PROPAGANDA FOR A1 , A2 MILK   &  SCIENTIFIC  FACTS ON THE CONTROVERSY

PROPAGANDA FOR A1 , A2 MILK   &  SCIENTIFIC  FACTS ON THE CONTROVERSY

Compiled & Edited by-DR. RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, (LIVESTOCK & POULTRY CONSULTANT), JAMSHEDPUR, JHARKHAND,INDIA
9431309542, rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com

Milk and dairy have been the subjects of much debate over recent years. Lately, companies have been marketing “A2 milk” as a healthier option than “A1 milk.” But what exactly are A1 and A2 milk? What kind of cows provide each? And is A2 milk really healthier?

Let’s examine some of the science behind these ideas.

But first, let’s get a quick overview of just what A1 and A2 casein proteins are and how they can affect your health…

WHAT IS CASEIN?

Simply put, casein is the largest group of protein in milk. It’s used in the production of cheese. On average, milk from cows contains about three percent casein. This protein is almost always extracted from skim milk — rarely from higher fat milk, like cream. Casein is used in more than just cheese, though. It’s also used in the manufacturing of other foods, medicines, dietary supplements, cosmetics, glue, paint, plastics, paper coatings, and several kinds of textiles.¹

Now, let’s examine the difference between 2 types of casein found in milk — A1 and A2:

A1 MILK—————-

 A1 milk contains A1 beta-casein. For the most part, this comes from breeds of cows that originated in Northern Europe. Recent research has suggested that milk containing A1 casein can potentially lead to adverse health outcomes including problems with blood sugar and cardiovascular issues.

Some other health risks associated with A1 milk can be digestive issues, intolerance to dairy products, and even a slowing of cognitive processes.

  A2 MILK———————–

Now, A2 milk is believed to be the healthier option here. It doesn’t tend to bring about the digestion issues and health risks linked to A1 milk.

However, in the late 1990s, a New Zealand company set to uncover the potential differences between milk and other dairy products containing A1 versus A2 casein. In the years since there has been a significant amount of debate on this topic.

Research from different countries provides different results. But, while there is a large amount of evidence that A1 milk carries potentially dangerous health risks, they are not found with A2 consumption, there are other studies that suggest otherwise.

The main controversy related to  A1 & A32 Milk   arose after  Dr. Keith Woodford, a professor of farm management and agribusiness at New Zealand’s Lincoln University who wrote the 2007 book Devil in the Milk: Illness, Health, and the Politics of A1 and A2 Milk.

For more than a decade, an Auckland-based company called A2 Corporation has been selling a brand of A2 milk in New Zealand and Australia; it now accounts for 8 percent of Australia’s dairy market. In 2012, A2 Corp. introduced its milk in the United Kingdom through the Tesco chain, where a two-liter bottle sells for about 18 percent more than conventional milk.

But critics write off the success of A2 Corp. as a victory of marketing over science. Indeed, a 2009 review by the European Food Safety Authority found no link between the consumption of A1 milk and health and digestive problems. So far, much of the research on the matter is funded by A2 Corp., which holds a patent for the only genetic test that can separate A1 from A2 cows. And in 2004, the same year that A2 Corp. went public on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, Australia’s Queensland Health Department fined its marketers $15,000 for making false and misleading claims about the health benefits of its milk.

The A1/A2 debate has raged for years in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, but it is still virtually unheard of across the pond.

The difference between A1 and A2 proteins is subtle: They are different forms of beta-casein, a part of the curds (i.e., milk solids ) that make up about 30 percent of the protein content in milk. The A2 variety of beta-casein mutated into the A1 version several thousand years ago in some European dairy herds. Two genes code for beta-casein, so modern cows can either be purely A2, A1/A2 hybrids, or purely A1. Milk from goats and humans contains only the A2 beta-casein, yet not everyone likes the flavor of goat milk, which also contains comparatively less vitamin B-12—a nutrient essential for creating red blood cells. About 65 percent of Jersey cows exclusively produce A2 milk  

The A1 milk hypothesis was devised in 1993 by Bob Elliott, a professor of child health research at the University of Auckland. Elliott believed that consumption of A1 milk could account for the unusually high incidence of type-1 diabetes among Samoan children growing up in New Zealand. He and a colleague, Corran McLachlan, later compared the per capita consumption of A1 milk to the prevalence of diabetes and heart disease in 20 countries and came up with strong correlations.

