Review Maps Strategies to Mitigate Goat's Milk Casein Allergenicity for Hypoallergenic Infant Formulas

Goat's milk is increasingly explored as an alternative to cow's milk for infants, particularly given concerns around cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). However, inherent casein allergenicity and antigenicity in goat's milk, including potential cross-reactivity with cow's milk proteins, remain significant public health concerns. Current approaches often lack a unified strategy to effectively reduce this allergenicity. This review addresses the critical gap in developing truly hypoallergenic infant formulas by integrating diverse mitigation strategies.

This comprehensive review systematically examined the allergenicity and antigenicity of goat's milk proteins, focusing on identifying effective mitigation strategies. The authors synthesized current knowledge by combining several analytical and predictive approaches. These included in silico epitope prediction, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses to understand protein structure's impact on allergenicity, and various enzymatic hydrolysis strategies. Advanced analytical methods, such as ELISA-based immunoassays, were also discussed to profile allergenic potential and assess peptide bioefficacy, including bioaccessibility and bioavailability, providing a holistic perspective on reducing allergenicity.

The review found that enzymatic hydrolysis is a highly effective strategy, capable of markedly reducing goat's milk allergenicity and antigenicity. This process breaks down larger allergenic proteins into smaller, less immunogenic peptides. Furthermore, integrating computational approaches like in silico epitope prediction with experimental methods (e.g., ELISA immunoassays) enables precise identification of both bioactive and allergenic peptides. This combined strategy allows for targeted modification of proteins to minimize immune responses while preserving beneficial properties. The review consolidates these diverse strategies into a unified framework, providing a clear roadmap for designing safer, hypoallergenic goat's milk products. This framework guides future research in infant formula development and broader dairy applications, emphasizing the importance of a multi-faceted approach to address food allergies effectively.

Enzymatic hydrolysis was identified as a primary method to significantly reduce goat's milk allergenicity and antigenicity, offering a practical pathway for product development.