A food scientist from the Riddet Institute, Natalie Ahlborn, has wowed judges at an international dairy industry award, placing second in the International Dairy Federation Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize.
The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is an international authority in the development of science-based standards for the global dairy sector, with the IDF Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize specifically for scientists who gained their highest degrees three years ago or less.
Ahlborn has been researching processed milk and its effects on digestion and nutrient absorption, as part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-funded New Zealand Milk Means More research programme at the Riddet Institute, based at Massey University in Palmerston North.
Pasteurisation, UHT treatment, and homogenisation are commonly used to process milk, and Ahlborn wanted to know what these treatments mean for digestion and nutrient uptake.
She examined milk nutrient digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, finding that the protein in UHT milk was digested the fastest, followed by the protein in pasteurised homogenised milk, then pasteurised non-homogenised and, finally, raw milk.
Curd formation and stomach emptying of solid matter and lipids were also measured. There were substantial differences in digestion of the fats and solid portions of the milks.
The research has created a fundamental understanding of how processing affects the gastric digestion of milk protein, and how this might contribute to milk’s nutritional outcomes.
Ahlborn said the findings could lead to tailored milk products that deliver superior nutritional value to consumer populations with different nutritional needs, such as those of athletes or the elderly.
“As the global population grows and ages, the need for quality nutrition is paramount, and this research could contribute to meeting this need.”
Ahlborn will receive a printed certificate recognising the achievement and an honorarium of $360. She will attend the IDF World Dairy Summit 2024 to be held in Paris, France, from October 15-18 to collect her award and present her research.
NZ Milk Means More project leader and Ahlborn’s PhD supervisor Professor Warren McNabb said the win is an amazing opportunity for Ahlborn.
“Natalie has done an outstanding job with her research. It’s not every day that a global entity like the IDF takes notice of someone and then pays for them to travel to Paris to receive an award. It’s quite a big deal.”
