Milk and consumer health: a review of the evidence for a
relationship between the consumption of beta-casein A1 with heart
disease and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
J.P. HILL, R.A. CRAWFORD AND M.J. BOLAND
Fonterra Research Centre (formerly the New Zealand Dairy
Research Institute), Private Bag 11029, Palmerston North, New Zealand
E-Mail:
NZSAP 2002 Abstract No. 29
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62:
111-114
New developments in dairy foods, identifying health benefits
from "functional foods" have a counterpart in claims of adverse health
effects from milk components. A prime example is the present highly
publicised claim of adverse effects of "A1 milk". Although there is some
evidence that the consumption of beta-casein A1 may have an effect on
the development of insulin dependent diabetes, other studies in this
area have produced results that are inconsistent with such a claim. Some
studies indicate that the removal of beta-casein A1 from the diet would
have no influence on the incidence of insulin dependent diabetes.
Epidemiological evidence for a relationship between the consumption of
milk (and of beta-casein A1) with heart disease appears to have been a
serendipitous correlation that occurred in the past perhaps due to a
common underlying factor) but now no longer holds. Elimination of
beta-casein A1 from the diet will have no effect on the mortality rate
due to heart disease. Evidence to support claims that the consumption of
the A1 variant of the milk protein beta-casein is a causative factor in
heart disease and insulin dependent diabetes is therefore not sufficient
to promote a change in consumer milk consumption away from dairy
products containing beta-casein A1.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
milk consumption; epidemiology; diabetes; heart disease
Last Updated 30/07/2002
