Dive Brief:

• Alpha-lactalbumin is the primary protein in human milk. Cow milk contains only 0.02% to 0.03% alpha-lactalbumin.
• Isolation and purification of alpha-lactalbumin from cow milk permits the development of infant formula that more closely resembles human milk. "Alpha-lactalbumin is an incredibly important ingredient in the continued advances being made in infant nutrition," according to Jon Davis, president of Davisco. The company produces alpha-lactalbumin from the whey that is a by-product of cheese production.
• Davisco uses ion exchange technology to produce an alpha-lactalbumin isolate, an ingredient with more than 92% pure alpha-lactalbumin. Davisco claims it "is the purest, isolated form of bovine alpha-lactalbumin commercially available," according to its website.

Dive Insight:

Researchers are studying alpha-lactalbumin to identify opportunities for its use as a functional ingredient in foods, beyond the use in infant formula. So far, researchers have found that  "The functionalities make alpha-lactalbumin suitable for use in different types of beverages, providing other ingredients in the formulation do not favor aggregation."

At the Alpha Summit 2015, hosted by Davisco Aug. 4-5, John Fernstrom, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, discussed the effect of protein "on serotonin synthesis in brain neurons and the potential for alpha-lactalbumin in modifying various neurological pathways," reports Food Business News.

"We know that alpha-lactalbumin produces the biggest increases in brain tryptophan and serotonin, suggesting there are potentially many interesting uses for this dietary protein," Fernstrom said.

This research could lead to the development of functional beverages and foods containing alpha-lactalbumin.