The cow and the coronary: epidemiology, biochemistry and immunology.
BACKGROUND
Certified death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) are positively correlated country-by-country with milk consumption, particularly with that of the non-fat portion of milk. CHD death is also associated with circulating antibodies against milk fat-globule membrane (MFGM), raising the possibility that milk intake might be a specific risk factor for CHD. We studied the epidemiology and immunology of milk to see if the association is causal.


METHODS
We plotted the intake of various foods country-by-country against CHD death rates to see if they were correlated in space and/or in time. We prepared fluorescein-tagged human antibodies against bovine MFGM to see if they showed any auto-reactivity against human tissue.


RESULTS
Milk showed a positive correlation with CHD death rates in both space and time (r>0.9 in some cases). Beef was not correlated and cheese was negatively correlated, though not strongly. Wine was strongly negatively correlated. Human anti-bovine MFGM antibodies bind to human large granular lymphocytes and also to human platelets, causing aggregation.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that non-fat aspects of milk, particularly the Ca/Mg ratio, lactose and MFGM antigens, have specific coronary atherogenic effects, both biochemical and immunological, and the simultaneous attack from these three directions may explain why this foodstuff has such a strong effect. Wine appears to be an antidote for the harmful effects of milk.
Moss
Margaret
M
Nutrition and Allergy Clinic, 11 Mauldeth Close, Heaton Mersey, Cheshire SK4 3NP, Stockport, UK. mmoss.nutrition@ukonline.co.uk
Freed
David
D
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis*; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D001671:Biochemistry; D002417:Cattle; D002423:Cause of Death; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003625:Data Collection; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008894:Milk Proteins