Critics argued that the relationships could be explained away by other factors, such as diet, lifestyle, and latitude-dependent exposure to vitamin D in sunlight—and in any case started to fall apart when more countries were included.

Yet a 1997 study by Elliott published by the International Dairy Federation showed A1 beta-casein caused mice to develop diabetes, lending support to the hypothesis, and McLachlan remained convinced. In 2000, he partnered with entrepreneur Howard Paterson, then regarded as the wealthiest man on New Zealand’s South Island, to found the A2 Corporation.

Starting in 2003, A2 Corp. sold milk in the United States through a licensing agreement, but pulled out in 2007 after it failed to catch on. Susan Massasso, A2 Corp.’s chief marketing officer, blamed mistakes by the company’s US partner, but declined to elaborate. But now the market dynamics may be changing in A2 Corp.’s favor as compelling new research on the A1/A2 debate grabs  headlines in the Australian, Indian  and UK press.

When digested, A1 beta-casein (but not the A2 variety) releases beta-casomorphin7 (BCM7), an opioid with a structure similar to that of morphine.  Studies increasingly point to BCM7 as a troublemaker. Numerous recent tests, for example, have shown that blood from people with autism and schizophrenia contains higher-than-average amounts of BCM7. In a recent study, Richard Deth, a professor of pharmacology at Northeastern University in Boston, and his postdoctoral fellow, Malav Trivedi, showed in cell cultures that the presence of similarly high amounts of BCM7 in gut cells causes a chain reaction that creates a shortage of antioxidants in neural cells, a condition that other research has tied to autism. The study, underwritten in part by A2 Corp., is now undergoing peer review in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Nearly 80 percent of Guernsey cows tested in the US are pure A2, the highest percentage of any traditional breed, according to the American Guernsey Association. 

The results suggest that drinking A2 milk instead of A1 milk could reduce the symptoms of autism.There’s a lot more research that needs to be done to support these claims.

Researchers without ties to A2 Corp. are also lending increasing support to the A1 hypothesis. One peer-reviewed study conducted at the National Dairy Research Institute in India, published in October in the European Journal of Nutrition, found that mice fed A1 beta-casein overproduced enzymes and immune regulators that other studies have linked to heart disease and autoimmune conditions such as eczema and asthma.

The leading explanation for why some people but not others may react poorly to A1 milk implicates leaky gut syndrome—a concept that got its start in alternative medicine circles but has been gaining wider traction in the medical establishment. The idea is that that loose connections in the gut, like tears in a coffee filter, allow rogue proteins such as BCM7 to enter the body and run amok. The body brings in immune cells to fight them off, creating inflammation that manifests as swelling and pain—a telltale symptom of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and diabetes, and autism.

Though many adults may suffer from leaky guts, the condition is normal in babies less than a year old, who naturally have semi-permeable intestines. This may pose a problem when they’re fed typical cow-milk formula. A 2009 study documented that formula-fed infants developed muscle tone and psychomotor skills more slowly than infants that were fed (A2-only) breast milk. Researchers in Russia, Poland, and the Czech Republic have suggested links between BCM7 in cow milk formula and childhood health issues. A 2011 study implicates BCM7 in sudden infant death syndrome: the blood serum of some infants that experienced a “near-miss SIDS” incident contained more BCM7 than of healthy infants the same age. Capitalizing on those findings, A2 Corp. also sells an A2-only infant formula, a2PLATINUM, in Australia, New Zealand, and China.

The mainstream dairy industry in the United States may be more interested in the A1/A2 debate than it lets on. For example, US companies that sell bull semen for breeding purposes maintain information on the exact A1/A2 genetics of all of their offerings. And breeders have already developed A2 Holsteins to replace the A1 varieties typically used in confined agricultural feeding operations. “There is absolutely no problem in moving across to A2 and still having these high-production cows,” says Woodford, the Devil in the Milk author, who has in more recent years worked as a consultant for A2 Corp.

But the transition to A2 milk would take a bit of money and a lot of time—probably about a decade, Woodford believes. “The mainstream industry has always seen it as a threat,” he says, “whereas another way of looking at it is, hey, this can actually bring more people to drinking milk.”

