Figure 4 shows DNA methylation changes in the genes corresponding to enzymes 20 responsible for glucose metabolism and glucose homeostasis.
Figure 5 shows DNA methylation changes in the genes corresponding to enzymes responsible for insulin receptor (INSR) and insulin receptor substrates (IRS1, ISR4).
Figure 6 shows the insulin pathway and the genes from this pathway which have an altered epigenetic status.
25 Figure 7 shows the levels of mRNA for insulin receptor (INSR) and insulin receptor
substrate (IRS1) expressed in the pancreas of NOD mice.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The การประดิษฐ์ relates to a composition containing the protein beta-casein and its use 30 for regulating blood glucose levels in animals, especially humans. Importantly, the beta-
casein is the A2 variant of beta-casein. The beta-casein in the composition is 100% beta-
casein A2, or makes up at least 75% by weight of the total beta-casein variants present in
the composition. The importance of the predominance of the A2 variant in the composition
is due to the fact that the applicant has shown that there is a direct link between the Al 35 variant and high levels of DPPIV activity in the jejunum in animals. High levels of DPPIV
activity are directly associated with high blood glucose levels. An inference of high levels of
glucose in the blood of humans on consumption of beta-casein Al therefore has scientific
basis. The applicant has also found that consumption of milk containing only beta-casein A2
or predominantly beta-casein A2 results in elevated levels of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate gene expression. This improves the ability to manage glucose homeostasis, reduces symptoms and complications associated with elevated blood glucose levels, and lowers the risk of type II diabetes developing.
The term "acute" as used in this specification, unless otherwise indicated, is intended 5 to mean during the period of time from consumption of beta-casein Al to exit of beta-casein
Al or BCM-7 from the gut (typically 8-20 hours after consumption).
Since the primary, if not only, source of beta-caseins in the diet of most human
populations is milk or products derived from milk, and since most milk consumed contains a
ของผสม of the Al and A2 variants of beta-casein only, the consumption of milk (or products 10 made from such milk) having a high content of the A2 variant will necessarily mean that the
consumption of the Al variant is low, It can then be understood that if the only dietary
source of beta-casein contains the A2 variant and no other variant, the dietary intake of the
Al variant is eliminated and the adverse symptoms of high blood glucose levels can
therefore also be expected to be eliminated.
15 Accordingly, the การประดิษฐ์ of this application is based on the reduction or elimination
of beta-casein Al in the diet, and the promotion of beta-casein A2, and this is achieved by ensuring that the beta-casein in beta-casein containing food compositions, especially milk and milk products, is predominantly or even exclusively beta-casein A2.
Ideally, the beta-casein in the composition is 100% beta-casein A2. The complete 20 elimination of beta-casein Al therefore maximises the potential to maintain normal levels of
blood glucose and therefore the avoidance of adverse symptoms associated with high levels, particularly in the case of diabetics. However, the symptoms may be reduced in any composition where the beta-casein is predominantly beta-casein A2, for example, any amount between 75% by weight and 100%, ที่รวมถึง but not limited to 80%, 90%, 95%,
25 98% and 99% by weight.
The composition of the การประดิษฐ์ is typically milk, but may also be any milk-derived product such as cream, yoghurt, quark, cheese, butter, or ice cream. The composition may also be a non-milk product containing beta-casein that has been obtained from milk. The
composition may be beta-casein itself, or may be prepared from beta-casein, which beta-
30 casein may be in solid form such as powder or granules or in the form of a solid cake.
While the milk may be obtained from any mammal, ที่รวมถึง humans, goats, pigs
and buffalo, in preferred embodiments of the การประดิษฐ์ the milk is bovine milk.
The milk may be in the form of fresh milk, milk powder, liquid milk reconstituted
from a powder, skim milk, homogenised milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, pasteurised 35 milk or non-pasteurised milk, or any other form of milk,
The composition of the การประดิษฐ์ is applicable for consumption by humans primarily, but it should be appreciated that the health benefit is also relevant for some other animals such as cats, dogs and other domestic animals.
Support for the การประดิษฐ์ is found in the experiments described in the Examples.