Casein is versatile protein that has dietary and non-dietary applications. You may not have known it but the first time you learned about casein was in the Little Miss Muffet nursery rhyme. The curds she was eating were chiefly the milk protein casein, with a touch of something acidic like lemon juice or vinegar. Although casein is an affordable and highly accessible form of protein, it has also been the subject of studies on allergies and has been linked to autism.
Properties of Casein
Casein is the chief protein found in milk and cheese. Of the true proteins found in milk, about 82 percent is casein. The other major protein in milk is whey. Casein is responsible for the white, opaque appearance of milk, as it is the combination of calcium and phosphorus as clusters of casein molecules, called micelles. Casein, as a consequence, is often referred to as a phosphoprotein. Within it are all of the amino acids essential to life, so casein is a complete profile. Thus, casein is considered as a highly nutritious protein.
Slow-Releasing
Some in the physical fitness world, particularly bodybuilding, like casein because it digests slowly. It's therefore available for longer periods of time to feed your muscles, as it congeals in your stomach and takes between five and seven hours before it's fully digested.
Dietary Uses of Casein
Casein protein is used for making milk products, especially curds and cheeses. When heated or processed, casein thickens and forms clumps as it separates from the mostly liquid whey protein. The clumps are a principal ingredient in nutrition beverages for adults, according to the Cornell University Program on Dairy Markets & Policy. The casein allows the beverage manufacturers to include good amounts of protein in products that can remain stable on supermarket shelves, and its texture makes for a good shake. Casein's flavor is close to bland making it ideal as a base for these drinks with a variety of added flavors. Other food and beverage makers like to use casein to enhance the texture of foods. Casein helps with whipping, foaming, thickening and emulsification while boosting nutrition through added protein.
Non-Dietary Uses of Casein
Casein is also used in non-food applications. It's used in glue and adhesives for wood, in paper coating, leather finishing and synthetic fibers. It's even used to make a form of paint. Moreover, casein has been used in formulations of plastic. Casein is also used as a dietary base for use in evaluation of vitamins.
Casein Allergies
Casein, when used to make nutrition beverages, can be made lactose-free to help those who have milk allergies. Lactose intolerance is actually an allergy to the sugar found in milk, but unless the product is labeled as lactose-free, casein products can cause the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance. Some people may also be allergic to the casein itself. According to the Nemours Foundation, with a milk protein allergy, your immune system treats the protein as a foreign substance and creates antibodies to fight off what it perceives as a health threat. A more serious form of casein allergy links the protein with autism. In the July-August 2009 issue of the "Chang Gung Medical Journal," researchers from Taiwan reported on the case of a baby who presented symptoms of autism. He was treated by having casein, along with gluten, eliminated from his diet, and after a few months of treatment, his autism symptoms diminished.
References
- Cornell Program on Dairy Markets & Policy: Milk Protein Products -- What Are They and What Role Do They Play in Lactose Reduced (Low "Carb") Foods?
- New Zealand Institute of Chemistry: Casein Products
- National Cancer Institute: Caseins
- BuildingMuscle.org; Casein Protein Facts; Pete Owen; February 24, 2009
- "Chang Gung Medical Journal"; The Effects of a Gluten and Casein-free Diet in Children with Autism: A Case Report; Chia-Lin Hsu et al.; July-August 2009
- TeensHealth: Milk Allergy
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