Mohammad Raies Ul Haq - β-Casomorphins: A1 Milk, Milk Peptides and Human Health

This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore

This leading-edge composition entitled-Casomorphinscomprehensively describes the link between a type of milk we usually consume and its correlations with various health complications. During the early 1990s, a correlation between A1 milk intake and increased risk for incidence of disorders was set up on the basis of ecological correlations. This was further strengthened by animal trials, human case-control studies, and few in vitro findings. The difference between A1 and A2 milk is the presence of histidine and proline, respectively, at position 67 of -casein. This mutation leads to the release of a seven amino acid peptide called -casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) from the former that is actually a hypothetical risk factor. BCM-7 is an opioid peptide with morphine-like activity that binds mu () receptors. A2 milk is high in the cattle breeds of Asia, Africa, and parts of Southern Europe. A1 milk is common in Europe, the United States, and New Zealand. The Indian indigenous cattle yield A2 milk and Indian crossbred cattle yield both milks, but still with higher A2 milk type.

In this book, I have tried to bring together scientific information from more than 100 research and review articles. This book describes cow milk and its composition, the status of A1/A2 milk hypothesis, and the structure, properties, and activities of BCMs. Moreover, correlations between consumption of A1 milk and type 1 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological manifestation are also given comprehensively. A critical analysis by EFSA, American Nutritionists, and Truswell is also provided for the interest of readers. Furthermore, I have been working in the same research area since 2009 and established a correlation between consumption of A1 milk and BCM-7 with gut inflammation in mice models. We also screened animals (Indian indigenous and crossbred cattle) with PCR-ACRS. Additionally, we checked the release of these peptides from A1 and A2 -casein with SGID.

I hope this composition will be useful for agricultural scientists in general and dairy sector in particular. This is quite interesting and amazing not only because of an establishment of correlation between nutrition and human health but due to the courageous criticism, value added corporate business, and consumer choices.

The final message of this book for readers and researchers is as follows:

The ecological, case-controls, in vivo, in vitro, biochemical, pharmacological, and immunological studies are strong enough to establish a correlation regarding A1 like milk consumption. The criticism cited by American Nutritionists, EFSA, and Truswell cannot be overlooked. The present status of the hypothesis is not in a position to make final consumer health recommendations regarding this issue. Therefore, more mechanistic studies are needed at cellular and molecular levels with explored signal cascade pathways. Overall, the hypothesis is potentially important and possibly significant. However, verified and authenticated research with reproducible results is needed to make final recommendations and guidelines regarding worlds dairy sector and consumer health.

Searching literature and subsequently researching in the field of A1 milk and then exploiting this experience in writing this book, largely in winter and summer vacations, at nights, and over a period of 1 year, have been an awesome but challenging experience.

In this endeavor, first and foremost I thank Almighty Allah who retained me in circumstances more favorable than acquiring this successful attempt. He (Allah) bestowed upon me with the lovely family (Dad, Mom, Wife, Sister, Dr. Arshid, Juwariya, Tahoora, and Faaiz) as a sounding board at both favorable and critical times.

I acknowledge Dr. Rajeev Kapila (Principal Scientist, NDRI-ICAR-Karnal, Haryana) as my teacher and mentor, who was particularly more helpful in teaching me some of the main biochemistry behind A1 milk story. He gifted me with his valuable time and research funding that started from preparation of synopsis to PhD thesis writing and research publications. This work would have been impossible in his absence.

I acknowledge Professor (Dr.) Bashir Ahmad Ganie (Director CORD, University of Kashmir) under whose mentorship I completed my Post-Doctoral fellowship (funded by SERB); the research was absolutely related to this book composition.

I acknowledge Mr. Khursheed, Dr. Shafi, Dr. Gulzar, Dr. Iqbal, Dr. Shabir, Dr. Showkeen, Dr. Sheraz, Dr. Danish, and Dr. Ahmad for the entertainment they provided that was subsequently essential for the sustenance of balanced and sound mind.

The composition of this book would have been impossible without some exceptional research work by many eminent scientists who made the discoveries on which this book is based. I corresponded with one or two such scientists, and the remaining are known to me through their outstanding research.

I specially thank Dr. Keith Woodford and Dr. Andrew Clark who have made special contributions in this field.