Arla Food for Health has initiated 15 research projects during the first six years of its existence.
Arla Food for Health (AFH) is based on the conviction that equal collaboration through independent research activities, both nationally and internationally, are crucial for the ability to address several global health challenges.
The ambition is to push boundaries and foster world-class dairy science. Subsequently results can be applied in food design and new nutritional solutions with positive impact on global nutritional sta-tus and public health – this will create value for individuals, the society and the collaborating part-ners.
The AFH partners are committed to create impact and objectively disseminate the scientific insights developed through the AFH-projects. The collaboration between the partners include a targeted and coordinated public outreach that can serve as basis for a science based nutrition and health dia-logue with external stakeholders – including authorities, NGO’s, universities and other industries.
The funded research projects:
All projects have participation from University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S and Arla Foods amba. Below you’ll find a brief description of these 14 projects.
ChildRAUM – Children’s nutrient requirements, absorption, utilization & metabolic rates with emphasis on dairy protein
Nutrients and not the least protein is important for a child’s health and growth, and protein requirements change during different growth periods and with illness. However, little is known about the exact protein requirements during growth in healthy children.
The ChildRAUM project will determine in detail and in the broadest sense post-absorptive metabolism, post-prandial metabolism and nutrient requirements as well as endocrine responses in children in 3 age categories. For this, protein, amino acids, fat and glucose metabolism will be investigated before and after ingestion of a liquid meal containing a mixture of protein (casein isolate), fat and glucose to establish protein absorption, systemic protein turnover, and amino acids metabolism (including liver function) and endocrine responses next to glucose and oral Chylomicron and liver fat handling (VLDL-TAG) and endogenous lipolysis.
Children in different ages will be included, this will provide knowledge of protein and general nutrient requirements during growth in healthy children, as well as biomarkers for energy requirements to be used at children hospitals.
Principal investigator
Professor Mette Cathrine Ørngreen, Rigshospitalet
AFH funded
2.3 mill. DDK
GutBioMod – Extracellular Vesicles in milk as Biological Modulators of Gut development and function during early life
Milk carry two kinds of bioactive phospholipid particles, milk fat globules and extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs from milk display a distinct molecular composition of lipids, proteins, and an aqueous core with nucleic acids, especially microRNA (miRNA). EVs are thought to deliver not yet fully understood messages to the cells in gastrointestinal tract in the infant, by its content of nucleic acids, which appears to be important for the gut- and immune system development, also later in life. However, EVs are only limitedly present in current infant formulas on the market today. In GutBioMod we want to study how raw milk and dairy derived EVs are influencing the intestinal cells upon uptake and which processes in the gastrointestinal tract that are influenced. By providing a deeper understanding of this milk-born mother-to-child signalling axis during early life, the project will increase our knowledge of the regulatory effects of nutrition and may help to improve the quality of infant formula.
Principal investigator
Professor Jørgen Kjems, Aarhus University
AFH funded
1.5 mill. DDK
DACAPRO – Dairy calcium to promote prebiotic effects in the gut
Calcium is a characteristic constituent of milk and dairy products, which are recognized as a key calcium sources providing support for bone health. In addition, calcium may also exert important effects that promote gut health, via its ability to influence gut microbiota (GM) composition and functionality. Through controlled in vitro fermentation studies where different calcium sources and prebiotics are combined as substrates, the DACAPRO project aims to generate fundamental evidence on the potential of dairy calcium to promote the effects of prebiotics and thereby improve gut health. This will be achieved through integrated metabolomics, metagenomics and gene expression analyses to identify the detailed effects of calcium and prebiotic combinations on in vitro simulated GM composition and its metabolic capacity and activity. This knowledge will be a cornerstone to understand the role of dairy as a unique biofunctional food segment targeted at gut health promotion.
Principal investigator
Professor Hanne Christine Bertram, Aarhus University
AFH funded
1.1 mill. DDK
YourGutBrain – Yoghurt to alter gut movements and brain function
Increasing evidence suggest that bowel habits are linked to mental health. Consumption of fermented dairy has been reported to accelerate intestinal transit time and to affect cognitive performance, respectively. The YourGutBrain project will investigate whether intake of fermented dairy in comparison with non-fermented dairy increases weekly bowel movements and concordantly improves cognitive performance. This will be investigated through a dietary intervention study including healthy women with few bowel movements per week. A wide range of measures related to the gut and the brain will be assessed upon consumption of fermented dairy and non-fermented dairy, respectively. Together, this will provide insights into whether fermented dairy can affect bowel habits and cognition, as well as potential underlying mechanisms linking the gut and the brain.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Henrik Munch Roager, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
6.6 mill. DDK
LAMETA – Lactate – the link between fermented dairy products and metabolic health?
