Comparative metabolomics analysis of Halari donkey colostrum and mature milk throughout lactation stages using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Abstract

Since donkey milk has a similar composition to human milk, it has been well demonstrated that it is an excellent alternative. The content of donkey milk (DM) changes during lactation, nevertheless, has not been thoroughly researched. The overall objective was to explore the metabolite changes in donkey colostrum and mature milk using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In both colostrum and donkey mature milk included total 36 metabolites that were identified. The metabolites were differentially regulated (p < 0.05), where 24 showed upregulation and 28 were downregulated. 24 (14 upregulated, 10 downregulated), 10 (1 upregulated, 9 downregulated), and 18 (9 upregulated, 9 downregulated) differentially expressed metabolites were identified during lactation period of Colostrum-early lactation, early lactation - mid lactation, and mid lactation-late lactation, respectively. This proved that lactation altered the content of the donkey milk. To further understand the mechanisms that changed the milk during lactation, the interactions and metabolic pathways were examined in more detail. These studies provide thorough understandings of the metabolite changes that occur during lactation period which will offer useful guidance for further creating DM products with improved bioactivities, and it will help future studies into nutritional research and the isolation of useful components.