Background

The types and quantity of proteins vary widely between bovine and human milk, with corresponding differences in free and hydrolytic amino acids. In this study, the free and hydrolytic amino acids of bovine and human colostrum were for the first time qualitatively and quantitatively determined using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification technology combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry detection.

Results

Total free amino acid content was 0.32 g L^-1 and 0.63 g L^-1 in bovine and human colostrum respectively, with free amino acid content in human colostrum twice that of bovine colostrum. However, total hydrolytic amino acid content was 4.2 g L^-1 and 2.2 g L^-1 in bovine and human colostrum respectively. We found that the hydrolytic amino acid content in bovine colostrum was higher than that in human colostrum; however, the amount of free amino acids and the overall amino acid content in human colostrum were respectively substantially higher and more varied than in bovine colostrum.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed differences between bovine and human colostrum, with these data providing the basis for further research into amino acid metabolomics and infant formula. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.