Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Published:

A critique of Truswell's A2 milk review

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 437–439 (2006)Cite this article

Truswell's recent review of the A1/A2 milk hypothesis in this journal (Truswell, 2005) is very clear in its conclusion that ‘there is no convincing or even probable evidence that the A1 β-casein of cow milk has any adverse effects in humans’. The basis on which this conclusion is reached needs scrutiny.

There are seven strands off evidence relevant to the A1/A2 hypothesis: epidemiology, milk chemistry, pharmacology, animal experiments, human trials, clinical observations, and consumer experiences. It is the totality of these seven strands that makes the A2 hypothesis so intriguing.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2003). White mischief. Transcript available atwww.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2003/transcripts/s820943.htm.

  • Beales PE, Elliott RB, Flohé S, Hill JP, Kolb H, Pozilli P et al. (2002). A multi-centre, blinded international trial of the effect of A1 and A2 beta-casein variants on diabetes incidence in two rodent models of spontaneous Type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia 45, 1240–1246.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cade R, Privette M, Fregly M, Rowland N, Sun Z, Zele V et al. (2000). Autism and schizophrenia: intestinal disorders. Nutr Neurosci 3, 57–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cone DH (2003). Secret memo reveals Fonterra alarm. National Business Review Available atwww.sharechat.co.nz/features/nbr/article.php/569e538.

  • Crawford RA, Boland MJ, Hill JP (2003). Changes over time in the association between deaths due to ischaemic heart disease and some main food types. Austral J Dairy Technol 58, 183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartwig A, Teschemacher H, Lehmann W, Gauly M, Erhadt G (1997). Influence of genetic polymorphisms in bovine milk on the occurrence of bioactive peptides. In: Milk Protein Polymorphism. Int. Dairy Fed.: Brussels, Belgium. pp 459–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill JP, Boland M, Crawford RA, Norris CS (2003). Changes in milk consumption are not responsible for increase in the incidence of type 1 diabetes or decrease in the incidence of deaths due to ischaemic heart disease. Austral J Dairy Technol 58, 188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill JP, Crawford RA, Boland MJ (2002). Milk and consumers health: a review of the evidence for a relationship between the consumption of beta caseinA1 with heart disease and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Proc NZ Soc Anim Prod 62, 111–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jinsmaa Y, Yoshikawa M (1999). Enzymatic release of neocasomorphin and beta-casomorphin from bovine beta-casein. Peptides 20, 957–962.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Nodland M (2001). Reports on dietary intervention in autistic disorders. Nutr Neurosci 4, 23–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch G, Wiedemann K, Teschemacher H (1985). Opioid activities of human beta-casomorphins. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Pharmacol 331, 351–354.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laugesen M, Elliott R (2003). ischaemic heart disease, type 1 diabetes, and cow milk A1 beta-casein. NZ Med J 116, 295–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan CNS (2001). beta-casein A1, ischaemic heart disease mortality, and other illnesses. Med Hypotheses 56, 262–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reichelt KL, Knivsberg A-M (2003). Can the pathophysiology of autism be explained by the nature of the discovered urine peptides? Nutr Neurosci 6, 19–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Z, Cade JR (1999). A peptide found in schizophrenia and autism causes behavioural changes in rats. Autism 3, 85–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun Z, Cade JR, Fregly MJ, Privette RM (1999). Beta-casomorphin induces Fos-like immunoreactivity in discrete brain regions relevant to schizophrenia and autism. Autism 3, 67–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swinburn B (2004). Beta casein A1 and A2 in milk and human health. Report to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Available atwww.nzfsa.govt.nz/policy-law/projects/a1-a2-milk.

  • Tailford KA, Berry CL, Thomas AC, Campbell JH (2003). A casein variant in cows milk is atherogenic. Atherosclerosis 170, 13–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Truswell A (2005). The A2 milk case: a critical review. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 623–631.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand

    K B Woodford

Authors
  1. K B Woodford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Woodford, K. A critique of Truswell's A2 milk review. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 437–439 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602322

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602322

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links