Impact of milk protein on human health: A1 verses A2

Abstract

Milk is often regarded as “nature’s most perfect food” because it contains essential nutrients needed for growth and development of calf as well as humans. Milk protein is two types- casein and whey protein. The most abundant β casein protein exist in A1 and A2 form which is determined by the presence of histidine and proline amino acid respectively. A1 milk is reported to have a negative impact on human health due to BCM-7, hypothesized to be released during digestion and a risk factor for certain diseases like DM-1, IHD, SIDS, autism etc. Majority of exotic breeds produce A1 type of milk whereas Indigenous cattle breeds have a higher frequency of A2 type of allele in their milk. Thus the issue of A1/A2 milk has remained controversial so far and there is no conclusion and final scientific opinion that consumption of A1 type of milk possesses high risk for above-mentioned diseases