During her PhD studies, Mengjia Li investigated potentials of application of novel casein-based ingredients for infant formula and how these affect gastric curd formation and gastrointestinal digestion in neonates. The ingredients comprised standard micellar casein isolate as well as two modified types, a prehydrolyzed one and one that was calcium reduced, thereby loosening the micelles. The study utilized both static in vitro models and an in vivo neonatal piglet model to simulate infant digestion. Through a comparative analysis of lab coagulation, in vitro and in vivo findings, the study interprets and documents the potential benefits of utilizing modified MCI types, by demonstrating looser gastric clots, higher digestibility, more variety and abundance of bioactive peptides, and faster nutrient uptake compared with standard micellar casein isolate in infant formula.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Food Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Thursday, 27 November 2025 at 13.00
Place: Building Agro Food Park 48, room 5910-214, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations of Coagulation and Digestive Properties of Micellar Casein Isolate Types for Infant Formulae Application
Contact information: Mengjia Li, e-mail: au724968@food.au.dk, tel.: +45 50392206
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Lilia Arhné, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Research Professor Isidra Recio, Institute of Food Science Research, CIAL (CSIC-UAM), Spain
Professor Marianne Hammershøj (chair), Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Lotte Bach Larsen, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Nina Aagaard Poulsen, Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.