(P19-034-25) In-vitro Pediatric Colonic Fermentation and Metabolites Unique From Pea Protein Formulaas Compared to Formulas With Other Protein Sources

Objectives: Fermentation and metabolites are influenced by gut microbiome composition and are modified by diet. The aim of this in-vitro study was to assess the impact of different protein sources on pediatric colonic responses.

Methods: Stool samples of ten healthy pediatric donors were collected.  The Colon-on-a-Plate® (CoaP) platform was used. Treatment groups were formulas with protein from pea (PP), dairy (DP), dairy and soy (DSP), and amino acids (AA).  Fermentation was measured by pH, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs). LA -REIMS metabolic fingerprinting was first conducted and then pairwise OPLS-DA comparisons were made for the treatments and a blank control. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) analysis was used to assess metabolites. Multivariate and univariate statistics were conducted to reveal the metabolic impact of the various products with significance p ≤ 0.05.

Results: Each protein treatment produced similar fermentation as indicated by a significant decrease in pH, and production of SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate). Only one treatment (PP) resulted in a significantly decreased BCFA production. All treatments brought about significant metabolic effects (ME) compared to the blank control. Supervised modeling indicated no significant ME differences between the PP formulas, but significant ME differences were present between the DP, DSP, and AA formulas. LA-REIMS metabolic fingerprinting demonstrated a significantly different metabolic response between the PP formulas and those with DP, DSP, or AA. Levels of metabolites were significantly altered compared to the control, for each treatment. Formulas with PP produced a significantly different gut metabolite, serotonin.

Conclusions: An in vitro model representing the colon of healthy children, indicated a prebiotic effect for each formula, regardless of protein source. Metabolic fingerprinting revealed the pediatric PP formulas to be significantly different from the pediatric formulas containing DP, DSP, or AAs, particularly in a neuroendocrine pathway related to gut motility. More research is needed to identify the biological significance in vivo.

Funding Sources: Research Grant from Kate Farms, Inc.