a2 milk.... Good, bad or no effect?????

NAS88961 said:

What's a2 milk?

It is a genetic variant of conventional cows milk (A1 is the normal cows milk) with a different amino acid on the protein chain. I'm not sure if it is GM or natrually bred from the few cows who produce that variant.

The companies behind it have made various claims about it being great for diabetes, autism and a bunch of other conditions but the scientific evidence has yet to confirm it.

With the amount of misleading advertising (ie unsubstantiated claims) and manipulation of posts on discussion boards it does give the impression to be a bit of a snake oil cure.

It may have validity if the claims can be backed up, but so far I've not seen evidence of this in any respectable scientific publication. If it is what it claims then this should be a matter of time, but it has been 18 years since the review I referred to and they have not come up with any proof yet.

If it walks like cow, moos like a cow and poops like a cow - it is probably a cow. (ie probably quackery)

What's a2 milk?

NAS88960 said:

I found myself here because after casually weighting our milk choice toward A2 my autistic daughter suddenly made massive leaps,

An interesting first post - welcome to the forum.

I had a quick look at articles by reputable scientific bodies arounf the A2 milk issue:

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005)- article titled "The A2 milk case: a critical review"

I downloaded this from Library Genesis.

The evidence relating autism and schizophrenia to A1 or A2 b-caseins in milk is more speculative and the evidence is more unsubstantial than that for DM-I and for CHD.

This does not reach a definitive conclusion, but the scientific analysis shows the claims to be unsubstantiated.

Has anyone seem further peer reviewed research into the subject or is most of it still marketing material?

I found myself here because after casually weighting our milk choice toward A2 my autistic daughter suddenly made massive leaps, such as planning ahead, taking responsibility, massively improved response time, proactive, tolerance to timed math problems, mastering math that had previously challenged her, reading entire sentences (written math problems) where a week ago reading one word challenged her.   She’s a different person all of a sudden.  It occurred to me that this past week she had been drinking mainly a2 milk.  I observed the changes these past 3 days.  Hmm..,

Children should drink full fat milk because children are not little adults: they are growing and need the calcium and protein for their growing bones and teeth. Children need far more calories than adults do. As a child, my mum always gave me a glass of full fat milk at lunchtime or in the afternoon. I did not really like milk but my mum encouraged me to drink it because she believed it cleaned my teeth, as well as aiding my growth. I was a robust, healthy child, and I have never had any problems with milk. I have Aspergers.

I'm dubious of any claims surrounding A2 milk and ASD. What hasn't received sufficient attention is whether any complications with ASD and milk is a result of the milk itself or a result of the processing of the milk. The majority of middle class British parents are determined to get their children onto semi-skimmed as soon as possible by following the advice of so called health professionals or from concerns about child obesity. Few of these parents realise that semi-skimmed milk is actually a processed food product that could be argued to be nutritionally imbalanced. The milk served in primary schools is now semi-skimmed as a result of legislation imposed by the previous government. I used to drink full fat milk at primary school without any problems. None of the children at my local AS support group has had any problems with milk but they overwhelmingly prefer to drink full fat. 

I still haven't seen any peer-reviewed research to suggest that this is even a real thing with distinctive properties. The fact that you (ASD,SLP) refer to this as 'our milk' shows your vested interest in claiming that this stuff is effective.

I repeat: there is no reliable scientific evidence (that I have ever seen or heard of) for any dietary cause for autism; nor do people on the spectrum experience any consistent range of digestive side-effects that would enable the creation of a spectrum-specific dietary product.

Alex R - Posting as himself, not as a mod.

I would like to fully disclose my background and then give my opinion on the A2 milk question.  I am a Speech Language Pathologist with Asperger's and work exclusively with kindergarten through high school ASD students.  My husband has a small (very small) raw milk business that provides A2 milk to persons with ASD, the Mennonite Community in our area and other health conscious people in our area.  We did not start the dairy for the A2 aspect,  but got interested when a friend gave us Keith Woodford's book, THE DEVIL IN THE MILK.  With that and other research in hand I convinced my husband to test our Jerseys ($25 a cow was not cheap!).  All but one was A2/A2.  We have had reports from people that have children with allergies, "suspected" lactose intolerance, those with ASD and myself that they can drink our milk without digestive or behavioral effects that commercial A1 milk produces.  We all know that "if you have seen one person with Autism, you have seen one person with Autism". I have seen first hand the changes in students that are on a strict CFGF diet and sadly those that are not. There is a marked difference in focus, tolerance levels with sensory issues and skills acquisition in these students on a CFGF diet.  A2 milk is not a medicine. A2 milk is not a cure all.  But it is not snake oil.  There is a real difference in the make-up of the milk produced in the large commercial diaries and what an exclusively A2 dairy can provide.  I would try to find a farmer that has a Jersey or Guernsey cow and try the milk. Those breeds are typically A2.  If the farmer will let you, the cow can be tested by sending tail hairs to a certified lab.   I am not trying to sell our milk here.  I am trying to broaden the awareness of the real health and behavioral changes that occur when the opiod-producing beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM7) found in A1 milk is removed from the diet.

