Other utilisation of mare's and ass's milk

This review summaries the recent knowledge on the mechanisms of some bioactive substances, observed in the mare and donkey milk, in favour of the human health. The first studies on equine's milk composition have focussed the attention on the protein fraction showing a casein and whey protein content very similar to human milk and a higher presence of functional substances, hormones, immunoglobulin, nitrogenous compounds characterized by antibacterial action, e.g. lysozyme or lactoferrin. For the probiotic and prebiotic activities on the intestinal microflora, mare's and ass's milk, are traditionally known as an alternative food for infants affected by allergic reactions on immunological basis to cow's milk proteins. More recently, some bioactive substances are also identified in the category of lipids. Among these, the essential fatty acids, found in higher quantity, are capable to interact in the development of the neonatal nervous system as well as to condition indirectly or directly the intestinal environment and the immune-inflammatory system, being involved, through the synthesis of eicosanoids (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes), in the prevention and cures of some pathologies not only of infants but also of adults (osteogenesis process, arteriosclerosis, premature senescence, coronary disease). Moreover, thanks to the qualitative composition of triglycerides, the equine milk has a similar digestibility to human milk and higher than that of cow milk.