For now, here in the United States, the best way to get milk with a higher-than-average A2 content is to buy it from a dairy that uses A2-dominant cow breeds such as the Jersey, the Guernsey, or the Normande. In Northern California, for example, Sonoma County’s Saint Benoit Creamery specifies on its milk labels that it uses “pastured Jersey cows.”

The heirloom A2 cow breeds tend to be hardy animals adapted to living on the open range and not producing a ton of milk, but what they do produce is comparatively thicker, creamier, and, many people say, a lot tastier than what you’ll typically find at the supermarket.

A recent study comparing Beta casein protein prevalence in Milk in different cattle breeds across the world revealed that indigenous Indian cow, buffalo, goat breeds produce A2 Beta casein Proteins, whereas the breeds which are mostly prevalent in Europe, Australia and the Americas carry genes that produce A1 Beta casein proteins in their Milk.

Beta Casein in Hybrid and Genetically Modified Cows—————

The question arises, “What is beta Casein and why should I worry about it?”

Major difference between A1 and A2 milk is the presence of an amino acid at 67^th position in a strand of 229 amino acids in cow’s milk. A1 has histidine and A2 has proline amino acid in the same position.

A1 beta casein protein found in western breed cows produces more serum cholesterol.  A1 milk is not easily digested by many people especially kids. Unlike popular belief, cholesterol is not bad; you need it in small quantities to maintain a healthy body. So I feel western breeds in cooler climate produce more serum cholesterol to tackle the climatic conditions there and maintain smooth bodily functions.

But is this high cholesterol yielding gene good for cows living in warmer regions of the world and how do they affect us?

High cholesterol producing A1 gene not only affects the cattle, the milk that they produce enters human bodies and affects us negatively. Moreover, A1 milk also causes complication with Prostate gland as per most online journals; along with growth hormones and genetically engineered food. If this is the case then your health, body and progeny is at risk. This gland is responsible for the smooth functioning of your reproductive system; producing seminal fluids which mixes with semen in testicles.

If this theory is correct, there is no use giving cross breed or western breed cows organic feed or letting them freely graze in Indian climatic condition. It will still give you high cholesterol and indirectly bad health because of the gene. This is very evident in rural places where modern day dairy cows are introduced.

To make matters worse, scientists have manipulated the genes in cows. It is believed pig(swine) genes were used to develop the modern day dairy cows because pig produces the maximum milk compared to its body weight. I don’t have a supporting document or proof.

A1 versus A2 Milk: Impact on Human Health

Casein is the chief component of the milk proteins of which about 30-35 percent is beta-casein. The major beta- casein variants are A1 and A2. A2 beta-casein possesses proline at 67th position of its 229 amino acid chain while A1 beta casein has histidine at the respective position owing to a mutation that occurred in due course of time. Breeds like Jerseys, Asian and African cows produce A2 milk while Holsteins and Ayrshire predominantly produce A1 milk. Beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a bioactive seven-amino peptide released by digestive enzymes exclusively from the A1-beta-casein protein. Several researchers have reported BCM-7 interacts with the human gastrointestinal tract, internal organs and brainstem. BCM7 adversely affects the immune response and is also considered as a risk factor for type 1diabetes. A2 milk is considered safe for human consumption. However, several other studies have found no relationship between A1 milk and the etiology of these diseases. Hence the present picture on A1vs A2 milk in concern to their health impacts is still unclear.

Since time immemorial milk has been considered as perfect food because it is an important source of nutrients and micronutrients. Milk consists of about 87 percent water and 13 percent of milk solids constituting fat, lactose, minerals and protein. Casein is the chief component of the milk proteins of which about 30-35 percent is beta-casein.  Beta- casein may be of different types based on genetic background of the animals but the major types are A1 and A2 (Swinburn, 2004). Beta-casein consist a chain of 229 amino acids. Milk having proline at 67^th position of beta- casein amino acid chain is regarded as A2 milk and with histidine amino acid at this position is A1 milk (Cowan, 2009; Woodford, 2007).  Cows producing A2 milk are known as A2 cows while those producing A1 milk are called A1 cows. Cows like Jerseys, Guernsey, Asian and African cows produce A2 milk while Holstein and Ayrshire cattle breeds predominantly produce A1 milk (Woodford, 2007; Cowan, 2009; www.snowvillecreamery.com). Sheep, goat, yaks, buffalo, camels, donkeys and Asian cows naturally contain more A2 beta casein protein (Briden, 2013).

