Comparative proteomics and metabolomics of milk digesta during simulated infant gastrointestinal digestion: Novel insights into quantitative differences among bovine, sheep, and goat milks.

This study compared the digestion behavior, protein composition, and metabolite profiles of bovine (B), sheep (S), and goat (G) milk digesta following simulated in vitro infant gastrointestinal digestion. Microstructural analysis indicated that goat milk underwent slower digestive progression during the gastric phase relative to bovine milk. Data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics and untargeted metabolomics were applied to characterize differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) and metabolites (DAMs). A total of 107 DAPs were identified across all samples, including CSN1S1, CNDP2, GP2, FLOT2, etc. G and S exhibited accumulation of sugar-nucleotide and precursors. B was richer in DAG and oxidized fatty acids (OFAs). Integrated proteome-metabolome analysis pinpointed glycerophospholipid metabolism as the core pathway that distinguishes the species' digesta. This work provides scientific support for the application of featured milk in the field of functional foods.