The bioactives in colostrum that a mother makes soon after giving birth, are vitally important for the vulnerable newborn, to protect the undeveloped immune system against infections and stimulate growth and development, especially of the gut or gastrointestinal tract.
Normal cow's milk also contains antibodies and other bioactives shown to have important benefits. Milk proteins and the bioactive peptides they contain have been found to kill bacteria and affect the immune system.
Bioactive peptides from Caseins include:
Beta casein proteins are a rich source of important bioactives that have a wide variety of benefits.
A1 beta casein peptide BCM7
BCM7 is a peptide released from A1 beta casein and the rare variants related to A1, made up of the amino acids that run from positions 60-66 of A1 BCM7 has strong opioid (morphine like) activity and it can be broken down further by gut processes to the shorter beta casomorphin 5 (BCM5).
BCM7 was shown to have the 3rd highest and BCM5 the highest affinity, or binding, to opiate receptors of those reviewed.
BCM7 is likely to last longer in the body after other beta casomorphins have been broken down to non-active peptide products.
Milk containing no A1 beta casein should have a very low opioid content due to the speed that most casomorphins other than BCM7 are digested into non-active peptides.
Research has centred on the effects of BCM7 in the body
