J. Nutr., 8 (10): 1711-1714, 2009. 1712. Table 1: Average composition of cow, goat and human milk (%). Components. Cow Milk. Goat Milk. Human Milk. Protein.
Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 8 (10): 1711-1714, 2009 ISSN 1680-5194 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2009
Goat Milk: A Feasible Dietary Based Approach to Improve the Nutrition of Orphan and Vulnerable Children M.A. Belewu and A.M. Adewole Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Microbial Biotechnology and Dairy Science Laboratory, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria Abstract: Worldwide, about 15 million children under the age of 18 years have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS of which 80% resides in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Nigeria, an estimated 1.5 million children are orphans. In Nigeria, there are about 5,040,000 births per annum of which 252,000 infants are born to HIV infected women exposed to risk of mother-to-child transmission and annually between 67,000 and 113,400 infants are born HIV positive. It is noteworthy that nutrition is a vital remedy against HIV and AIDS while poor nutrition which affects the immune system of infected patients often result in irreversible outcomes. Numerous studies have shown that the impact of HIV and AIDS can be reduced given adequate investments and political will directed at providing cheap and readily available protein sources. A successful low cost and readily available protein program incorporates implementation and strategic use of communication for progress and program inception should be in the forefront. A review of the importance of goat milk as a cheap and readily available food source for orphan and vulnerable HIV/AIDS infected children are discussed. Key words: HIV and AIDS, goat milk, orphan and vulnerable children, nutrition
INTRODUCTION Goat which was known as “Wet nurse of infant” in the United Kingdom and “Poor man`s cow” in India was the first animal to be domesticated (Zeuner, 1963). The animal has been neglected all over the world, mostly in tropical countries like Nigeria. The scantiness of information on the chemical composition is even more striking in the tropical environment where goats are the most numerous ruminant (Mba et al., 1975). Goat milk which is rarely utilized for human consumption in Nigeria due to social belief was found similar in chemical composition and Apparent Biological Value (ABV) to the milk of humans (Belewu and Aiyegbusi, 2002). This is a pointer to the nutritional contribution of goat milk in a country like Nigeria where the prevailing undernourishment and malnourishment are accompanied by low intake of some nutrients among the populace especially the vulnerable (pregnant, lactating mothers, infants, orphans, weanlings and the sick) groups. Hunger and malnutrition are major causes of deprivation and suffering in developing countries and the challenge of overcoming these are further deepened by diseases and deaths of which HIV and AIDS is known to be a major causes. Worldwide, about 15 million children under the age of 18 have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS of which 80% resides in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Nigeria an estimated 1.5 million children are orphans. There are about 5,040,000 births per annum of which 252,000 infants are born to HIV infected women exposed to the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Additionally, between 67,000 and 113,400 infants are born HIV
positive annually. HIV/AIDS epidemic is occurring mostly in areas where malnutrition is already endemic hence greater political, financial and technical/scientific reports are needed to improve dietary quality and quantity. WHO (2003) noted that improved understanding of nutrition/drug interaction is needed to improve HIV/AIDS treatment programme. It is noteworthy that nutrition is vital in the management of HIV infections as poor nutrition affects the immune system of the infected patient. Malnutrition also contributes to immune impairment, which worsens the effects of HIV and thus encourages more rapid progression to AIDS. Malnutrition therefore, can both contribute to and results from the progress of HIV. Therefore, good nutrition is important because it increases resistance to infection and disease, improves energy, which makes a person stronger and more productive. Therefore, this paper considered the importance of nutrition and its intervention on preventing and managing HIV infection in vulnerable group. Nutrient content of goat milk: The value of goat milk in human nutrition has received very little attention (Park, 1991; Haenlein, 1993) due probably to lack of information on its importance. As a result of increasing level of food allergy caused by the consumption of cow milk, goat milk has been recommended for new born and infants in many developed countries (Sabbath et al., 1997). Only breast milk contains the combination and quantity needed for a young baby. It is apparently evident from research that goat milk is very close in composition to human milk (Table 1). The main components of goat
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Pak. J. Nutr., 8 (10): 1711-1714, 2009 Table 1: Average composition of cow, goat and human milk (%) Components Cow Milk Goat Milk Human Milk Protein 3.58 3.52 1.63 Fat 4.14 4.25 3.75 Total solids 13.19 13.00 12.57 Solids not fat 9.25 7.75 8.82 Lactose 4.96 4.27 6.98 Ash 0.71 0.86 0.21 Source: Bosworth and Slyke (2009)
