(EA03-07-25) Impact of Whey Protein Phospholipid Concentrate and Its Fraction Supplementation on Bone Health in a Weanling Mouse Model

Scientific conference where the work was recently presented: University of Wisconsin-Madison Dairy Inovation Hub Symposium

Date on which the work was previously presented at the scientific conference listed: November 20, 2024

Objectives: Nutrition plays a crucial role in developmental physiology, and dairy-derived macronutrients have shown positive effects on various health metrics, particularly bone health. A key component of dairy macronutrients is the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which serves as a carrier for biologically active molecules in the gastrointestinal tract. Whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) is an underutilized dairy stream produced during the production of whey protein isolate and is rich in bioactive macronutrients, including MFGM lipids and proteins. Although these components have been associated with beneficial physiological health outcomes, the direct impacts on bone health remain to be fully elucidated.

This study aims to investigate the effects of whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) and its fractions on bone health in a weanling mouse model.

Methods: We isolated lipids and proteins from WPPC using temperature-dependent centrifugation and membrane filtration techniques. We then fed weanling mice an isocaloric diet supplemented with 10% lipid and protein fractions, as well as whole WPPC, comparing these to a control diet (chow).

Results: After a 12-week dietary intervention, we found that body weight, fat, and lean mass remained unchanged across all groups. However, bone imaging scans showed significant increases in femur length—4.44% (P=0.0012) in the protein-supplemented group and 4.01% (P=0.0068) in the WPPC group. Additionally, the fat-supplemented group exhibited an increase in bone mineral density of 6.15% (P=0.0008) and alterations in gut microbiome composition.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that supplementation with WPPC and its lipid and protein components can differentially benefit femur length and bone mineral density in weanling mice transitioning into early adulthood. Our research highlights the potential applications of WPPC in enhancing childhood nutrition strategies.

Funding Sources: University of Wisconsin-Madison Dairy Innovation Hub