Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Gallier S, Tolenaars L, Prosser C. Whole Goat Milk as a Source of Fat and Milk Fat Globule Membrane in Infant Formula. Nutrients. 2020 Nov 13;12(11):3486. doi: 10.3390/nu12113486.

Abstract. Cow milk is the most common dairy milk and has been extensively researched for its functional, technological and nutritional properties for a wide range of products. One such product category is infant formula, which is the most suitable alternative to feed infants, when breastfeeding is not possible. Most infant formulas are based on cow milk protein ingredients. For several reasons, consumers now seek alternatives such as goat milk, which has increasingly been used to manufacture infant, follow-on and young child formulas over the last 30 years. While similar in many aspects, compositional and functional differences exist between cow and goat milk. This offers the opportunity to explore different formulations or manufacturing options for formulas based on goat milk. The use of whole goat milk as the only source of proteins in formulas allows levels of milk fat, short and medium chain fatty acids, sn-2 palmitic acid, and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) to be maximised. These features improve the composition and microstructure of whole goat milk-based infant formula, providing similarities to the complex human milk fat globules, and have been shown to benefit digestion, and cognitive and immune development. Recent research indicates a role for milk fat and MFGM on digestive health, the gut-brain axis and the gut-skin axis. This review highlights the lipid composition of whole goat milk-based infant formula and its potential for infant nutrition to support healthy digestion, brain development and immunity. Further work is warranted on the role of these components in allergy development and the advantages of goat milk fat and MFGM for infant nutrition and health.

Selvaggi M, Laudadio V, Dario C, Tufarelli V. Major proteins in goat milk: an updated overview on genetic variability. Mol Biol Rep. 2014 Feb;41(2):1035-48. doi: 10.1007/s11033-013-2949-9. 

Abstract. Milk and dairy products are very important in Mediterranean diet because of their health promoting and organoleptic properties. In many developing countries, goat rearing has a key role in livestock production. What makes goats so popular is their ability to provide high quality food under diverse climatic conditions and resilience to extreme and capricious environments. In the last years, the interest concerning caprine milk has been increasing also to find a new exploitation for local breeds. To promote the goat dairy products there is a clear need to know the quality and the technological aspects of milk produced. That being so, the purpose of this study was to review the available literature on the major goat milk proteins with a particular attention to recent findings on their genetic variability. Moreover, the main effects of different protein variants on milk yield and composition were also discussed.

Butts CA , Paturi G , Hedderley DI , Martell S , Dinnan H , Stoklosinski H , Carpenter EA . Goat and cow milk differ in altering microbiota composition and fermentation products in rats with gut dysbiosis induced by amoxicillin. Food Funct. 2021 Apr 7;12(7):3104-3119. doi: 10.1039/d0fo02950e.

Abstract. Antibiotics are effective treatments for bacterial infections, however, their oral administration can have unintended consequences and may alter the gut microbiota composition. In this study, we examined the influence of antibiotics on the induction of gut dysbiosis and then evaluated the potential of cow and goat milk to restore the microbiota composition and metabolism in newly weaned rats. In the first study (gut dysbiosis model), rats were treated with amoxicillin, a mixture of antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole) or no antibiotics (control). Antibiotics reduced the rat body weights, food intakes and faecal outputs compared to the control group. Gut length was significantly decreased after the antibiotic intake. The bacterial populations (Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp. and total bacteria) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs; acetic, butyric and propionic) concentrations in rat caecum, colon and faeces were significantly altered by the antibiotic treatments. In the second study, we examined the effects of cow and goat milk in restoring bacterial populations and metabolism in rats with gut dysbiosis induced by amoxicillin. Goat milk significantly increased the numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. and decreased the numbers of Clostridium perfringens in the caecum and colon of rats treated with amoxicillin. Whereas, rats fed cow milk had higher Lactobacillus spp. and lower C. perfringens in the gut. Caecal and colonic SCFAs (acetic, butyric and propionic) concentrations differed significantly between rats fed cow and goat milk diets. Overall, goat and cow milk varied in their effects on the immature gut following antibiotic-induced dysbiosis in a rat model.

Prosser CG. Compositional and functional characteristics of goat milk and relevance as a base for infant formula. J Food Sci. 2021 Feb;86(2):257-265. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.15574. 

Abstract. Goat milk has a long history of use for human nutrition. There are a number of studies investigating the technofunctional properties and nutritional value of goat milk for production of consumer products such as cheese, yoghurts, and Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milks. Although fresh goat milk was traditionally used for feeding young children, use of goat milk for commercial production of formula for infants or young children has only been considered in the scientific literature since 2000s. In this review, the nutritional science relating to goat milk is discussed from the perspective of infant nutrition. A critical analysis of the scientific data concerning the composition and functional characteristics of goat milk that pertain to infant nutrition is included. From this overview, three key conclusions are possible: (1) there is a range of compositional data to support the application of goat milk for infants, provided it is fortified; (2) goat milk has the potential to influence the gastrointestinal environment differently to cow milk; and (3) the nutritional adequacy of fortified goat milk formula for newborn infants has been confirmed in clinical trials. © 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.

van Leeuwen SS, Te Poele EM, Chatziioannou AC, Benjamins E, Haandrikman A, Dijkhuizen L. Goat Milk Oligosaccharides: Their Diversity, Quantity, and Functional Properties in Comparison to Human Milk Oligosaccharides. J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Nov 25;68(47):13469-13485. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03766. 

