Exploring the potential applications of whey protein hydrolysates in dairy processing: A study on bioactive peptides

Whey protein hydrolysates, the industrial byproducts from the dairy industry, contains various bioactive peptides. When added to infant formula, it may potentially enhance the bioactive potential of the infant formula milk. This study incorporated whey protein hydrolysates into an existing milk powder formula C, creating a new formula H. The feasibility of this addition was assessed by comparing the bioactive peptides in whey protein hydrolysates, formula C, and formula H before and after simulated digestion. The experiment included peptidomic analysis of the three samples(whey hydrolyzed protein, formula C and formula H). Mass spectrometry identified 126 bioactive peptides, including sleep-inducing, immune-modulatory, antimicrobial, and neuropeptides. Molecular docking and computer simulations revealed that the peptides bind primarily to their receptors via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This study, which integrates experimental findings with bioinformatics analysis, highlights the potential applications of whey protein hydrolysates in infant formula milk, providing a theoretical foundation for future high value-added dairy product development.