The wellbeing impacts of milk might rely upon the type of cow it came from. As of now, A2 milk is advertised as a better decision than normal A1 milk. Defenders state that A2 has a few medical advantages and is simpler for individuals with a milk intolerance to digest. This article investigates the science behind A1 and A2 milk.
A1 and A2 are specific proteins found in cow's milk, though in different proportions depending on the breed of cattle. Both A1 and A2 are proteins in the casein family, which makes up about one-third of all the proteins in human milk, but about 80 per cent of the proteins in cow's milk. The two proteins are almost identical — they each contain 209 amino acids, the building blocks of any protein. The only difference between A1 and A2 is a difference in the 67th amino acid in the chain. At this position, A1 has a "Histidine" amino acid, while A2 has a "Proline" amino acid.
The entire basis of the supposed problem with A1 milk is its pesky histidine amino acid at position 67. That one amino acid change means when the A1 protein is broken down, it can create the peptide BCM-7 (beta-casomorphin). BCM-7 is related to the opiate family and has been found to have a wide range of effects in animals if injected directly into the blood. For example, in rats, it has been shown to have an analgesic effect, or it can accelerate learning. We already know that peptides can have all kinds of effects on the human body. They can affect blood pressure, immune system and rate of blood clots. Peptides can be quite wide-ranging and powerful in their effects.
BCM-7 has been shown to have some minor effects on the gut movements and inflammation of animals, but this has not been conclusively shown in humans. The original claim about A1 milk was that it may cause diseases ranging from autism and schizophrenia to type 1 diabetes and heart disease. The basis of this claim was that it would break down into a damaging peptide called beta-casomorphin, or BCM-7.
Researchers have proposed that specific milk proteins might be responsible for certain individuals' milk intolerance. One review in 41 individuals showed that A1 milk causes milder stools than A2 milk in certain people, while one more review in Chinese grown-ups observed that A2 milk led to significantly less digestive discomfort after having food. Furthermore, animal and human studies suggest that A1 beta-casein may increase inflammation in the digestive system.
The debate about the potential wellbeing impacts of A1 and A2 milk is continuous. The research proposes that A1 beta-casein causes unfavourable stomach-related side effects in specific people. But the evidence is still too weak for any solid conclusions to be made about the supposed links between A1 beta-casein and other conditions and different circumstances, like type 1 diabetes and autism. All things considered, A2 milk could be worth a try if you struggle to digest regular milk.