Abstract. Human milk is considered the golden standard in infant nutrition. Free oligosaccharides in human milk provide important health benefits. These oligosaccharides function as prebiotics, immune modulators, and pathogen inhibitors and were found to improve barrier function in the gut. Infant formulas nowadays often contain prebiotics but lack the specific functions of human milk oligosaccharides (hMOS). Milk from domesticated animals also contains milk oligosaccharides but at much lower levels and with less diversity. Goat milk contains significantly more oligosaccharides (gMOS) than bovine (bMOS) or sheep (sMOS) milk and also has a larger diversity of structures. This review summarizes structural studies, revealing a diversity of up to 77 annotated gMOS structures with almost 40 structures fully characterized. Quantitative studies of goat milk oligosaccharides range from 60 to 350 mg/L in mature milk and from 200 to 650 mg/L in colostrum. These levels are clearly lower than in human milk (5-20 g/L) but higher than in other domesticated dairy animals, e.g., bovine (30-60 mg/L) and sheep (20-40 mg/L). Finally, the review focuses on demonstrated and potential functionalities of gMOS. Some studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects of mixtures enriched in gMOS. Goat MOS also display prebiotic potential, particularly in stimulating growth of bifidobacteria preferentially. Although functional studies of gMOS are still limited, several structures are also found in human milk and have known functions as immune modulators and pathogen inhibitors. In conclusion, goat milk constitutes a promising alternative source for milk oligosaccharides, which can be used in infant formula.

Moreno-Fernandez J, Alférez MJM, López-Aliaga I, Díaz-Castro J. Role of Fermented Goat Milk on Liver Gene and Protein Profiles Related to Iron Metabolism during Anemia Recovery. Nutrients. 2020 May 8;12(5):1336. doi: 10.3390/nu12051336.

Abstract. Despite the crucial role of the liver as the central regulator of iron homeostasis, no studies have directly tested the modulation of liver gene and protein expression patterns during iron deficiency instauration and recovery with fermented milks. Fermented goat milk consumption improves the key proteins of intestinal iron metabolism during iron deficiency recovery, enhancing the digestive and metabolic utilization of iron. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of fermented goat or cow milk consumption on liver iron homeostasis during iron-deficiency anemia recovery with normal or iron-overload diets. Analysis included iron status biomarkers, gene and protein expression in hepatocytes. In general, fermented goat milk consumption either with normal or high iron content up-regulated liver DMT1, FPN1 and FTL1 gene expression and DMT1 and FPN1 protein expression. However, HAMP mRNA expression was lower in all groups of animals fed fermented goat milk. Additionally, hepcidin protein expression decreased in control and anemic animals fed fermented goat milk with normal iron content. In conclusion, fermented goat milk potentiates the up-regulation of key genes coding for proteins involved in iron metabolism, such as DMT1, and FPN1, FTL1 and down-regulation of HAMP, playing a key role in enhanced iron repletion during anemia recovery, inducing a physiological adaptation of the liver key genes and proteins coordinated with the fluctuation of the cellular iron levels, favoring whole-body iron homeostasis.

Cakir B, Tunali-Akbay T. Potential anticarcinogenic effect of goat milk-derived bioactive peptides on HCT-116 human colorectal carcinoma cell line. Anal Biochem. 2021 Jun 1;622:114166. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2021.114166. 

Abstract. .... In conclusion, pepsin treated casein fraction exhibited antiproliferative activity against HCT116 cells. The bioactive peptides of this fraction can be considered as a potential source for the development of new anti cancerogenic agents. Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Chatziioannou AC, Benjamins E, Pellis L, Haandrikman A, Dijkhuizen L, van Leeuwen SS. Extraction and Quantitative Analysis of Goat Milk Oligosaccharides: Composition, Variation, Associations, and 2'-FL Variability. J Agric Food Chem. 2021 Jul 21;69(28):7851-7862. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00499. 

Abstract. Human milk oligosaccharides (hMOS) are associated with health benefits for newborns. We studied the composition of goat MOS (gMOS) from colostrum up to the 9th month of lactation to conceive an overview of the structures present and their fate. Potential correlations with factors such as age, parity, and lifetime milk production were examined. An effective method for gMOS extraction and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detection (UPLC-FLD) analysis was established, following 2-aminobenzamide gMOS labeling. Considerable biological variability was highlighted among the 12 quantified gMOS and the 9 non-quantified structures in the individual milk samples. Most characteristic, 2'-fucosyllactose was present in 73.7% of the milk samples analyzed, suggesting the possibility of a secretor/non-secretor goat genotype, similar to humans. Contributing factors to the observed biological variability were goat age, parity, lifetime milk production, and the kids' sex. The results significantly contribute to the current understanding of (variations in) gMOS composition.