Digested casein phosphopeptides impact intestinal calcium transport in vitro.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Calcium is vital for bone health and numerous physiological functions.
• Improving dietary calcium bioavailability is a significant nutritional challenge.
• Casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) are recognized for their calcium-binding properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a CPP-enriched milk matrix in enhancing intestinal calcium transport.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying CPP-mediated calcium uptake.
• To investigate the fate of CPPs within the intestinal barrier model.

Main Methods:

• In vitro static digestion of a CPP-rich preparation.
• Incubation of digested CPPs with an intestinal barrier cell culture model.
• Measurement of trans-epithelial calcium transport and CPP identification via peptidomics.

Main Results:

• The digested CPP preparation significantly enhanced trans-epithelial calcium transport.
• Calcium transport was primarily facilitated through paracellular pathways.
• Identified CPPs were found to permeate the intestinal barrier concurrently with calcium.

Conclusions:

• Digested CPPs effectively enhance intestinal calcium absorption via paracellular routes.
• CPPs play a dual role by facilitating calcium transport and being absorbed themselves.
• This study supports the potential of CPPs as functional food ingredients for improving calcium bioavailability.