Supplementation of Ocean-Based Advance Protein Powder (APP) for Restoration of Body Growth, Bone Development and Immune Functions in Protein Malnourished Mice: Implications for Preventing Child Malnutrition

ABSTRACT

Child malnutrition is a global public health challenge. A protein malnutrition (PM) model in young mice was established in this study. The efficacy of an ocean-based protein (APP) extracted from by-catch fish as compared to casein and soy on restoring body weight, bone growth, and immunity of PM mice was evaluated. Results show that supplementation of APP increases body weight, lean muscle mass, bone area, mineral content and density. APP supplementation increases spleen, thymus weight, and interlukin-6 production. In conclusion, APP is an alternative source of protein to effectively restore body weight, bone growth and immune function of PM mice.

KEYWORDS:

• Protein malnutrition model
• Advance Protein Powder
• sustainable protein source
• immune functions
• child malnutrition

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the technical support that we have received from the Skeletal Biology Laboratory, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University for measuring bone density and bone quality. The supply of APP by Advance International, Inc (174 Lawrence Drive Unit J, Livermore, CA USA 94551) for this study is greatly appreciated. Finally, we are very thankful to Dr. Ivy Guoo-Shyng Wang Hsu, Professor of Department of Nutritional Sciences, Fu-Jen University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, for her thoughtful advice in the design phase of our study.

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest was reported by the authors. Work described in this report has not been published elsewhere, and it has not been submitted simultaneously for publication elsewhere. Although this study was supported by the funds from the Advance International Inc. through an Oregon State University Foundation grant, the authors of this study have no direct financial relationship with Advance International Inc. The authors do not have any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest that may bias their work or could be perceived to bias their work.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Oregon State University Foundation (Marine-Based Protein Research Fund) and College of Public Health and Human Sciences (Dean’s Excellence Fund).