milk are similar to that of cow milk but differ as to particular physical and chemical properties (small size of fat globules, higher content of short and medium chain fatty acids (Haenlein, 1993), higher content of selenium and glutathione peroxidase (Debski et al., 1987). The importance of goat milk in infant diet is growing rapidly because it is easily digestible and less allergenic than cow milk due probably to the lower presence of caseins associated with a specific type of alpha s-1casein and the absence of agglutin combined with short and medium chain fatty acids, hence the fat globules does not cluster together, making it easier to digest. Goat milk is richer in most of the medium chain fatty acid like the Palmitic acid, oleic acid, as well as Mysristic acid, Lauric acid, Capric acid, Caproic acid, Caprylic acid compared to both cow and human milk (Table 3). The energy requirement of HIV/AIDS infected patients was found to increased by approximately 20-30% so as to be able to maintain adult body weight (WHO, 2003) hence the energy content of goat milk was put at 167.9 calorie/cup which is a good source of energy. Milk protein of goat forms softer curd which is easily digestible making it vital in infant feeding. Among the free amino acids, taurine content is higher in goat milk than cow milk and similar to that of human milk (Table 3). Taurine is widely distributed in the tissue and fluids of man and is believed to be a conditionally essential amino acid in human being hence, taurine is vital for growth and brain development (Huxtable, 1992). The lactose content of goat milk is slightly lower which is advantageous to people with lactose intolerance. Goat milk contains 13% more calcium, 25% more vitamin A, 134% potassium, 3 times more niacin and 4 times higher in copper. It has 27% more of antioxidant selenium than cow milk. However, it is poor in folic acid, hence it must be fortified. Health benefits of goat milk: In recent years, goat milk is becoming more popular (Jackson, 1992) due to its medicinal value especially in infants afflicted with various ailments, including cow milk protein sensitivities. About 40% of all patients sensitive to cow milk protein tolerate goat milk protein probably due to lactoalbumin which is immune-specific between species and lactoglobulin which appears to be the major allergen in cow milk.
Goat milk fat has 35% of medium chain fatty acid (C6C14) compared to 17% of cow milk (Table 4). These medium chain fatty acids (MCT) are of considerable interest to medical profession due to their unique advantage in many metabolic diseases of human. Capric, Caprolic acids and other MCT have been used for the treatment of malabsorption syndrome, intestinal disorder, coronary disease as well as pre-mature infant nutrition. This could be due to the unique metabolic abilities of providing energy and at the same time lowering inhibiting and dissolving cholesterol deposits. It was also found that regular consumption of goat milk has positive effects on mineral metabolism as well as recovery from feropenic anaemia and bone mineralization. It is important to note that milk of each species has a particular individual pattern of minerals, which may be a pointer of the relative nutritional importance of the element. The mineral content of goat milk (potassium and chlorides) is higher than of cow milk but similar to that of human milk. However, goat milk was found to contain more of calcium and phosphorus than cow and human milk (Jenness, 1978). Table 1 shows the content of major and minor elements. Out of 12 different mineral salts found in milk, 5 occur in human milk, 6 in cow milk and 9 in goat milk (ICAR, 1981). ICAR (1981) reported that goat milk has 7-10 times as much mineral as human and cow milk. This assertion was confirmed by Belewu and Aiyegbusi (2002) that goat milk has the highest mineral contents compared to that of cow or human milk. Due to their different characteristics, it was reported that goat milk was superior in sodium content compared to human and cow milk and satisfied requirement of human infant adequately (Jenness, 1978 and ICAR, 1981). Additionally, Jenness (1980) indicated that goat milk provides a great amount of calcium and phosphorus and this was confirmed by the work of Desjeux (1993) and Belewu and Aiyegbusi (2002 ) (Table 2). Iron content of goat milk was superior to that of cow milk but similar to that of human milk. The high concentration of iron in goat milk suggests that the extent of iron binding may be a profitable study. Zinc and Manganese contents of goat milk were found to be lower but adequate for human infant (Jenness, 1980.) In most species, including human being (Vaughan and Weber, 1979; Cassey and Van Hiekerk, 1988) zinc concentration falls as lactation advances. This could probably be due to depletion of mineral zinc stored (Krebs and Hambique, 1985). Higher biological value (0.58) (Table 2) was noted for goat milk compared to cow milk and human milk (Belewu and Aiyegbusi, 2002 ) hence this is vital since some essential mineral elements are used as constituent of protein and lipids that make up the muscles, connective tissues, skin, hair and blood cells
