IIT student invents new method to detect milk adulteration

The issue of milk adulteration has become so widespread in India that everyone including the consumers, the media, NGOs, scientists and government officials seem to be clamoring to put an end to this nasty practice. This issue requires urgent action since it is threatening the health of everyone including children, adults and the old. Now, it appears that the issue of milk adulteration has caught the attention of the best brains in the country. 23-year old Avisek Barla, a final year B-Tech student from IIT Madras, has invented a new technique to detect milk adulteration. This simple and cheap technique is likely to contribute significantly towards winning the war against milk adulteration.

The new milk adulteration test kit

The new test kit to detect milk adulteration invented by Avisek Barla has already won the Gandhian Young Technical Innovation (GYTI) Award. The test kit is easy to use because it contains nothing more than a strip of paper, which detects milk adulterants in just a few seconds. The test kit is not only easy to use but also quite easy to manufacture on a commercial scale. Speaking to the media, Avisek said that the strip is divided into different zones and each zone has a different reagent applied to it. In layman’s terms, reagents are chemicals that react to a certain compound and display a specific characteristic such as a change in color or texture. When exposed to adulterated milk, the reagents on the strip change color to exactly identify the type of adulterant present in the fresh milk. 

According to Avisek, his milk adulteration test strip can detect as many as four adulterants in a single test - glucose, urea, boric acid and detergent. To make the strips, Avisek used a standard inkjet printer to “print” the chemicals on the paper in small amounts. He said that his invention is extremely cost-effective since the standard equipment used to detect milk adulteration costs around Rs 2 lakh and maintenance and test costs associated with these systems are also high. In comparison, his test strip would cost just around Rs 1.60 to manufacture.

Great for milk consumers and milk distributors

The cost of Rs 1.60 for the milk adulteration test kit is quite affordable for both milk consumers and milk distributors. Consumers can use the strip at their home, and milk distributors can use it to test milk before buying from farmers. When commercial production of the strip begins, it will provide an easy and cost-effective way to test milk adulteration. Avisek and his team are currently working to improve the strip so that it can detect several other types of milk adulterants.

Organic milk has more good fats

There's good news for people who prefer organic full cream milk and organic milk products. Recent research studies have shown that organic full fat milk contains higher levels of healthy fats such as Omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid with numerous health benefits. Researchers have found that on average, organic milk contained around 56 percent more Omega-3 in comparison to non-organic varieties of milk. 

Types of Omega-3 fats

The most health benefits of Omega-3 are associated with those that are derived from animal sources. Animal based Omega-3, such as those derived from organic milk and organic full cream milk products are rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which provide most of the health benefits. In comparison, plant based sources provide alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), which is not as beneficial as EPA and DHA. The body can convert ALA into EPA and DHA, but the output is very low, so increasing ALA will not have any significant health benefits. 

Benefits of Omega-3

Heart health - An Italian research study involving 11,324 heart attack survivors found that people who took in more Omega-3 through supplementation had significantly reduced risk of another heart attack, stroke or death. Similar results were noticed in a separate American research study, where it was found that people who ate Omega-3 rich foods once or more than once in a week had a 50% reduced risk of dying from a sudden cardiac event, as compared to people who ate Omega-3 rich foods less than once a month.

Improved regulation of cholesterol triglyceride levels - Omega-3 fatty acids normalize and regulate cholesterol triglyceride levels, resulting in improved heart health. Triglyceride levels are an effective display of the body's ability to maintain a healthy lipid profile, which is essential for maintaining a healthy heart. Numerous research studies have revealed that Omega-3 is anti-arrhythmic (prevents or counteracts cardiac arrhythmia), anti-thrombotic (prevents thrombosis or a blood clot in a blood vessel), anti-atherosclerotic (prevents fatty deposits and fibrosis of the inner layer of arteries), and anti-inflammatory (counteracts inflammation).

Improved learning among children - Research studies have shown that Omega-3 helps maximize a child's intellectual potential. Findings of a research study published in June 2013 show that low levels of DHA are linked to poor reading and problems related to memory and behavior among healthy school-age children. In another research study published in August 2013, it was found that children who had taken Omega-3 supplements when they were infants, scored higher in areas such as rule learning, vocabulary, and intelligence testing at ages 3 to 5. 

It has also been indicated in earlier research studies that problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related behavior or learning disabilities may have their links to low levels of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats sourced from animal sources such as organic full cream milk and organic milk products are great for brain health, as they boost dopamine levels in the brain, promote neuronal growth in the frontal cortex, and improve cerebral circulation

Milk essential for brain health, says new research

Fresh milk is widely known to be beneficial for babies, for growth and development of children, and for building muscle mass and stronger bones and teeth among adults. However, a new research indicates that milk can also be beneficial in improving brain health. 

Details of the research

The research on milk's ability to boost brain health in older adults was conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center. The research project was undertaken jointly by In-Young Choi, Ph.D., an associate professor of neurology at KU Medical Center, and Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., professor and chair of dietetics and nutrition at KU Medical Center. The findings of the research were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  

Findings of the research project

The research indicates a positive correlation between milk consumption and glutathione, which is a naturally-occurring antioxidant found in the brain. In the research project, the diet pattern of 60 participants was carefully recorded, after which they were asked to undergo a brain scan that would collect data regarding glutathione levels in their brains. When researchers compared diet patterns with glutathione levels, they noticed that participants who had recently drunk milk had higher levels of glutathione in their brain.   

Significance of the research findings

The correlation between milk consumption and increased levels of glutathione in the brain has been deemed a remarkable find by the researchers. This is because glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent oxidative stress and the subsequent damage caused by reactive chemical compounds that are produced in the brain during its normal metabolic processes. Oxidative stress has been linked with a number of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and many other conditions. It's really good to know that milk can help prevent such oxidative stress in the brain by increasing the levels of antioxidant glutathione. 

In simpler words, Sullivan explains that oxidative stress and formation of reactive chemical compounds in the brain is like rust building up on a car. If this buildup is left unchecked for longer durations, it can cause serious damage. As per the research, it was noted that 3 servings of milk per day helped older adults to significantly increase the levels of glutathione in their brain. This research has lighted a candle in a dark room, and experts feel that it will serve as a starting point for other similar research studies that seek to establish the role of Best full cream milk in boosting brain health.