Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40610456›Full record

ArticleNPJ science of food2025

The role of alpha-lactalbumin in modulating tryptophan metabolism and serotonin synthesis.

Shannon Shoff, Xuan He, Hanna Lee, Zhichao Zhang, Darya O Mishchuk, Gulustan Ozturk, Daniela Barile, Merete Lindberg Hartvigsen, Anne Staudt Kvistgaard, Carolyn M Slupsky

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in NPJ science of food, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shannon Shoff *Department of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Xuan He *Department of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Hanna LeeDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Zhichao ZhangDepartment of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Darya O MishchukDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Gulustan OzturkDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Daniela BarileDepartment of Food Science and Technology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Merete Lindberg HartvigsenArla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, Viby, Denmark.
Anne Staudt KvistgaardArla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, Viby, Denmark.
Carolyn M SlupskyDepartment of Nutrition, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA. cslupsky@ucdavis.edu.

Funding

ACQUISITION OF 500 MHZ NMR SPECTROMETERS10RR011973 · NCRR · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS · PI LA MAR, GERD N · 1997 to 1997
–
Arla Foods Ingredients Group N/ANCRR NIH HHS S10 RR011973
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tryptophan, critical for infant neurodevelopment, is limited in infant formulas. Tryptophan-rich α-lactalbumin is abundant in human milk but limited in bovine milk, and its metabolism in developing infants remains unclear. We developed an α-lactalbumin-enriched formula and conducted a feeding study with neonatal piglets to comprehensively monitor tryptophan utilization across serum, urine, liver, and brain using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics. Enrichment of α-lactalbumin led to higher circulating tryptophan and increased serotonin levels in the striatum. It also increased metabolic products from the kynurenine and indole pathways, which were predominantly excreted in urine. Despite these increases, the activity of the kynurenine pathway in the liver was lower, possibly mediated by reduced circulating cortisol, thus increasing brain tryptophan availability and favoring serotonin synthesis. These findings provide mechanistic insights that can guide the development of infant formulas to better mimic the metabolic profile of breastfed infants.

Identifiers

PMID40610456
PMCPMC12229548

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.