Intake of fermented dairy products is associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Since fermentation increases the content of lactate, lactate may be the previously unknown link between fermented dairy intake and metabolic health. In a recent study, we have found that oral intake of lactate slows gastric emptying, inhibits appetite, and also inhibits the appetite hormone ghrelin and stimulates the secretion of the incretin hormone GLP-1 and insulin. Therefore, the aim of the LAMETA project is to investigate how the addition of lactate to meals affects hormone secretion, nutrient absorption, and substrate utilization in individuals with obesity and insulin resistance. This will be done through both animal and human studies and with a new PET scan method to measure organ-specific meal fat uptake. The results of the LAMETA project will elucidate whether lactate and lactate‐containing dairy products could prevent and treat metabolic diseases such as diabetes type 2, obesity and insulin resistance.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Esben Søndergaard, Aarhus University
AFH funded
4.9 mill. DDK
CASGUT: Caseins for gut comfort in infants
Most infant formulas (IF) are based on processed milk proteins, consisting of bovine whey proteins added to skimmed milk powder to obtain whey/casein (CN) ratio of 60/40 to approach the ratio in human milk (HM). The project aims to clarify the potential benefits of gently-processed intact or hydrolyzed micellar casein isolate (MCI) in IFs and how they compare to HM in terms of mild gastric clotting for improved gut comfort and motility and the release of bioactive peptides for improved gut health. It is currently unknown how the widely studied rennet-induced coagulation of bovine milk in relation to cheese-making properties translates into clotting properties in the infant stomach. This is studied in the CASGUT project; by combinations of piglet studies and lab based pilot experiments in the context of the established CASGUT AU/UCPH project consortium.
Principal Investigators
Professor Lotte Bach Larsen, Aarhus University
Associate Professor Stine Brandt Bering, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
5.1 mill. DDK
SMiL – Special Milk Lipids for Improving Metabolic Health
Medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCSFAs) comprise about 10% of the fat found in cow milk. MCSFAs have been shown to increase satiety and improve metabolic syndrome. We have two aims. One, by using different transgenic mouse models and by conducting mechanistic human experiments, we want to identify the mode-of-action underpinning the health benefits of MCSFAs. Two, we will create a novel dairy product that is highly enriched in MCSFAs and assess its potential health benefits in humans.
Scientific publications
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor Maximilian Kleinert, University of Copenhagen.
AFH funded
5.2 mill. DDK
DAIPRO-NAFLD – A randomized controlled trial of effects of DAIry PROtein products on liver disease severity and metabolism in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
The project will investigate the effects of novel dairy protein products on liver disease severity and metabolism in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This may procure novel treatments and dietary guidelines for patients with NAFLD and holds potential for extrapolation to obesity and diabetes.
Scientific publications
Principal Investigator
Professor Henning Grønbæk, Aarhus University.
AFH funded
5.6 mill. DDK
The CutDM mealbox – Cut down on carbohydrate usage in the diet of type 2 diabetes
The project objective is to examine whether 12 months of provision of a carbohydrate-reduced high-protein (CRHP) diet as compared to dietary counseling to follow a CRHP diet or provision of a conventional diabetes (CD) diet can reduce medication and improve blood glucose control and key risk factors for metabolic and cardiovascular disease in patients with T2D.
Scientific publications
Principal Investigator
Professor Thure Krarup, University of Copenhagen.
AFH funded
7.5 mill. DDK
FerMetS – Matrix characterization and effect of different types fermented dairy products on liver fat, cardiometabolic risk and gut microbiome in men with metabolic syndrome.
The project aim to characterize the matrix of different types of fermented dairy products and investigate their effects on liver fat, cardio metabolic risk and gut microbiome when compared with a dairy-control in men with metabolic syndrome.
Scientific publications
Principal Investigator
Professor Faidon Magkos, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
5.0 mill. DDK
ENMET – Milk proteins as regulator of obesity through modification of the ENergy METabolism and gut microbiota
This project investigates to what extent milk proteins modulate energy metabolism and thereby may improve weight management. The project aims in addition to investigate the molecular mechanisms governing the effect of protein on host metabolism in consort with gut bacteria.
Principal Investigator
Professor Karsten Kristiansen, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
3.5 mill. DKK
MAINHEALTH
The influence of maternal health on human breast milk composition with downstream effects on infant metabolism and gut colonization.
Scientific publications
Popular publications
Modermælk er skræddersyet – men hvordan bruges den af barnet?
Gravide kan hjælpe med at forberede fremtidens modermælkserstatning
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Ulrik Kræmer Sundekilde, Aarhus University
Professor Niels Uldbjerg, Aarhus University
Professor Dennis Sandris Nielsen, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
5.0 mill DKK
Finalized research projects
MiPUAge – Milk Protein Utilisation and Age
Whey and casein-derived protein ingredients: gastro-intestinal absorbption, whole body utilizatoin, and hormonal and metabolic regulation: a metabolomics approach.
