Neuroprotective Effect of Goat milk

• Published in: Small ruminant research 2022-09, Vol.214, p.106748, Article 106748
• Main Authors: Kaura, Sushila, Parle, Milind, Rohtash, Yadav, Bir Singh, Sethi, Neeraj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant; Caprine milk; Cognition; Medium Chain; Omega 3 fatty acids; Triglycerides
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106748

Goat milk is a health promoting nutritional drink containing omega 3 fatty acids that supports neuronal repair, growth and memory. Fresh Goat Milk was administered to mice and various exteroceptive and interoceptive models were employed to study its nootropic effect. Biochemical studies were performed to confirm these effects. We continued studies on dementia patients that showed slight improvement in memory scores in duration of 70 days. Therefore, goat milk could be regarded as complementary medicine in the management of dementia. It could alone help in preventing development of dementia in elderly individuals as reflected by favorable results in animal studies. Fresh Goat Milk (FGM) -5ml/kg; 10ml/kg, p.o, were administered to both young (3 to 4 months old) and aged mice (15 months old) for 10 consecutive days. A decrease in transfer latency in elevated plus maze and increase in step down latency in passive avoidance paradigm was observed. FGM ameliorated scopolamine, ethanol and ageing induced memory deficits. It significantly increased glutathione levels but decreased malondialdehyde, acetylcholinesterase and serum total cholesterol activity, indicating memory improvement in mice. Effect of goat milk was further observed on 20 dementia patients for 70 days of which, 10 received Aricept along with goat milk (100ml/day) and other 10 received Aricept only. Patients showed slight enhancement in Mini Mental State Examination score and decreased Blessed dementia scale score, indicating minute improvement in memory scores. These results collectively confirmed that goat milk consumption provided effectual neuroprotection. •Goat milk is a health promoting nutritional drink containing omega 3 fatty acids that supports neuronal repair, growth and memory.•Fresh Goat Milk was administered to mice and various exteroceptive and interoceptive models were employed to study its nootropic effect. Biochemical studies were performed to confirm these effects.•Studies were carried on dementia patients that showed slight improvement in memory scores in duration of 70 days.•Therefore, goat milk could be regarded as complementary medicine in the management of dementia. It could alone help in preventing development of dementia in elderly individuals as reflected by favorable results in animal studies.