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Research on donkey milk · Study 16
Donkey milk & the defence cells of the small intestine
In a mouse model, Yvon et al. examined what changes in tissue, inflammatory markers, the defence substances of Paneth cells and selected gut bacteria during an artificially induced inflammation of the small intestine – with donkey milk and with heated donkey milk.
Why this study is interesting
Whole milk instead of a single substance
Many studies on donkey milk test individual, isolated components. This work from Toulouse took a different approach: the mice received donkey milk as a whole – and, for comparison, heated donkey milk.
The focus was on the Paneth cells. They sit at the base of the small intestinal crypts and produce the body's own defence substances. The researchers wanted to know whether this defence changes in the inflammation model – and what happens to it when the animals receive donkey milk.
The model reproduces individual features of an inflammation of the small intestine. It is not the same disease as in humans.
What exactly was tested?
Briefly explained
The terms used in this study
Specialised cells at the base of the small intestinal crypts. They store defence substances in granules and release them into the gut.
Small antimicrobial peptides produced by the body itself in Paneth cells. Their gene activity (mRNA) was measured.
An enzyme that can cleave bacterial cell walls. Measured in the Paneth cells and as activity in the faeces.
LCN-2 for short. A protein that rises during inflammatory processes in the gut and is regarded as an inflammatory marker.
Mice were divided into control, inflammation and milk groups.
Indomethacin, a painkiller, induced an inflammation of the small intestine over five days.
For seven days, the animals received donkey milk or heated donkey milk.
Tissue, intestinal length, LCN-2, α-defensins, lysozyme and selected bacterial groups.
Interactive · A look into the small intestine
Four groups, five measuring points
Switch between the experimental groups. Watch the villi, the granules of the Paneth cells and the released defence substances. The numbers show what was measured in each case.
Schematic illustration, not a microscopy image from the study. It shows the direction of the reported changes, not their size.
Key findings
What the researchers report
The freely available abstract documents the direction and significance of several changes, but does not give absolute values for all measures. We therefore do not show percentages. The gut flora was only examined for selected bacterial groups.
The comparison with heated milk
What this comparison means – and what it doesn't
In this model, the heated donkey milk did not show a comparable effect. This is scientifically interesting because heating can alter sensitive proteins and enzymes such as lysozyme.
However, the comparison proves neither that lysozyme alone was responsible nor that every common form of heating or pasteurisation would have the same effects. For that, the exact temperatures, times and enzyme activities would have to be compared.
This animal study does not support any recommendation to drink raw milk for health purposes.
Critical assessment
Interesting – but don't over-interpret
What the study shows
What it does not show
Research question for DON DONKEY’S®
What does processing change in milk proteins?
The study makes tangible a question that we would like to clarify for our own products: how much do freezing, storage and heating change sensitive components such as lysozyme and lactoferrin – measured under clearly defined conditions?
Original publication
Donkey milk consumption exerts anti-inflammatory properties by normalizing antimicrobial peptides levels in Paneth’s cells in a model of ileitis in mice
Yvon S., Olier M., Lévêque M., Jard G., Tormo H., Haimoud-Lekhal D. A., Peter M., Eutamène H.
European Journal of Nutrition · online 2016, print issue 2018 · 57(1):155–166
UMR 1331 ToxAlim and École d’Ingénieurs de PURPAN, Toulouse
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-016-1304-z
PubMed: PMID 27581119
The publication describes preclinical research in a mouse model. The original title uses the term "anti-inflammatory"; it refers exclusively to this animal model. The results do not allow any statement of efficacy in humans or any product-related statement for DON DONKEY’S®. If you have bowel complaints, please consult a doctor.
From our shop
DON DONKEY’S® donkey milk
100 % donkey milk · raw milk, frozen
On this page we report the findings of a published animal study. Independently of that, you will find our donkey milk here: 100 % donkey milk, frozen as raw milk.
100 ml bottle / 100ml · Unit price: €249,00 / 1 l · incl. VAT, plus shipping