A recent study from the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology has highlighted significant differences in how male and female digestive systems process certain foods, particularly milk and plant-based alternatives. Published in Food Research International, the research team, led by Prof. Uri Lesmes, has proposed a new approach to food science that takes these gender differences into account.
The study aimed to understand whether men and women derive the same nutritional benefits from increasingly popular plant-based diets, particularly focusing on milk and its alternatives. According to Prof. Lesmes, the team sought to explore these differences amid the global shift towards plant-based diets and the rise of meat and dairy substitutes.
Unique Digestion Model Reveals Surprising Results
The researchers developed a unique digestion model that simulates male and female digestive systems. The findings revealed distinct variations in how each gender digests milk proteins. In the male model, milk proteins were broken down more efficiently, whereas the female model exhibited higher protein digestion efficiency for oat-based milk.
This gender-specific digestive efficiency may align with historical dietary patterns observed in hunter-gatherer societies, where men typically consumed animal-based foods while women focused on plant-based sources. Although food sharing was common, it is suggested that men’s greater reliance on animal products led to an evolutionary advantage in digesting such proteins.
Further analysis uncovered differences in the concentrations of amino acids and peptides produced during digestion. The male model showed a higher presence of antimicrobial peptides, while the female model indicated a greater concentration of a peptide associated with bone formation, known as the osteoanabolic peptide. This finding is particularly relevant in the context of osteoporosis, which affects women more frequently than men; approximately one in three women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporotic fracture compared to one in five men.
Implications for Future Nutritional Policies
The implications of this research extend beyond scientific curiosity. The study calls for a reevaluation of nutritional policies and future food engineering to incorporate these gender-based differences. Prof. Lesmes emphasized the importance of leveraging such research to inform the next phase of food engineering, one that is rooted in science, nutrition, and health.
This groundbreaking study contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that biological sex plays a crucial role in food digestion. The findings could lead to more personalized dietary recommendations that optimize health outcomes for both men and women.
For more detailed insights, refer to the study: Leehen Mashiah et al, “Sex-based differences in in vitro digestibility of milk and oat drink, and powder counterparts,” Food Research International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2025.116610.
