Goat milk is naturally rich in calcium and other minerals. Many studies demonstrate more efficient uptake of calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium from goat compared to cow milk when gut absorption is compromised.1 Calcium absorption was greatest in diets containing casein from goat milk compared to a diet containing no casein, indicating that casein is needed for calcium absorption from goat milk.2 Diets with goat milk also built up more calcium deposits and stronger bones in young animals.3 This has been linked to reduced loss of bone mineral density and bone strength later in life. In another study, goat milk improved bone health4 in animals with low iron stores.
Research is ongoing to see how these benefits can be applied to help with mineral uptake and strengthening bones in humans.
|1||Barrionuevo et al, 2002; Alferez et al, 2003; Campos et al, 2003; Lopez-Aliaga et al, 2003|
|2||McKinnon et al, 2010|
|3||Kruger et al 2008|
|4||Diaz-Castro et al, 2011|