A1 AND A2 MILK

MILK?
• Milk, liquid secreted by the mammary glands of
female mammals to nourish their young for a period
beginning immediately after birth.
• The milk of domesticated animals is also an
important food source for humans, either as a fresh
fluid or processed into a number of dairy products
such as butter and cheese.
• Almost all the milk now consumed is from the cow,
with other important sources of milk being
the sheep and goat, the water buffalo, and the camel.
MILK CONTAINS…
• Milk is essentially an emulsion of fat and protein
in water, along with dissolved sugar (carbohydrate),
minerals, and vitamins.
• These constituents are present in the milk of all
mammals, though their proportions differ from one
another.
• The milk of each species seems to be a complete food for
its own young for a considerable time after birth.
MILK CONTAINS… [contd]
• Lactose, or milk sugar, is broken down into simpler
digestible sugars by the enzyme lactase, which is
produced in the intestine of infants.
• Milk protein is of high nutritional value because it
contains all the essential amino acids—i.e., those
which infants cannot synthesize in the necessary
quantities.
• Milk’s mineral content includes calcium and
phosphorus in quantities sufficient for normal skeletal
development, but little iron.
• Milk contains B vitamins as well as small amounts of
vitamins C and D.
A1 AND A2 MILK
• Cow’s milk can be categorized into- A1 and A2
milk.
• A1 milk is different from A2 milk in the type of
milk protein i.e. casein present in it.
• Milk contains 80% of casein as its total protein
content.
• A1 milk contains A1 beta-casein while A2 milk
contains A2 beta-casein.
• The only difference in these two types of proteins
is presence of Histidine instead of Proline in A1
milk.
REASON OF DIFFERENCE IN A1 AND A2 MILK
• The difference between A1 and A2 is in the amino acid
chain number 67.
• At this position, A2 features proline whilst A1 is linked
with histidine.
• This difference in the amino acid is result of mutation
in the gene coding for casein protein.
• A2 cows like the desi Indian cows or the African cows
produce A1 protein in their milk along with amino
acid- Proline.
• In the new hybrid breeds, the Proline amino acid got
converted to Histidine due to alteration of genes over
the years. These are the A1 cows, producing A1 milk
and include breeds like Holstein, Friesian and
Ayrshire.
WHY A2 IS BETTER?
• The Proline found in the A2 milk, strongly
bounds to a small protein called BCM 7.
• This prevents BCM7 from getting into the milk
produced by A2 cows.
• On the other hand, Histidine holds a weak bond
with BCM 7, so it is easily released in the GI tract
of animals and can enter the human body on
consumption of milk from A1 cows and interact
with the digestive system and internal organs.
BCM7 IS HARMFUL
• BCM7 (Beta-casomorphin-7), an opioid peptide in
A1 beta-casein, produced as a result of the breaking off of
Histidine in the number 67 amino acid chain during
digestion.
• Researchers have shown that BCM 7 does pass into the
blood of individuals consuming A1 milk which leads to
delayed psycho-motor (brain-to-muscle) development
(as published in the International Journal ‘Peptides’).
• Another report, published in the Indian Journal of
Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2012, indicates that it
is associated as a risk factor for type-1 diabetes,
coronary heart disease and mental disorders like autism
and schizophrenia because it may enter the brain
through blood.
BCM7 IS HARMFUL [contd]
• A human clinical trial conducted at Curtin University in
Australia did prove that there were significant
differences in digestive symptoms between milks
containing A1 and A2 beta-casein. It has been approved
that certain unwanted proteins or peptides that do not
naturally occur in the human body may cause digestive
disorders like irritable bowel syndrome or a weak gut.
• BCM7 found in A1 milk is known to have opioid or
narcotic side effects and is identified to be the culprit
of lactose intolerance.
• Some researchers have hypothesized that BCM-7 from
A1 beta-casein may be the culprit in some cases of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. It is
unexpected infant death without clear or visible cause.
CONCLUSION
• It is evident that the A2 cow’s milk is better,
safer and healthier than the A1 cow’s milk.
• Thus it is suggested to milk consuming
individuals to switch to A2 milk for a better
health.
• Also, it has been found that the water buffalo,
camel, goat, sheep, yak give mostly or
completely A2 type of milk. Thus they can also
be other alternatives of A2 type.
THANK YOU