Digestion of cross-linked caseinate versus native caseinate
What it found
In a lab model of adult and child digestion, cross-linked caseinate broke down in the stomach without leaving pepsin-resistant pieces, while native caseinate broke down slowly and left resistant fragments.
Total nitrogen and amino nitrogen in the digested fraction were about the same for both.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Total nitrogen
In lab tests, cross-linked caseinate and native caseinate gave no relevant differences in total nitrogen in the digested fraction, under both adult and child conditions.
Amino nitrogen
In lab tests, cross-linked caseinate and native caseinate gave no relevant differences in amino nitrogen in the digested fraction, under both adult and child conditions.
Food matrix effect
In lab tests, the rate of digestion depended on the food matrix.
Stomach breakdown
In lab tests, gel electrophoresis showed cross-linked caseinate broke down in the stomach without forming pepsin-resistant peptides larger than 4 kDa.
Native caseinate in stomach
In lab tests, native caseinate was slowly digested in the stomach, formed pepsin-resistant fragments, and was still detectable in the stomach after 90 min.
Small intestine
In lab tests, both proteins were rapidly digested in the small intestine. Cross-linked caseinate was digested to small peptides, while native caseinate was resistant to pepsin digestion under adult and child stomach conditions.
What the authors conclude
“The results showed no relevant differences between XLC and NC for total and α-amino nitrogen in digested fraction under adult and child conditions.”
Also in their conclusions
- They report no relevant differences between cross-linked caseinate and native caseinate for total and amino nitrogen in the digested fraction under adult and child conditions.
- They note that the rate of digestion depended on the food matrix.
- They state that cross-linked caseinate was digested to small peptides, while native caseinate was resistant against pepsin digestion under gastric conditions of adults and children.
How it was done
The authors wanted to compare how transglutaminase cross-linked caseinate and native caseinate are digested under conditions that mimic the stomach and gut of adults and children.
They digested cross-linked caseinate and native caseinate, both in solution and in cheese spread, in a lab model that simulates adult and young child gastrointestinal conditions. Samples were collected for gel electrophoresis and nitrogen analysis.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a lab model, not real people or animals. It can't show what happens in a living child or adult.
- The model only mimics digestion. It can't show how the body absorbs or uses the proteins.
The paper
- Title
- Digestibility of transglutaminase cross-linked caseinate versus native caseinate in an in vitro multicompartmental model simulating young child and adult gastrointestinal conditions
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Havenaar R, de Jong A, Koenen ME, et al (2013). Digestibility of transglutaminase cross-linked caseinate versus native caseinate in an in vitro multicompartmental model simulating young child and adult gastrointestinal conditions. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. doi:10.1021/jf402824uPubMed 23822864DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error