Lactoserum as a Complete Nutraceutical

CHARU GUPTA; CONSUELO PACHECO; DHAN PRAKASH

Nutraceutical and Functional Foods in Disease Prevention

IGI Global

Año: 2018; p. 432 - 456

Lactoserum, a byproduct of cheese industry, is rich in nutrients but still it is discharged directly into the environment. It has many human applications that promise to be a complete nutraceutical for the future generations. It is of high nutritive value and its products can be used as functional ingredients in food and pharmaceutical applications and as nutrients in dietary and health foods. They contain full spectrum of amino acids including essential and branched-chain amino acids which are important in tissue growth and repair. These components provide energy for people undergoing intense or prolonged periods of exercise and help to prevent loss of body mass and muscle. They play an important role in weight management. Lactoserum proteins are readily digestible and completely bio-available. The other biological activities of lactoserum are antibiotic, anti-cancer, anti-toxin, immune-enhancer, and prebiotic (growth enhancement of gut microflora such as bifidobacteria). Lactoserum can thus be used as nutraceutical in various products like infant formulas, food supplements, cheese spreads, sports bars and beverages to meet a variety of health goals for people of all ages including animal feed.