Comparison of composition and whey protein fractions of human, camel, donkey, goat and cow milk

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the physicochemical parameters of milk samples of five different species: cow, goat, donkey, camel and human. Also the analysis of whey protein profile in different milk samples was performed by anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) while polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to identify a single fraction. Camel milk was the most acid (pH 6.460±0.005) and the richest in total proteins (3.41±0.31 %) and ash (0.750±0.102 %), whereas donkey milk had a neutral pH (7.03±0.02) and characterised by low proteins (1.12±0.40 %) and fat (0.97±0.03 %) content, being very close to human milk. Proteomic analysis of cow, goat, donkey, camel and human milk highlighted significant interspecies differences. Camel milk was similar to human milk in lacking of β-lactoglobulin and richness of α-lactalbumin. The knowledge gained from the proteomic comparison of the milk samples analysed within this study might be of relevance, both, in terms of identifying sources of hypoallergenic alternatives to bovine milk and detection of adulteration of milk samples and products.