation thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a serum protein product, suitable as an ingredient for foods and therapeutic compositions, in particular infant and baby foods. The invention also provides a method for the preparation of the serum protein product, based on micro filtration of milk. The invention provides a method for the preparation of a serum protein product, comprising the preparation of a permeate through micro filtration of cow's milk at a temperature of between 10 and 20° C. utilizing a membrane having a pore size of between 0.3 and 0.5 μm.

1 . A method for the preparation of a serum protein product, comprising microfiltering milk from a ruminant with a microfiltration membrane having a pore size of between 0.3 and 0.5 μm, at a temperature of between 10 and 20° C. to obtain a permeate. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is 10 to 15° C. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmembrane pressure during said microfiltering is a maximum of 2.5 bar. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microfiltration membrane is spiral-wound. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pore size of the microfiltration membrane is approximately 0.45 μm. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises treating the permeate with one or more of the following processes: ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, ion exchange, electrodialysis, reverse osmosis, desalination, evaporation and spray-drying. 
   
   
       7 . A serum protein product obtainable according to the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       8 . A serum protein product according to  claim 7 , containing at least 60% of serum protein and at most 40% of casein, and wherein the casein fraction comprises more than 75% of beta casein. 
   
   
       9 . A serum protein product according to  claim 8 , containing at least 65% of serum protein and at most 35% of casein. 
   
   
       10 . A serum protein product according to  claim 7 , containing at least 12% of casein. 
   
   
       11 . A serum protein product according to  claim 7 , containing 6 to 11 grams of proline per 100 g of protein. 
   
   
       12 . A serum protein product according to  claim 7 , wherein the proline is substantially included in intact proteins. 
   
   
       13 . A serum protein product according to  claim 7 , containing more than 4.7 grams of threonine per 100 g of protein, wherein the threonine is substantially included in intact proteins. 
   
   
       14 . A method for the preparation of food or therapeutic composition, comprising mixing of the serum protein product of  claim 7  with at least one additional protein, or lipid or carbohydrate source, optionally supplemented with minerals, oligo components and other ingredients. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the food is a baby or infant food, having a serum protein to casein ratio of approximately 60:40 based on weight. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein, said additional protein source is, skim milk, caseinate, acid casein or milk protein concentrate. 
   
   
       17 . A food or therapeutic composition obtainable according to the method of  claim 14 . 
   
   
       18 . A method to promote the maturation of the intestinal wall and/or a proper closure of the tight junctions which comprises administering to a subject the food or therapeutic composition of  claim 17 . 
   
   
       19 . A method to stimulate the mucus formation of the intestinal wall and/or promoting the colonization resistance of the intestinal flora which comprises administering to a subject the food or therapeutic composition of  claim 11 .