Night milking adds value to cow’s milk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Melatonin is synthesized in greater concentration at night, and it plays an important role in sleep regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the melatonin concentration in milk collected by milking during the night and evaluates its effect, with or without tryptophan supplementation, in the sleep quality of adult Wistar rats. RESULTS: A difference (P < 0.05) was observed between the milking times, where the milk obtained at 02:00 presented a higher melatonin concentration (39.43 pg mL(-1) ) than that acquired at 15:00 (4.03 pg mL(-1) ). A biological assay was also performed on 32 male adult Wistar rats distributed among four groups (n = 8): those receiving an AIN-93M diet (control group) and three test groups [diets containing milk from milking at 02:00 (M2h ), milking at 15:00 (M15h ), and milking at 02:00 plus tryptophan supplementation (M2h T)] for 28 days. It was observed that the control group did not differ (P > 0.05) from the M15h group in terms of the levels of blood melatonin and urinary sulfatoxymelatonin, but differed from groups M2h and M2h T, whereas group M2h T presented higher blood melatonin and urinary sulfatoxymelatonin concentrations. CONCLUSION: Combining the techniques of night milking with tryptophan supplementation resulted in production of milk that improves sleep quality in rats.
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High melatonin concentrations are necessary for milk to affect blood melatonin concentrations.
“indicating that high melatonin concentrations are necessary for milk to affect blood melatonin concentrations.”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [51]
When night time milk was supplemented with tryptophan (2.5 g/L), circulating melatonin concentrations significantly increased further (35.5%).
“When the night time milk was supplemented with tryptophan (2.5 g/L) circulating melatonin concentrations significantly increased further (35.5%) [51].”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [51]
Consumption of night time milk (melatonin concentration of 39.43 pg/mL) compared to daytime milk (4.03 pg/mL) significantly increased circulating melatonin (26.5%) in rats.
“Consumption of night time milk (melatonin concentration of 39.43 pg/mL) compared to daytime milk (4.03 pg/mL) significantly increased circulating melatonin (26.5%) concentration in rats [51], indicating that high melatonin concentrations are necessary for milk to affect blood melatonin concentrations.”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [51]
Increased tryptophan and melatonin concentrations appear to be the property responsible for the sleep promoting effect of night time milk.
“Increased tryptophan and melatonin concentrations appear to be the property responsible for the sleep promoting effect of night time milk.”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [51]
Consumption of tryptophan rich protein (e.g., milk) could affect changes in core temperature improving sleep quality.
“Consumption of tryptophan rich protein (e.g., milk) could affect changes in core temperature improving sleep quality [51].”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Milagres, M. P., Minim, V. P. R., Minim, L. A., Simiqueli, A. A., Moraes, L. E. S., & Martino, H. S. D.
- Affiliations
- Southwest Bahia State University (BR)
- Department of Food Technology Federal University of Viçosa Av. P. H. Rolfs Viçosa Minas Gerais Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Milagres, Maria P
- Venue
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-12-12
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1688-1692
- ISSN
- 0022-5142 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0010
- OpenAlex
- W1905586250
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 0.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food and Agricultural Sciences
- Keywords
- melatonin, tryptophan supplementation, milk quality, sleep quality, Wistar rats, dairy cattle
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cattle, Circadian Rhythm, Dairying, Diet, Female, Lactation, Male, Melatonin, Milk, Sleep, Time Factors, Tryptophan, Rats, Wistar, Dietary Supplements, Rats
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