 Genetics behind A1 and A2 Milk———————–

 Production of A1 or A2 milk by cows is governed by beta casein gene which is located on chromosome number 6. Since long back, cows have been producing A2 milk which is regarded as safe and nutritious. Around five thousand years back beta-casein gene was mutated and 67th amino acid was changed from proline (A2 allele) to histidine (A1 allele). A cow carries only two copies of the beta-casein gene. Hence, possibly she can be of A2A2 homozygous genotype or A1A2 heterozygous genotype or A1A1 homozygous genotype. The alleles do not have dominant – recessive relationship i.e., both the alleles are co-dominant in nature. Thus, an A1A2 cow will produce both A1 and A2 beta casein alleles in equal proportion. An A2A2 genotype cow will only produce A2 beta-casein and an A1A1 cow will only produce A1 beta-casein. A cow of A2A2 genotype will transmit the A2 allele to her progeny while an A1A1 cow will pass on the A1 allele and for A1A2 cow there is an equal chance of transmitting either allele. Breeding for A2A2 cows can be done by using semen from bulls of A2A2 genotype.

Table 1: Breeding designs and offspring genotype

Bull Genotype	Cow Genotype	Offspring Genotype
A2/A2	A2/A2	A2/A2
A1/A2	A2/A2	A2/A2 (50%)
A2/A2	A1/A2	A2/A2 (50%)
A1/A1	A1/A1	A1/A1

 

With the continuous use of the European breeds in selective breeding to increase milk production, improve reproduction gradually A1 allele have propagated through the breeding programme. It has been shown by several surveys that A1 / A2 frequency is area-specific rather than breed-specific.  Example, A1 gene frequency in Holstein Friesen of North America and North Europe cow is very high (above 90%) but in German Holstein Frisian A2 gene frequency is very high (around 97 %). In other countries, frequency of A1 in Holstein Friesian is in the range of 40 – 65%.  Guernsey breed from USA or Europe has high A2 frequency in cows and breeding bulls even more than 98 % which is almost equal to Indian breeds. A2 gene frequency is usually higher in Jersey (60-80%) globally (Vet Helpline India, 2015, www.downtoearth.org.in, snowvillecreamery.com). Genotyping of bulls for A1 and A2 allele is a good method for lowering the risk of A1 allele in human health and increase milk and protein yield (Olenski et al., 2009)

 The Devil in A1 Milk—————–

 Digestive enzymes act differently upon A1 and A2 beta-casein proteins during digestion process. Beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) is a bioactive seven-amino peptide is released by digestive enzymes from the A1-beta-casein protein but these enzymes cannot split the A2 protein due to presence of proline at that location. So BCM-7 is not released from A2 proteins digestion.  BCM-7 interacts with the human gastrointestinal tract, internal organs, and brainstem and is regarded as the “devil” in A1 milk (snowvillecreamery.com, Trustwell, 2005).

 Health Hazards of A1 Milk————————

 Several research workers have reported about the health hazards associated with A1 milk consumption. Elliot (1992) observed that children in Polynesian islands consuming only to A2 type milk were at lesser risk to Diabetes type 1 than Polynesian children in Auckland who were accessing A1 type of milk. An in vivoexperiment on non-obese diabetic mice further scientifically authenticated the observation. Elliot et al. (1999) found a positive correlation between consumption of the β-casein A1 variant and incidence of diabetes mellitus. BCM-7 can affect many opioid receptors in the nervous, endocrine and immune system. Infants are more vulnerable because they have more chance of absorption of BCM-7 because of comparatively less developed gastro-intestinal tract than the adults. BCM-7 may act as an immunosuppressant and may increase the risk of Type 1 Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Arteriosclerosis, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is also related with some neurological disorders like Autism or Schizophrenia (Pattanayak, 2013).

