Geographical origin modulates the gastrointestinal release pathway of bovine β-casomorphin-7 from Colombian...

Bovine β-casomorphin-7 (b-BCM7) is a bioactive peptide released during the digestion of A1 and A2 β-CN, with reported possible effects on gastrointestinal and neurological functions. We aimed to determine how the geographical origin of Colombian commercial UHT milks influences the release of b-BCM7 during a static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem MS analytical method combined with the standardized INFOGEST in vitro digestion model, we observed 2 distinct phase-dependent release patterns. Milks from high-tropic regions showed an early release of b-BCM7 during the gastric phase, reaching concentrations from 14.5 to 49.9 ng/mL, whereas low-tropic milks exhibited minimal gastric release (5.0-5.5 ng/mL). In contrast, intestinal digestion resulted in substantially higher b-BCM7 concentrations in low-tropic samples (658-1,050 ng/mL) compared with high-tropic samples (30.5-292 ng/mL). These findings reveal a phase-dependent release pattern in which geographical origin, likely reflecting differences in breed composition CSN2 allele frequency, modulates the timing and magnitude of peptide liberation understanding these mechanisms enhances our knowledge of milk bioactivity and provides insight for developing differentiated dairy products with potential nutritional and functional value in tropical production systems.