Posted by Larry Hoover on March 17, 2007, at 9:46:23
In reply to Probiotics helping my depression?, posted by linkadge on March 15, 2007, at 20:00:47
> I've been eating a lot of probiotic yogurt. I think it is making a difference in my depression. Definately less GI stuff. Anyhone else?
>
> LinkadgeHey, link. I'm not the least bit surprised by what you noticed. There's a whole branch of industrial food science following the issue. It looks like it's finally "ripe" for consumption.
Bovine milk contains four families of proteins, e.g. casein. Within those protein families, there are specific amino acid sequences, that if liberated, are highly bioactive.
The most studied of these bioactive peptides are the casomorphins. They are named for their activity, i.e. casein-derived morphine-like peptides. They are analogous to our own internal opiates, the endorphins. As a class, the various opiate-active food products are known as exorphins. If you do a search on exorphin or casomorphin, I guarantee you'll get many hits.
Food science has long known about one major product of casein digestion, a group known as the beta-casomorphins. beta-casomorphin-7 is a potent mu-opioid agonist, and also a 5-HT2a antagonist. Lord only knows what other regulatory effects might be induced by similar digested protein fragments. But I do know this, food scientists have been seeking ways to optimize the production of beta-casomorphin from milk. The food geek scientist site that had a particular paper is no longer up, but there was a patented new process that created 5 times the beta-casomorphin as normally produced by milk bacteria. I think Kraft might use it. One commercial enzyme called Neutrase (used in cheesmaking) produces lots of beta-casomorphin. As I say, it's a well-known aspect of industrial food production. Similar exorphins arise from gluten, by the way.
As madeline notes, changes in bacterial fauna arising from assimilation of live cultures can be very good for you. You get improved digestion, and better luminal wall health. beta-casomorphin-5 induces mucus formation, which can reduce luminal porosity (implicated in leaky gut syndrome). Lots of stuff going on, at least.
I do better when I take probiotics and digestive enzymes. I just get lazy, and forgetful, and good things fall by the wayside. I really appreciate it when people remind me to refocus.
Lar
Here's a simple overview of milk exorphins, to start you off....
Biopolymers. 1997;43(2):99-117.
Milk protein-derived opioid receptor ligands.
Teschemacher H, Koch G, Brantl V.
Rudolf-Buchheim-Institut fur Pharmakologie, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Germany.Milk is mammalian characteristic and is of particular importance for humans: Mother's milk or its substitutes from cows' milk are absolutely essential nutriments for the neonate and cows' milk also represents a basic foodstuff for adults. However, in addition to their well-known nutritive role, milk constituents apparently are also able to carry specific information from the milk producer's to the milk receiver's organism: Thus, a number of milk protein fragments has been shown to behave like opioid receptor ligands able to address opioidergic systems in the adult's or in the neonate's organism. With respect to the proteins, which they are derived off these peptides have been named alpha-casein exorphins or casoxin D (alpha-casein), beta-casomorphins or beta-casorphin (beta-casein), casoxin or casoxin A, B, or C (k-casein), alpha-lactorphins (alpha-lactalbumin), beta-lactorphin (beta-lactoglobulin) or lactoferroxins (lactoferrin). Only casoxins and lactoferroxins display antagonistic properties; the other peptides behave like opioid receptor agonists. Most of the information available so far has been collected about beta-casomorphins. These peptides obviously can be released from beta-casein in the adult's or in the neonate's organism, where they might elicit opioid effects in the frame of a regulatory role as "food hormones". Several synthetic beta-casomorphin derivatives have been shown to be highly specific and potent mu-type opioid receptor ligands which frequently have been used as standard tools in opioid research.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:741383
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070201/msgs/741758.html