A recent study has found that particles derived from milk can help to promote a healthy gut barrier and alleviate inflammation in the liver. The gut barrier is crucial for absorbing nutrients and effectively eliminating toxins from the body. It is also linked to the habitat of gut microbiota, which play a key role in strengthening the immune system and promoting overall gut health.
A research team led by Professor Yun-Jung Choi at the National University of Singapore has confirmed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from milk have a positive effect on the recovery of the gut barrier. The study was published on April 12 in the international academic journal “Science Advances”.
EVs, also known as exosomes, are nanosized vesicles secreted by cells in the body for intercellular communication. As they are generated in the body, they are less likely to cause an immune response, making them a potential therapeutic agent for infectious diseases.
Previous studies have reported that specific EVs derived from human and bovine milk can maintain the intestinal immunity of mice with inflammation in their colon and restore gut microbiota. However, it was unclear whether these EVs could protect the gut barrier.
To investigate this, the research team isolated EVs from human and bovine milk and conducted experiments by combining them with intestinal cells from humans and cows.
The results showed that EVs derived from human and bovine milk helped to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA), which promotes the recovery of the gut barrier, more effectively to the gut wall. In particular, EVs derived from bovine milk demonstrated a significant protective effect against gastric acid damage to the gut barrier.
The research team explained that “EVs derived from bovine milk secrete mucus to protect the gut from gastric acid and improve immune regulation, thereby reducing inflammation in the liver caused by detoxification processes in the gut”. They also suggested that people who cannot consume milk can obtain the protective effect of EVs derived from milk through formulations that contain them.
In summary, the study suggests that milk-derived EVs could be a potential therapeutic agent for gut-related disorders by promoting gut barrier recovery and reducing inflammation in the liver.