Researchers Explore Gender-Specific Approaches to Food Digestion for Personalized Nutrition

A groundbreaking study conducted at the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology's Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering has uncovered notable differences in how male and female digestive systems process various foods, including milk and plant-based alternatives. The research emphasizes that digestion efficiency varies significantly between genders, which could influence future dietary guidelines and food engineering.

The study developed innovative in vitro models to simulate male and female digestion, revealing that men tend to digest milk proteins more effectively, while women show higher efficiency when digesting oat-based plant milk. These findings echo historical patterns observed in hunter-gatherer societies, where men predominantly consumed animal-based foods, and women relied more on plant sources. This evolutionary perspective suggests that dietary adaptations may have shaped our digestive capabilities over time.

Further analysis highlighted differences in the release of amino acids and peptides during digestion. Men produced more antimicrobial peptides, whereas women exhibited higher levels of peptides associated with bone formation. This insight is particularly relevant given that osteoporosis affects women more frequently, with one in three women over 50 experiencing osteoporotic fractures compared to one in five men.

Led by Prof. Uri Lesmes and including contributions from Ph.D. student Leehen Mashiah and others, the research underscores the importance of considering biological sex in nutritional science. As plant-based diets and dairy substitutes become more prevalent globally, understanding gender-specific digestion could lead to more tailored and effective nutritional strategies.

Prof. Lesmes emphasizes that food processing has been pivotal for human evolution and advocates for leveraging these insights to advance food engineering, ensuring diets are optimized to individual needs based on gender-specific digestive differences.