Oligosaccharides
and glycoconjugates in bovine milk and colostrum.
Gopal PK, Gill
HS.
New Zealand Dairy
Research Institute, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
pramod.gopal@nzdri.org.nz
Oligosaccharides
and glycoconjugates are some of the most important bioactive components
in milk. A great deal of information is available on the biological
function of the components from human milk.
Their primary
role seems to be in providing protection against pathogens by acting
as competitive inhibitors for the binding sites on the epithelial
surfaces of the intestine. Evidence is also available to support the
role of some of these components as growth promoters for genera of
beneficial microflora in the colon.
Compared with
human milk, levels of oligosaccharides in bovine milk are very low.
Nevertheless, a number of neutral and acidic oligosaccharides have
been isolated from bovine milk and characterised. The highest concentration
of these molecules is found in early postparturition milk (colostrum).
The chemical structure of the oligosaccharides and many of the glycoconjugates
from bovine milk are similar to those in human milk. It is likely
that bovine oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates can be used in milk
products as bioactive components in human nutrition.
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