Use of goat’s milk in infant nutrition (Clinical cases)

Abstract

In recent years, the importance of goat’s milk in infant nutrition has been widely discussed, as well as the effect of the so-called A2 on the physical and mental health of the child. The only difference between the β-caseins A1 and A2 of cow’s milk, each consisting of 209 amino acids, is the amino acid difference at the 67th position. In A1 β-casein the amino acid histidine is at the 67th position, while in A2 milk β-casein it is proline. As a result of this difference in one amino acid, β-casein A1 produces β-casomorphins, substances with opioid activity, under the influence of peptidases. There is evidence that milk protein β-casein A1 and its derivative β-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7) are dominant trigger factors for the development of type 1 diabetes in people with a hereditary predisposition. β-Casomorphin-7 is now considered as a possible cause of sudden infant death syndrome. It has been suggested that β-casomorphin may affect the maturation of various neonatal systems, including the central nervous system, and consequently the rate of psychomotor development. It has been shown that β-casomorphins, as serotonin receptor antagonists and opioid receptor agonists, can affect the opioid and serotonin systems in high concentrations and in some cases lead to the development of autism spectrum disorders. Milk and milk products produced by goats or sheep can be an alternative to cow’s milk, as these types of milk do not contain A1-β-casein. Clinical cases are presented: with eating disorders; with functional gastrointestinal tract disorders; with functional gastrointestinal tract disorders: regurgitation syndrome and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The role of inclusion of goat milk-based formula in these cases is demonstrated. Goat’s milk-based formula meets all the standards accepted for infant for-mula. Thanks to the benefits of goat’s milk and the special patented DigestX complex, the formula is a functional nutri-tional product with a high β-palmitate content, which contributes to improved energy exchange, digestion and soft stools, reducing the likelihood of constipation in infants. The prebiotics in its composition are oligosaccharides: GOS and FOS have beneficial effects on microbiota formation, reducing the incidence of infantile colic.