2015 Volume 64 Issue 3 Pages 223-233
Immune-enhancing enteral formulas are used in patients who have undergone surgical treatment or trauma in order to reduce the risk of infectious disease and duration of hospitalization. The formulas are generally fortified with nutrients such as arginine, glutamine, n-3 fatty acids, nucleic acids, and trace elements. In this study, we developed a novel immune-enhancing formula fortified with a multi-functional protein, bovine lactoferrin (bLF), as well as immune-enhancers such as arginine, glycine, glutamine, and nucleic acids. We then assessed the stability of bLF in the formula during long-term storage and its health benefits as an immune-enhancer. Although bLF is extremely heat-labile during the sterilization process of enteral formulas, denaturation can be reduced considerably by sterilizing bLF using direct-ultra-high-temperature sterilization under acidic conditions (pH 2.7). The bLF latex agglutination test showed no loss of bLF during a 9-month period at 25℃ and 37℃, indicating its stability. Although bLF in the formula was highly iron-saturated and did not exhibit a bacteriostatic effect on Escherichia coli, the peptic hydrolysate of the bLF, simulating gastric digestion, released the peptide of lactoferricin and exhibited a strong bactericidal effect. Mice fed with this formula for 90 days displayed longer ileal villi, although this difference did not reach statistical significance, and altered intestinal microbiota composition with a significant increase in Lactobacillales detected. Thus, this formula is distributable at ambient temperature for months and may be useful to prevent infectious diseases by altering microbiota composition to provide a better enteral environment.