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Pak. J. Nutr., 8 (10): 1711-1714, 2009 Table 2: Mean mineral composition of human, goat and cow milk sources Parameters Human milk Cow milk Goat milk Sodium 150.00a 51.92b 210.41c Potassium 1.60a 1.30b 1.53c Calcium 6.26a 4.03b 5.56c Magnesium 3.33a 1.03b 2.30c Phosphorus 1.50a 0.92b 1.20c Iron 1.40a 1.07b 1.30ab Zinc 2.95a 0.11b 0.80c Copper 0.34a 0.25b 0.56c a b Manganese 5.19 1.59 3.29c Ca:P 4.20 4.40 4.63 a, b, c, -Means on the same line followed by different superscripts are significant at p0.05) Source: Belewu and Aiyegbusi (2002) Table 3: Average free amino-acids content of goat, cow and human milk (µmol/100 ml) Goat Cow Histidine 1.44 1.32 Leucine 2.04 1.98 Lysine 3.75 2.65 Methionine 0.96 0.85 Phenylalanine 1.21 1.08 Threonine 2.78 201 Tryptophan 2.50 1.98 Valine 4.95 3.50 Taurine* 55.93 48.23 Aspartic acid 1.01 0.98 Glutamic acid 17.01 15.89 Alanine 8.68 5.78 Isoleucine 1.64 1.23 Source: FAO/WHO (1973) Table 4: Fatty acids composition of cow, human and goat milk Components Goat Butyric acid 3 Caproic acid 2 Caprylic 3 Capric acid 10 Lauric acid 7 Myristic acid 13 Medium chain Palmitic acid 28 Palmitoleic acid 3 Myristoleic acid 1 Source: Campbell et al. (1975) Table 5: Nutrient in goat’ milk Nutrients Amount Tryptophan 0.11 Calcium (mg) 325.74 Phosphorus (mg) 270.11 Vitamin B2 (mg) 0.34 Protein (%) 8.69 Potassium (mg) 498.74 One cup of goat milk = 244 g, 167.90 calories, World Healthiest Rating: Excellent = Daily value>5%, Source: World Healthiest Food (2008)
Daily value(%) 34.4 32.6 27.0 20.00 17.4 14.2
Human 1.40 2.07 3.67 0.98 1.56 2.99 2.56 5.12 56.78 1.45 18.34 9.06 1.78
Cow 3 1 1 3 2 10
Human Trace Trace Trace 2 6 9
26 3 1
23 3 Trace
Nutrient density 3.7 3.5 2.9 2.1 1.9 1.5
Very Good = Daily value>50%,
(NRC, 1978). The mineral elements are also needed for various enzyme system as well as acid-base equilibrium. The role of micronutrients in immune function and infection diseases are well established. Some studies showed that supplements of $-complex vitamins and
±SEM 5.80 1.06 2.15 1.25 1.03 1.02 1.42 0.53 2.28 2.10NS
World healthiest food rating Very good Very good Good Good Good Good Good = Daily value>25%
vitamins C and E can improve immune status. Additionally, WHO (2003) recommended that children born to HIV infected mother in resource limited setting should be given between 100,000-200,000IU of vitamin A. The stated recommendation could be met if goat milk is fed (Table 5). This supported the assertion that daily
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Pak. J. Nutr., 8 (10): 1711-1714, 2009 use of multivitamin supplement during lactation reduced post-natal HIV transmission and mortality in infant born to nutritionally vulnerable women and/or women with immune deficiency. Conclusion: From the viewpoint of disease prevention, intervention of goat milk in the diet of HIV/AIDS infected children may be a choice to be pursed so as to combat the undernutrition of deficiency states in developing countries. The milk is affordable, available and nutritious hence a wide variation of knowledge on the nutrition and hypollergic characteristics of goat milk could promote the direct use of the milk in the nutrition of orphans and vulnerable children.
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ICAR, 1981. Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). A Hand book of Animal Husbandry. Edited by Shri. R.J. Joseph for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, pp: 99. Jackson, C., 1992. Production and manufacturing of goat milk products. Proceeding vth. International Conference on Goat . New Delhi, India. March 1-8. ICAR Publ. New Delhi, 2: 599-603. Jenness, P.E., 1978. The nutritive value of dairy products. Dairy Industries Int., 43: 7-16. Jenness, P.E., 1980. Composition and Characteristics of goat milk . A Review. 1968-1979. J. Dairy Sci. 63: 1605-1630. Krebs, N.F. and K.M. Hambique, 1985. The effect of dietary zinc supplementation during lactation. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 41: 560-570. Mba, A.U., B.S. Bayo and V.A. oyenuga, 1975. Studies on milk composition of West African dwarf goat, Red sokoto and Saanen goats at different stages of lactation .1. Total solids, butter fat, solids not fat, protein, lactose and energy contents of milk. J. Dairy Res., 42: 217-226. NRC, 1978. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirement of Dairy Goat (NRC) National Academy of Science 2nd Edn. Park, Y.W., 1991. Relative Buffering Capacity of goat milk, cow milk and soy milk based infant formulae and commercial non preservative antacid drugs. J. Dairy Sci., pp: 3326-3333. Sabbath, A., S. Hassoun and M. Drouet, 1997. L’allergie au Lait de Vache et sa substitution par le lait de chevre. In: proceeding of the colloque interest Nutritionnel et Dieteique du lait de chevre vol 81. Inst. Nat Res. Agron. Publ. Paris. Francis, pp: 111118. Vaughan, I.A. and C.W. Weber, 1979. Longitudinal change in the mineral content of human milk. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 23: 2301-2305. WHO, 2003. Nutrient Requirement for People living with HIV/AIDS. Report of a technical consultation. WHO, Geneva, pp: 1-25. Zeuner, F.E., 1963. A History of domesticated Animals. London, Hutchinson.
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