Bovine BCM-7 has been associated with the possible risk of human ischemic heart diseases (McLachlan, 2001). Kamiński et al.(2007) claimed a probable linkage between consumption of beta-casein A1 and occurrence of ischemic heart disease, sudden infant death syndrome, neurological disorders like autism and schizophrenia in New Zealand. Beta-casein A1 is more atherogenic than beta-casein A2 (Tailford et al., 2003). Moreover, Laugesen and Elliot (2003) also found a strong correlation between consumption of A1 bovine milk and incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.  High intake of milk with A1 β-casein increases the chance of different diseases likes Diabetes Mellitus-1, Ischemic Heart Disease, Schizophrenia and Autism (Swinburn, 2004). Laugesen and Elliott analyzed food consumption data from 19 ‘health care affluent’ developed countries to study correlations between food consumption and the rates of Type 1 diabetes. Strong correlations (r = 0.92) were identified between the consumption of A1 β-casein and the incidence of type 1 diabetes. Incidence was found to be highest in Finland and Sweden (countries with the highest A1 β-casein consumption/per capita) and lowest in Venezuela and Japan (countries with the lowest A1 β-casein consumption/per capita).  Padberg et al. (1999) in one human study to investigate the differences in antibody responses to A1 and A2 β-casein reported that the ratio of A1 to A2 β-casein antibodies was significantly higher in those with Type 1 diabetes than in controls (P<0.001).

 Benefits of A2 Milk——————–

A2 milk is free from the devil in milk BCM-7 and hence is safe for consumption (Pattanayak, 2013). The populations consuming milk having more beta-casein A2 exhibit a lower occurrence of cardiovascular disease and Type 1 diabetes (Sodhi et al., 2012). People consuming A2 milk had better stool consistency, less incidence of bloating and less abdominal pain (Ho et al., 2014).

 A2 Milk Production- Indian Context   —————————–

 In India, most of the native cows produce A2 milk which is very much safe for consumption. Several research workers have attempted to study the A1 or A2 milk status in our indigenous breeds. Mishra et al. (2009) examined 15 zebu cattle breeds (Kangayam, Nimari, Red Kandhari, Malnad Gidda, Kherigarh, Malvi, Amrit Mahal, Kankrej, Gir, Sahiwal, Hariana, Tharparker, Rathi, Mewati and Red Sindhi) and 8 river buffalo breeds (Murrah, Mehsana, Marathwada, South Kanara, Manipur, Assamese Swamp, Nili Ravi and Pandharpuri) and reported the absence of A1A1 genotype. A2 gene was nearly at fixation (0.987) in zebu cattle. Indian cattle and buffalo breeds are reported to have 99 to 100% of the A2 /A2 genotype and A1 /A1 genotype is almost absent or very rare among them. Therefore, it can be said that our native cows and buffaloes produce safer milk than European cattle breeds (Pattanayak, 2013).  Ganguly et al. (2013) reported genotypic frequency A1A1 (0.15), A1A2 (0.41) and A2A2 (0.44) in Frieswal cattle and genotype frequency of A2A2 genotype (0.89), A1A1 (0.00) and A1A2 (0.11) in Ongole cows. Malarmathi (2014) reported A2 gene frequency among Holstein Friesian crossbred to be 0.595 and 1.0 in pure Kangeyam cows.

 Opportunity for Commercialization of A2 Milk————————

 There is vast scope for commercialization of A2 milk worldwide since demand for safe A2 milk is ever-increasing. In New Zealand, a company named A2 Corporation Ltd. (A2C) presently renamed as a2 Milk Company Ltd has been launched to commercialize A2 milk. This company has started huge scale marketing of A2 milk and milk products in the name of A2^TM in New Zealand, Australia, United States and Asia (http://www.a2corporation.com). A subsidiary of A2 Corporation Limited known as A2 Milk Uk (Ltd) produces and markets milk containing A2 protein in UK and Ireland . Demand for Indian cattle (A2 milk) is rising globally in many countries like Australia, South America, Africa, Brazil and Southeast Asia (De et al., 2015). So there is an opportunity to collect A2 milk from A2 genotyped herds separately and market at premium price.  A2 milk can be used to prepare baby food. Therefore, India has a prospect to become world leader in A2 infant food supply.

 The Non-Conclusive Opinion on A1/A2 Milk————————

 As stated above, there are many research reports reflecting the negative health impacts of A1 milk. However, several other studies have found possible evidence of A1 milk as a factor for causing diabetes and coronary heart disease. European food safety authority also could not find any relationship between oral intake of BCM-7 and etiology of such diseases (Hills, 2009). The Australian and New Zealand food safety Authorities have also reported no relation between A1 or A2 milk and diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease incidence. Thus, there is no conclusive remark on A1 milk being the risk factor for these diseases. Hence, need of the present era is to carry forward for research to establish the association between A1 or A2 milk with the etiology of the above said diseases .

