Energy and Nutrient Concentrations of Water Buffalo Milk and Liquid and Dried Whey: Potential Dietary Supplement to Address Malnutrition in Lao PDR

摘要

In Lao PDR, 33.5% of children <5 years are stunted, 26% are underweight and 8% are severely wasted. Nutritional rehabilitation of malnourished children often requires dietary protein (PRO) and energy supplementation. Water buffalo (WB) native to SE Asia produce milk with more fat and PRO than dairy cow (DC) milk. Although WB milk is not typically consumed in Lao, it is used to make cheese. Whey, a byproduct of cheese production and a source of PRO and energy, is currently discarded in Lao. We analyzed and compared energy and macronutrient concentrations of WB milk and liquid and dried acid whey to DC milk and acid whey data in the 2020 USDA nutrient database to determine potential as a locally-sourced protein supplement.