Modified milk powder supplemented with immunostimulating whey protein concentrate (IMUCARE) enhances immune function in mice

Some whey protein concentrates (WPCs) can act as immunostimulatory and anticancer dietary components when delivered as a major protein source to animals and human beings. In this study, we have investigated the effects of a known immunostimulatory WPC (IMUCARE) when delivered to mice in a modified milk powder (MMP), nutritionally balanced for young children (aged 1-3 years). Groups of BALB/c mice were fed with MMP-based diets with or without IMUCARE WPC supplemented at 10.5 g/100 g of diet for periods of 4 weeks. Ex vivo immunologic assays indicated that splenic lymphoproliferative responses, as well as blood and peritoneal leukocyte phagocytic activity, were elevated in mice fed MMP supplemented with IMUCARE WPC, in comparison either to mice fed with MMP alone or to control mice that did not receive milk proteins. In contrast, both IMUCARE WPC-supplemented MMP and MMP alone were shown to stimulate enhanced humoral immunity, with significantly elevated serum and intestinal tract antibody responses to orally administered antigens being recorded in these mice compared with animals fed with nonmilk protein. These results confirm that IMUCARE WPC retains immunoenhancing efficacy when delivered in a nutritionally balanced milk product and additionally identifies nutritionally balanced MMP as a potential immunostimulatory dietary food product.