 India is fortunately bestowed with a large number of dairy cattle and buffaloes producing the healthy A2 milk. Time has come to pay attention for improvement and conservation of our indigenous germplasm. However, to establish the advantages and disadvantages of A1 vs A2 milk, more research should be conducted to draw conclusion on the hypothesis.

WHAT BREEDS OF COWS PROVIDE A1 MILK AND WHICH COWS PROVIDE A2 MILK?

A1 Milk comes from the following cow breeds:

• Holstein Friesian
• Ayrshire
• British Shorthorn

A2 Milk comes from the following cow breeds:

• Guernsey/Jersey
• Charolais
• Asian
• Limousi

Jersey Cows

Of course, other mammals provide A2 milk, as well. This includes but is not limited to goats, sheep, donkey, buffalo, camels, and even humans (this is great to know for breastfeeding mothers who are worried about the ingredients in their natural milk).

BETA-CASOMORPHIN-7 (BCM-7) AND DIGESTION

Research has suggested that a peptide (BCM-7) is released during the digestion of A1 casein. It is believed that this peptide could be the culprit in the potential adverse health effects of dairy — from simple digestion issues to more serious risks. Research has also supported this with human trials in which participants exhibited stomach and bowel issues after consuming milk from cows with A1 casein.

 OTHER POTENTIAL RISKS WITH A1 MILK-

The following are some other potential risk factors that scientists have linked with the consumption of A1 milk:

• Blood sugar issues
• Cardiovascular issues

Please note that there is still debate over this topic. This is why it is important for research to continue and for consumers to try to keep up with that research.

It can be tough to make the healthiest choices when science is constantly advancing and changing.

DAIRY PRODUCTS THAT DON’T CONTAIN A1 MILK CASEIN

The following is a list of Gundry-approved alternatives to milk/dairy products from A1 cows. Try these substitutes if you’re looking for dairy products containing A2 milk instead of A1:

• A2 Milk
• Goat milk
• Coconut milk
• Goat or buffalo yogurt
• Grass-fed French or Italian butter
• Ghee
• Goat butter
• Goat Brie
• Goat cheese
• Sheep cheese
• Buffalo mozzarella

In summary, despite the A2 Milk Company’s claims that many studies support the health benefits of A2 milk, the scientific evidence is very thin. The human clinical studies conducted to date do not provide evidence of any benefit of A2 milk.

The strongest evidence for any possible benefit of A2 milk are the rat studies that demonstrate BCM-7, which is released during digestion of the A1 beta casein variant, causes inflammatory immune response.

• The majority of science communities agree that there is a lack of evidence to prove A2 milk is better for health, and A2’s beneficiary effects are anecdotal and not based on credible evidence.
• Despite published studies evaluating the benefits of milk solely containing A2 proteins, no convincing evidence demonstrates its benefits over consumption of milk and dairy products containing a combination of A1 and A2 beta casein.
• Current science supports the continued consumption of cow’s milk and dairy products.
• All cow’s milk provides complete nutrition for infants. It contains the essential micronutrients needed for growth and development of human health, as well as for the neonate animal.
• All cow’s milk naturally provides nine essential nutrients in one tasty, convenient, and affordable package. Whichever milk you choose, you are doing your health a favor.
• All cow’s milk is part of a balanced diet, and a good source of many different nutrients. Milk containing predominantly A2 beta casein is as safe and wholesome as any other milk.
• The 2015 US Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends three servings a day of dairy foods as part of a healthy, balanced diet

CONTROVERSY OF A1 & A2 MILK IN INDIA & ITS  REALITY————–

Milk has special significance in Indian mythology, culture and diets. Although considered a complete food, there are many lobbies that discourage milk consumption, alleging — without any convincing proof — that it might promote prostate and ovarian cancer, type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, increased cholesterol levels, weight gain, weakening of bones, etc. In naturopathy, asthma and psoriasis patients are even advised to stop taking milk. But most people the world over — barring a minority suffering from lactose intolerance — have been consuming milk daily in various forms, without any visible problems.

