Milk and milk products for preventing or treating heart disease

Abstract

A milk which is free of β-casein A 1 protein in the prevention or treatment of coronary heart disease is disclosed. In addition, a process for the testing of DNA from cells obtained from lactating bovines for the presence of DNA encoding certain β-casein proteins, selecting the bovines on the basis of the testing, and then milking those bovines to produce milk free of β-casein A 1 for use in the prevention or treatment of coronary heart disease is disclosed.

1 . A method of reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease in a human population, comprising delivering milk or a milk product substantially free of β-casein A 1  to said population, and wherein a reduction in coronary heart disease is obtained by said population drinking said milk or milk product.  
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reduction is effected by the human ingesting milk obtained from one or more lactating bovines, or a product processed from that milk, where the milk or product ingested is substantially free of β-casein A 1 .  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the milk is substantially free of β-casein A 1  but contains one or more of β-caseins A 2 , A 3 , B, C, D and E.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the milk is substantially free of β-caseins A 1 , B and C but contains one or more of β-caseins A 2 , A 3 , D and E.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more lactating bovines are or include  Bos taurus  bovines.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the milk produced is substantially free of β-casein A 1  and the β-casein contained in the milk comprises greater than 95% by weight β-casein A 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the milk produced is substantially free of β-casein A 1  and the β-casein contained in the milk comprises approximately 100% by weight β-casein A 2 .  
     
     
         8 . A method of reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease resulting from milk consumption, comprising: delivering to a human milk or a milk product substantially free of β-casein A 1 , and wherein a reduction in the incidence of coronary heart disease is obtained as a result of said milk or milk product being substantially free of β-casein A 1 .  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the reduction is effected by the human ingesting milk obtained from one or more lactating bovines, or a product processed from that milk, where the milk or product ingested is substantially free of β-casein A 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the milk is substantially free of β-casein A 1  but contains any one or more of β-caseins A 2 , A 3 , B, C, D and E.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the milk is substantially free of β-caseins A 1 , B and C but contains any one or more of β-caseins A 2 , A 3 , D and E.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more lactating bovines are or include  Bos taurus  bovines.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the milk produced is substantially free of β-casein A 1  and the β-casein contained in the milk comprises greater than 95% by weight β-casein A 2 .  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the milk produced is substantially free of β-casein A 1  and the β-casein contained in the milk comprises approximately 100% by weight β-casein A 2 .  
     
     
         15 . A method for supplying dairy nutrients to a human population, comprising providing to said human population, milk or a milk product substantially free of β-casein A 1 , 
 wherein said milk or milk product replaces all or part of conventional milk consumption by said population    and wherein consumption of said milk or milk product reduces incidence of deleterious effects attributable to consumption of milk or milk products containing β-casein A 1 .    
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the milk contains at least one of β-caseins A 2 , A 3 , B, C, D and E.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the milk is substantially free of β-caseins A 1 , B and C but contains any one or more of β-caseins A 2 , A 3 , D and E.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the one or more lactating bovines are or include  Bos taurus  bovines.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the milk produced is substantially free of β-casein A 1  and the β-casein contained in the milk comprises greater than 95% by weight β-casein A 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein consumption of said milk or milk product reduces the incidence of coronary heart disease resulting from the consumption of milk or milk products containing β-casein A 1 .