Bovine milk is a complete food with intrinsic bioactive propertiesReference FitzGerald and Meisel ¹ . A glucose independent increase in the circulating concentration of the incretin hormones in response to the ingestion of milk proteins has been previously reportedReference Power, Conway and McCormack ² . The aim of this study was to characterise the insulinotropic and enterogastric properties of a novel milk protein matrix in vivo. In addition, we sought to determine if a difference exists in the enteroinsular response with age.

With ethical approval, eight 18–29y old (YOUNG) and eight 50–70y old (OLD) women participated in the trial. Participants were randomly assigned to ingest either a novel milk protein matrix (PRO; 0·33 g.kg, 10% w/v water) or an isocaloric maltodextrin (MALT; 0·33 g.kg, 10% w/v water) control beverage. Serial blood samples were withdrawn prior to and post ingestion for a period of 1 h and batch analysed for glucose, insulin, essential amino acids (EAA), active glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). Data are reported as the mean (SE) area under the curve from baseline for 60 min (ΔAUC₆₀; n = 8).

Following ingestion of the PRO, the relative insulinotropic potency was 48% and 60% of the equivalent MALT control for YOUNG and OLD, respectively. This glucose independent insulinotropic potency of the PRO is mediated by the EAA and incretin hormones. Independent of the nutrient ingested there was an enhanced incretin response with age and though, not proven as causal, the 124% greater insulinotropic response of PRO may be related to the 208% greater GLP-1 and 165% greater GIP in OLD.

EAA, essential amino acids; GLP-1, Glucagon like peptide 1; GIP, Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. ¹Univariate ANOVA (age and feed as fixed factors) ^ap < 0·001, ^bp < 0·05.

Milk protein is a rich source of pluripotent bioactive peptides. These data confirm the, glucose independent, insulinotropic and enterogastric potency of milk proteins in vivo Reference Power, Conway and McCormack ² . In the elderly protein breakdown is one component of the age related decline in lean tissue mass. The PRO matrix evaluated here provides sufficient substrate for protein synthesisReference Luiking, Deutz and Memelink ³ . Though insulin is permissive to protein synthesis, the higher insulinotropic action of PRO in the elderly could contribute to a moderation of net protein breakdown and the conservation of lean tissue mass. The use of this PRO matrix, in this application, warrants further exploration.