Q. You talk about the dangers of the composition of cow’s milk. What about goat’s milk? – Jim

[This question was raised after Dr. Huber's post: Is Milk Good for Kids? (or anyone else?) ]

Dear Jim,

Goat’s milk has a history of being better tolerated than cow’s milk and is often recommended for those with cow’s milk food allergies.  There are many observations and suggestions in the literature that attempt to account for the difference but I could not locate a definitive clinical trial that tested the premise that the casein protein of cow’s milk was more allergenic than goat’s milk. 

Goats have a unique physiology and biochemistry compared to cow’s which does make their milk very different. Goat’s milk has smaller fat particles making homogenization unnecessary as goats milk does not separate into cream and milk as cow’s milk does.  Goat’s milk has a higher concentration of short and medium chain fatty acids which have conferred health benefits with regard to fat metabolism.  Goat’s milk is also easier to digest.

Casein protein makes up 87% of the protein in cow’s milk and has been linked in clinical studies to many of the problems associated with cow’s milk such as diabetes, cancer risk and allergic responses.  The casein protein (there are 4 different casein proteins in cows milk) known as alpha-S1 found in cow’s milk is linked to allergic response whereas the casein protein in goat’s milk is a different chemical structure that more closely resembles human milk proteins and contains very little of the alpha-S1 protein. 

As I researched this topic I discovered conflicting reports in the “goat world” literature.  One source stated clearly that goat milk has NO alpha-S1 while another research article discussed the merits of alpha-S1 content in the fermentation of goat cheese and it’s effect on cheese “firmness”.  This was getting way outside of my ever expanding comfort zone.  Goat milk protein forms a softer curd than cows milk protein when exposed to stomach acid which makes goats milk easier to digest.  Other factors like oligosaccharide content in goat’s milk also contribute to easier digestion and thus goats milk recommendation for people with cow dairy issues.  So my final answer without using my “phone a friend” option is that goat’s milk does seem to contain the dreaded alpha –S1 casein but the structural difference between cow and goat casein make the goat version less allergenic.  People allergic to cow’s milk should be able to tolerate goats milk but as always, let experience be your guide.

It is also important to note that casein protein from cows is very similar in structure to gluten which is a common allergen found in wheat.  It would be easy to understand how an allergy to one may confer problems with the other and it is these two foods, wheat and cow’s dairy that make up a vast majority of food allergies.

Goat farming has not been contaminated with the same hormone and antibiotic practices seen in the dairy industry and when this is considered along with the above findings I would have to choose goat’s milk as a healthier alternative for those with milk allergies and even for those of you simply looking for a healthier milk option.  If you have a milk allergy and want to be tested for the safety of goat’s milk as a substitute, Alletess labs offers a blood test for goats milk reactivity.

One of our readers made reference to the China Study by Dr. T. Collin Campbell and it’s discussion of cow’s milk relationship to cancer. The question you raise involves the aflatoxin fed rat study where different concentration of milk were fed and rates of cancer development monitored.  The study shows that cancer developed in aflatoxin exposed rats that drank a 20% milk diet but I will remind you that no cancer developed in the group drinking a 5% milk diet.  You may interpret this result differently but to me it says that there is very little risk in having occasional small doses of milk products but I would avoid steady daily contact.  

The more common occurrence is allergy not cancer.  If you are truly allergic to milk then “little to none” should be your milk exposure.  But I do not feel, nor can I produce, any evidence to show that a bowl of ice cream or a teaspoon of butter once or twice a month as being dangerous habits.  

There are people that eat a bowl of cereal with milk each morning and a bowl of ice cream every night and it is these folks that I worry about.

Life is about balance and common sense but I find that common sense is all too uncommon.