Principal Investigator
Professor Gerrit van Hall, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
3.65 mill DKK
MAGNUS
At any time at least 50 mill. children suffer from malnutrition, which has huge consequences for their future life – if they survive. Optimal nutrition support is needed to bring children out of this devastating state of hunger and impaired growth and development. This project examines how milk protein and whey permeate rescue linear and ponderal growth as well as child development in Moderate Acute Malnutrition.
Scientific publications
Principal Investigator
Professor Henrik Friis, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
5 mill DKK
DAIRYMAT
A food item is more than the content of its single nutrients. The structure of the food at all levels affects the digestion and uptake of the nutrients in the human gut. In this project, we study how the dairy matrix influences nutrient uptake with specific focus on post-prandial lipaemia. The perspective is to be able to design better foods with a more targeted structure for nutrient availability by understanding of the effects of this relationship in dairy foods.
Scientific publications
Thøgersen R et al. Effect of Dairy Matrix on the Postprandial Blood Metabolome. Nutrients, 2021.
Popular publications
Fast eller flydende – hvad betyder madens struktur for næringsoptaget?
Madens struktur påvirker din optagelse af fedt.
Bertram & Hammershøj. Forunderlige fødevarematriceeffekter, Dansk Kemi, 102, 3, 21-23, 2021.
Principal Investigator
Professor Marianne Hammershøj, Aarhus University
AFH funded
4 mill DKK
D-pro
Effects of milk protein and vitamin D on children’s growth and health.
Scientific publications
Stounbjerg et al. Vitamin D status of 3-year-old children in Denmark: determinants and associations with bone mineralization and blood lipids. Eur J Nutr, 2023.
Popular publications
Tilskud af D-citamin om vinteren styrker børns knogler
Mørke måneder forude: Fødevarestyrelsen har et råd til alle
Principal Investigator
Professor Christian Mølgaard, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
6.35 mill DKK
OmniSaM: The Omnibus Satiety Metric
A multimodal metric for predicting the satiating effects of real foods and drinks
Satiation depends on many human factors related to e.g. physiology, perception and psychology and as such has proven very difficult to measure and predict accurately. Healthy foods that fill faster and for longer are desirable for public health, but current methods for measuring the satiating capacity of foods have very weak predictive val-ues. This ambitious project proposes to combine the primary processes underlying the satiety cascade, including brain, blood and behavior measurements to develop a meth-od which can accurately predict future caloric intake. The Omnibus Satiety Metric will enable the development of superior satiety optimized foods in the context of weight and lifestyle management for the consumer, as well as enabling the future development of a rapid measurement for satiation with wider applicability in the nutrition and medical sectors.
Scientific publications
Which factors decide how much we eat? DCA –Center for Food and Agriculture. April 2019. Popular science.
Popular publications
Principal Investigator
Professor Derek Victor Byrne, Aarhus University
AFH funded
5.29 mill DKK
Take
When sick and hospitalized muscle wasting often take place due to inflammation and lack of appetite. This project investigates the optimal combination of milk proteins and ketone bodies to counteract post-inflammatory protein and muscle waste in a new clinical human model combining inflammation(LPS), bed rest and fasting. The goal is to be able to support healing and recovery with targeted nutrition, which would improve quality of life for patients and reduce health care costs.
Scientific publications
Popular publications
Individualiseret ernæring skal få patienter på benene igen med muskelmassen i behold
Principal Investigator
Professor Niels Møller, Aarhus University Hospital
AFH funded
1.65 mill DKK
Stimune
This projects investigates if a diet with bioactive milk ingredients protects against gut inflammation. This is of huge relevance to improve infant formula but may also be applicable to adults suffering from intestinal inflammation.
Scientific publications
Gut and Immune Effects of Bioactive Milk Factors in Preterm Pigs Exposed to Prenatal Inflammation
Common and distinct variation in data fusion of designed experimental data
Principal Investigator
Professor Per Sangild, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
4.46 mill DKK
InfantBrain
A large project in which work package 1 is funded by Arla Food for Health. This work package aims to identify and optimize processing conditions which allow efficient and high quality separation of Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) from cream or dairy side streams.
Scientific publications
Microfiltration of raw milk for production of high-purity milk fat globule membrane material
Impact of industrial cream processing on the protein composition of the milk fat globule membrane
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor Lars Wiking, Aarhus University
AFH funded
2.5 mill DKK
CutDM – Cut down on carbohydrate usage in the diet of type 2 diabetes
Mechanisms of effective therapy of diabetes by selective choice of macronutrients
This project investigates if a diet with lower content of carbohydrates and thus higher content of fat and protein, partly delivered by dairy products, improves blood sugar control of patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.
Scientific publications
Weber et al. Effects of Carbohydrate Restriction on Body Weight and Glycemic Control in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Efficacy in Real-Life Settings. Nutrients, 2022.
Popular publications
Reduction of carbohydrate intake improved type 2 diabetics’ ability to regulate blood sugar
Principal Investigator
Professor Thure Krarup, University of Copenhagen
AFH funded
4.0 mill DKK