World Leading Research

Why Whole Goat Milk Formula?

Capricare is made with the natural goodness of whole goat milk. Whole goat milk is naturally easy to digest and provides a safe, well tolerated infant formula for infants who are not being breastfed or who are being mixed fed. Whole goat milk naturally contains:

• A2 milk protein only
• whole milk fat
• Low levels of alpha S1 Casein

Naturally A2

Milk from different mammals varies in the composition of beta-casein, a key protein in milk that influences digestion and gastrointestinal health.1 There are two types of beta casein found in cow’s milk these are A1 beta casein and A2 beta casein. Goats milk naturally contains only A2 beta casein protein whereas standard cow’s milk contains both A1 and A2 beta casein. The difference between the two is the amino acid at position 67 of the amino acid sequence of the beta casein protein.  This difference effects how the protein is broken down during digestion and can have different effects on different people.

A1 beta casein has the amino acid histidine (His67) at position 67. This changes the protein structure, allowing greater cleavage by digestive enzymes and the release of BCM-7 a peptide associated with gastrointestinal discomfort, inflammation and slower gut mobility. 2,3

A2 beta casein has the amino acid proline (Pro67) at position 67, which forms strong bonds that resist enzymatic cleavage. 1 As a result, milk with only A2 beta-caseins does not produce any or very little, BCM-7 during digestion. 2

The original beta-casein with Pro67 is called A2 beta-casein for bovine milk. Consequently, all beta-caseins with Pro67 are called ‘A2 type’, just like human milk. 

Goats milk is naturally A2, for improved digestive comfort. 2 & 3

Research has shown that consumption of cow’s milk containing A1 beta casein can lead to negative gastrointestinal and inflammatory effects, while milk free from A1 beta casein ( A2 milk) provides notable benefits:

• Improved digestive comfort: A2 milk (A1 free milk) reduces symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain and irregular stool. 4-9
• Reduced inflammation: BCM-7 released from A1 beta-caseins, has been linked to gut inflammation. 2 & 3
• Faster gastrointestinal transit: A2 type milk helps improve digestion by minimising gut motility disruptions caused by BCM-7. 3 & 7

Whole Milk Fat

Milk fat is one of the essential nutrients in breast milk and is the most variable component in milk, varying during lactation, throughout the day and between individuals. Infants absorb 92% of the lipids in breast milk and it provides about 45-55% of the total energy requirements for the growing infant.14

Capricare whole goat milk formula is formulated to preserve as much of the natural goat milk fat as possible.  While other formulas add up to 100% of their fat from vegetable oil, Capricare whole goat milk formula aims to provide close to 50% of the fat from whole goat milk. Goat milk fat has been shown to be a good source of energy and is easier to digest.

Preserving the natural whole goat milk fat and using gentle processing means that components of the milk fat are naturally preserved within the Capricare formulation:

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM)

• It contains bioactive lipids (phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol) and membrane-specific proteins.
• Research has shown these have physiological benefits for growing infants1 including improved cognitive and immune system function.15

Sn-2 palmitic acid

• This is a common saturated fatty acid found in breast milk and an important energy source.
• Studies show that sn-2 palmitate supports fat absorption, softer stool, reduced crying in infants with colic and improves skeletal calcium uptake.16
• No palm oil is added to Capricare as the palmitic acid is preserved naturally in the whole goat milk. The fat component of most infant formulas comes from vegetable oil and palm oil is added to get the palmitic acid amounts closer to the higher levels in breast milk.

Medium Chain Fatty Acids (MCFAs)

• 15% of total fatty acids in breast milk are from MCFAs and whole goat milk is naturally higher in MCFAs, compared to cow’s milk.
• MCFA are an important energy source for infants and are absorbed easier and faster than long chain fatty acids. It is also suggested they may play a role in the protection of the gastrointestinal barrier.

Lower Alpha S1-casein Protein

Levels of alpha s1-casein in goat milk are variable (0.9–7g/L) and are closer to that in breast milk (compared to cow milk (12–15g/L)).5,67–9The benefits of a lower alpha s1-casein protein are:

• The formation of loose, more fragile, curd structure that is easier for little tummies to digest. 8,10

Adapted from Ye A, et al. 2019,8 Jiang H, et al. 2022,9 and Ho S, et al. 2014.2

Capricare^® harnesses what nature gives us. Through gentle processing, we protect and preserve the essential nutrients and bioactives to develop a mild and smooth tasting formula babies love.

# compared to cow milk