The functional choice for protein malnutrition
Malnutrition is a serious risk factor during long-term illness or as people age, impeding recovery and long-term mobility.
Global estimates suggest that between 30% and 50% of hospitalised patients1 and up to 70% of elderly1 and cancer2,3 and patients are undernourished. Overall, they are likely to experience a decline in quality of life and, ultimately, a higher rate of mortality4.
At Arla Foods Ingredients, we’ve developed a milk-derived micellar casein isolate (MCI) for medical nutrition to reduce this risk.
Combining nutrition with functionality, Lacprodan MicelPure® delivers high-quality protein with low viscosity, great flavour flexibility and excellent heat stability during processing.
Matching up to consumer preferences
Health care professionals (HCPs) increasingly recommend medical nutrition products for patients with a critical illness. But the fact remains that the typical protein intake of this vulnerable consumer group is still too low.
In a recent survey, consumers expressed a need for medical nutrition that is more appetising than the current product offering – and a better match with the foods they normally consume4,5.
In short, both HCPs and medical nutrition consumers want a higher protein content, more variety and a better taste and texture.
Outstanding nutrition and appeal
Extracted directly from milk, Lacprodan MicelPure® contains native protein and is low in fat and lactose.
But it is the combination of high-quality nutrition and functionality that makes our MCI a great match for medical nutrition products that target protein malnutrition.
This allows manufacturers to go high in protein while meeting the consumer preference for a low-viscosity product4,5. At the same time, the neutral taste of our MCI is easily paired with a wide range of flavours, supporting patient compliance.
Stable, flexible processing
On the production line, the heat stability of Lacprodan MicelPure® is unrivalled. Consequently, manufacturers can choose between direct or indirect UHT treatment, enabling ambient formats and a wide range of packaging options.
Our MCI product portfolio comes in three variants suitable for ready-to-drink, tube feed, puddings and shakes.
- Lacprodan MicelPure® – standard MCI ideal for milky ready-to-drink, tube feed and puddings
- Lacprodan MicelPure® Ins – instantised MCI version, ideal for shakes
- Lacprodan MicelPure® Medical – with an adjusted potassium and chloride profile to match the requirements and recommendations for medical nutrition. It can be used in milky ready-to-drink, tube feed and puddings
References:
1. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. (2023). Disease-related malnutrition: a time for action. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/375033. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO;
2. Beirer, A. Malnutrition and cancer, diagnosis and treatment. memo 14, 168–173 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-020-00672-3
3. Arends J. Malnutrition in cancer patients: Causes, consequences and treatment options. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2024 May;50(5):107074. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2023.107074. Epub 2023 Sep 14. PMID: 37783594.
4 Qualitative study on medical nutrition, Lindberg International, China, Germany, UK, US, 2024;
5. Webinar: Cracking the code: exploring patient preferences and struggles with medical nutrition, June 2024
