Casein peptide release and passage to the blood in humans during digestion of milk or yogurt

Abstract

In adult humans, after milk or yogurt ingestion, many peptides derived from alpha s1-, beta- or kappa-caseins were detected in stomach, including the kappa-caseinoglycopeptide, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Smaller peptides derived from casein and lactoferrin were recovered from duodenum. Two long peptides, the kappa-caseinoglycopeptide and the N-terminal peptide of alpha s1-casein, were absorbed and detected in plasma. These results support the concept that food-born peptides could have physiological activities in man.