2024 September Board Book

The Yogurt Matrix During Digestion: Benefits of Milk Composition and Structure* RESEARCHER: Dr. Maria Marco, UC Davis TIMELINE: 2022 - 2024 OBJECTIVES: 1. Clarify structural and functional differences between traditional dairy-based yogurts and various plant based yogurt-like products. 2. Improve understanding of how dairy-based yogurt impacts intestinal, immune, and metabolic health. 3. Determine how dairy yogurt and plant-based yogurts breakdown during digestion, impacting nutrient profiles and probiotic survival. BENEFITS: • Provides scientific evidence showing the benefits of a fermented dairy food matrix for delivering nutrients and probiotics. • Expands marketing of milk and fermented dairy foods based on their nutritional and microbial properties. • Increases demand for dairy yogurt in the long term. * This project is funded in partnership with National Dairy Council. The project submitted its final report in June. The Effect of Yogurt on Mucosal Immunity in the Gastrointestinal Tract* RESEARCHER: Dr. Danielle Lemay, USDA ARS TIMELINE: 2023 - 2024 OBJECTIVES: 1. Gain insights into the potential of dairy products, specifically yogurt, to influence gut health by measuring mucosal protection in an intervention trial. 2. Inform future trial designs for comparing dairy products against non-dairy alternatives in terms of their impact on gastrointestinal protection. BENEFITS: • Contributes to a better understanding of the unique benefits of dairy products on gut health, potentially highlighting their superiority over non-dairy alternatives in providing mucosal protection. *This project is funded in partnership with National Dairy Council.

Bovine Milk and Non-dairy Alternatives: Characterization of Oligosaccharides Structures, Abundance and Functions RESEARCHER: Dr. Daniela Barile, UC Davis TIMELINE: 2023 - 2024 OBJECTIVES: 1. Demonstrate the unique nature of milk bioactives compared to non-dairy milk alternatives. 2. Recover oligosaccharides from both bovine milk and non-dairy alternatives. 3. Characterize and quantify oligosaccharides. 4. Compare the in vitro functional activity of purified oligosaccharides from different sources. 5. Investigate the anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity of the identified oligosaccharides. BENEFITS: • Showcases the unique health and nutrition benefits of dairy products compared to dairy-free alternatives. • Supports the industry in retaining or expanding market share by demonstrating the advantages of dairy products over competing alternatives. SPLASH! Milk Science Update and the International Milk Genomics Consortium (IMGC)* SPLASH! LEAD: Dr. Carl Whithaus, UC Davis TIMELINE: 2024 OBJECTIVES: 1. Produce SPLASH! Milk Science Update , a bi-monthly e-newsletter focused on emerging research trends in milk and dairy science. 2. Support the IMGC by organizing an annual symposium and other educational opportunities for researchers, industry professionals, communicators, and educators. BENEFITS: • Engages and informs the milk science community with the latest advancements in milk and dairy science globally through SPLASH! and the IMGC annual symposium. *This project is managed by CDRF and funded by the IMGC through its sponsors.

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