In 1992, a new dimension to the debate was added, when scientists in New Zealand established a correlation between the prevalence of type-1 diabetes and the type of milk consumed. It led to the discovery of the so-called A1 and A2 types of milk. Cow milk has 87-88 per cent water and 12-13 per cent solids that includes lactose/sugar (4.8 per cent), fat (3.9 per cent), protein (3.2 per cent) and minerals (0.7 per cent). About 80 per cent of milk protein is casein, 30-35 per cent of which, in turn, comprises beta-casein. The latter can further be either A1 or A2 beta-casein. Milk containing A1 beta-casein, at the time of digestion in the small intestine, releases a bioactive peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 or BCM-7. This is an opioid, having an inhibitory effect on immune function and suspected to induce type-1 diabetes, heart disease, infant death and autism.

The above A1 type of milk is mostly produced by European cow breeds such as Holstein Friesian (HF), Ayrshire and British Shorthorn. On the other hand, Jersey and Guernsey cows in the Channel Islands, the Charolais and Limousin breeds of Southern France, and the Zebu cattle of Africa and Asia produce A2 milk, which does not release BCM-7. Many surveys, however, show the frequency of A1 and A2 milk-producing cows to more area than breed-specific. Thus, 50-65 per cent of HF cows in North America produce A1 milk. But over 90 per cent cows of the same breed in Germany produce A2 milk. Further, 98 per cent of Indian cow breeds and 100 per cent of our buffaloes produce A2 milk.

In 2000, a New Zealand company, A2 Corporation Limited, was founded to identify A2 type of cows based on genetic testing and market A2 milk. In 2003, it even petitioned Food Standards Australia New Zealand, a bi-national government agency, to print health warnings on the packages of A1 milk. Not only was this rejected, A2 Corporation was asked to even withdraw its claims on A2 milk. But that did not stop it from tying up with an Australian company, A2 Dairy Marketers, for procuring and marketing of A2 milk. In 2004, both were fined by the Australian government for making misleading claims on A2 milk.

In 2006, the book ‘Devil in the Milk’, whose author Keith Woodford linked A1 beta-casein intake to Type 1 diabetes, gave a boost to A2 milk sales in New Zealand and Australia. It led to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority commissioning the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to conduct a comprehensive scientific review. The EFSA’s report, in 2009, declared that no cause and effect relationship could be established between the dietary intake of BCM-7 and various diseases. However, A2 milk continued to sell at a premium, even grabbing an 8 per cent market share in Australia by 2014. Meanwhile, A2 Corporation also started marketing A2 milk in the US, UK and China.

In India, the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), the National Dairy Research Institute and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute started research on A1 and A2 milk in 2009. But much of it involved review of research carried out in other countries. Even these only referred to research papers and books from New Zealand highlighting the harmful effects of A1 milk, while ignoring critical reports published by Truswell in 2005 and the EFSA in 2009. However, the NBAGR also screened 615 cattle representing 15 Indian breeds and found as many as 13 of these to have A2A2 genotypes. Only a small number of cattle of Malenadu Gidda and Kherigarh breeds had A1A2 genotypes.

In 2012, another NBAGR paper suggested use of bulls having A2 allele (genes) for breeding as a safety measure. It also screened 180 bulls at random from different regions. Of these bulls, only 11 per cent were reported to have A1A1 genes, while 48 per cent had A1A2 and 40 per cent A2A2 genes. Interestingly, among HF bulls, just 22 per cent had A1A1 genes, whereas 45 per cent had A1A2 and 33 per cent A2/A2 genes. Among Jersey bulls, 60 per cent had A1A2 and 37.5 per cent A2A2 genes, with only 2.5 per cent having A1A1 genes. Among crossbred bulls, a mere 1 per cent had A1A1 genes, while 50.6 per cent had A2A2 and 39 per cent A1A2 genes.

So, even if one were to assume that A1 milk is harmful, the proportion of crossbred cows in India producing this milk would be just one per cent. Also, most dairies mix the milk of cows and buffaloes during processing. In that event, the impact of A1 milk becomes negligible.

Since the EFSA’s report’s release in 2009, the controversy regarding A1 milk has almost ended globally. But in India, certain lobbies are continuing to keep this issue burning. People in Europe and the US have been consuming A1 milk for centuries, just as we in India have been drinking crossbred cow milk for over 50 years without any adverse effects being recorded. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has commissioned a study to investigate the health safety aspects of milk from crossbred cows through animal feeding trials, the results of which are yet to come. The government should till then take a neutral stand on the issue of A1 and A2 milk. However, given that A1 milk releases BCM-7, which has a mild sedative effect, a strategy may be adopted purely as a precautionary measure.

Reference-On Request