Osteopontin and the early life immune system
Osteopontin (OPN) is a whey protein believed to play a role in the early life immune function 1,2,3,4,5. An acidic glycoprotein with strong calcium-binding properties, it is present in human milk at a higher concentration than in bovine milk6,7 and, subsequently, early life nutrition products.
Arla Foods Ingredients holds several patents for the production and application of high-purity OPN in the form of Lacprodan® OPN-10, the first OPN product on the market.
In two clinical studies it was found that infant formula enriched with Lacprodan® OPN-10 encouraged similar incidence and prevalence of fever in formula-fed infants compared to breastfed infants. Additionally, compared to infants fed a standard infant formula, the incidence and prevalence of fever was found to be significantly lower, the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α levels to be reduced8, the number of circulating immune cells (monocytes and T cells) to be increased, and the shifted gene expression of immune cells to be more similar to breastfed infants9.
Also, three preclinical studies found that dietary supplementation with Lacprodan® OPN-10 boosted the immune response induced by vaccination10, lowered proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α levels11, enhanced intestinal growth 11 and brought intestinal gene expression closer to that of breastfed animal groups 12.
Lacprodan® OPN-10: approved in the EU
In February 2022, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) granted a positive opinion on our Novel Food application for Bovine Milk Osteopontin ingredient Lacprodan® OPN-10. In its scientific opinion, the authority concluded that bovine milk osteopontin is safe.
In March 2023 we have secured the final Novel Food approval for Lacprodan® OPN-10 for use in infant, follow-up and young child formulas making our product the first osteopontin product available in the EU.
References:
1. Jia, Q. et al. 10, 1924–1931 (2021)
2. Clemente, N. et al. J. Immunol. Res. 2016, (2016)
3. Ashkar, S. et al. Science (80-. ). 287, 860–864 (2000)
4. Schack, L. et al. J. Immunol. 182, 6943–6950 (2009)
5. Rollo, E. et al. J. vi 79, 3509–3516 (2005)
6. Schack, L. et al. J. Dairy Sci. 92, 5378–85 (2009)
7. Bruun, S. et al. 67, 250–256 (2018)
8. Lönnerdal, B. et al. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 62, 650–657 (2016)
9. West, C. E. et al. Pediatr. Res. 82, 63–71 (2017)
10. Kvistgaard, A. S. et al. (2015)
11. Jiang, R. et al. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 71, 125–131 (2020)
12. Donovan, S. M. et al. J. Nutr. 144, 1910–1919 (2014)