Hi Alex R

Sorry I didn't mean to breach any rules.  I thought that directing people to this website was the easiest way to direct people to research, much of which is referenced in EFSA report.  Since the subject was raised about a2 Milk by Shazfun I was obviously happy to encourage people to read the research about it. I could have posted as an individual but I was keen to show my connection to A2 and be transparent. With regards to NICE I'm certainly not advocating that anyone adopts a casein free diet or exclude any food group. 

The EFSA report was good but controversial in as much as some of the research that was strongly relied on by EFSA in its conclusions has since been questioned.  I'm impressed by your knowledge in this area Alex and would be happy to discuss this further off line.  It's an interesting area!

Kindest regards

Mel

Hi NutritionistMel,

When you signed up to this community, you agreed to follow the rules. Rule 5 says "... if you have registered in order to advertise or sell products then your account will be closed."

As Scorpion0x17 has pointed out, the website that you are asking people to visit in order to 'make up their own minds' is in fact created and operated by your employers.

Please do not advertise this site, or anything else related to your employers' products and services again. If you do, your account will be closed.

For what it's worth, I don't know of anyone except the A2 Corporation who regard that EFSA report as controversial. The NAS has a position statement on therapies and interventions, which specifically refers to the NICE guidelines ruling out the use of 'exclusive or restrictive diets including gluten-free, casein-free or ketogenic diets' for the 'management of the core symptoms of autism in adults'.

I hope this clarifies matters.

Regards,

Alex R - mod

I drink alpron almond milk, it has calcium in it without the cow hormones or proteins.  My bowels have been good since  I also stay of the tea or coffee, tap water and drink evian and badoit french mineral water.

nutritionistMel said:

www.betacasein.org

This website has been created by A2 Dairy Products Australia Pty Limited

SHEESH! What do you think we are, stupid?!

Might A2 Dairy Products Australia Pty Limited be in any way related A2 Milk UK?!

I think it might... By being subsidiaries of A2 Corporation Ltd!

Do you do a line in Snake Oil also?

Hi there.

You're right to be cautious about new products.  A2 has been recommended and researched independently of our involvement.  In fact we've only just launched in the UK but have been in Australia for years.  Have a look at the research on www.betacasein.org to make your own mind up.

Recommended by whom, though, Mel?

A2 Milk, and 'scientists' paid by A2 Milk, no doubt.

Hi Shazfun.

I work for A2 Milk UK.  As you say milk in high in a2 beta-casein is being recommended to try for those ASD by some health care professionals.  As with the GFCF diet, it may not work for everyone.  The EFSA report as quoted by Alex gives a good critique of the science behind A2/A1 beta casein but itself was controversial in it's findings.  I'd be happy to share any research discussions. 

However, I'm sorry but a2 is not available in Northern Ireland yet.

Hi there,

(This isn't me posting as a mod!)

It looks like the 'A2 milk' is a product of a company, the A2 Corporation, which is making unsupported claims about its dietary benefits. The European Food Safety Authority found that the claims weren't even substantial enough to be worth running a full risk assessment.

So far from being 'the most natural', A2 appears to be a specific commercial product.

Regards,

Alex

hi - don't know much about this.  Like other posters I wd beware of claims that people with a financial interest in a product may make, esp when "cure" or something similar is mentioned.  On the other hand, if you've looked at all the serious research etc + if the product is definitely safe then it shdn't do any harm.  Whether it does any more good than a balanced diet is another matter of course.  bw

He has not been diagnosed with lactose intolerance, but we do see a dif when he is off dairy..... the a2 protein is the most natural form of milk whereas the a1 which is most common in European cattle the a1 protein turns into a opiode which can aggrivate ASD symptoms..... 

I have added one of the many websites that I have found on this topic......

nourishinghope.com/.../

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Has your son been diagnosed with a lactose intolerance? Otherwise, a basic healthy diet will keep him well. Beware  the latest 'wonder cure'.