Case Studies

Alison - New South Wales

Alison’s son, Jordan, was just four years old when he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. Since he was a baby, Jordan had suffered from night sweats, colic and ear infections. In common with other children with Asperger’s, Jordan also displayed a tendency for hyperactivity, poor concentration, and limited social interaction.

“Looking back, almost every other week Jordan had an ear infection, colic or runny nose,” says Alison. “Once he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, we assumed his condition was behind the physical symptoms and that we would have to help him live with them. We didn’t consider a link with his diet at all.”

Although Jordan’s symptoms are all commonly associated with autism, they may also be signs of a food intolerance. As the family learned more about Jordan’s condition, Alison realised that there were lifestyle changes that could be made which might alleviate some of the symptoms. For example, it is recommended for most autistic children that they adopt a totally dairy and gluten free diet, which has been found to improve their general wellbeing.

“We tried going gluten and dairy free for Jordon, but he couldn’t bear the taste of the soy or rice milk alternatives,” says Alison. “Some children with autism have a heightened sense of taste - what tastes slightly sweet to us tastes twenty times as sweet to them - so rice milk and soy milk weren’t an option for him. Then our paediatrician suggested we try a2 milk, which Jordan had no problems with - it tastes like normal milk because that is exactly what it is! Almost instantly we began to notice not just physical changes, but also marked improvements in his behaviour.”

“The night sweats and red ears are gone, and his hyperactivity has noticeably decreased. He’s also begun to interact with us better - his communication has improved, he is better able to concentrate and learn, and he now maintains more consistent eye contact. He wants to share his achievements with us, having previously been very insular, and he is learning how to hold a conversation. The behavioural aspects of his condition will always be evident to some degree, but there is no doubt in my mind that they have been significantly improved by the switch to a2 milk.”

It’s not just Jordan who has benefited from the switch - the entire family has noticed improvements in their health. Both Alison and her husband experience fewer sinus problems, and have found generally that they enjoy the taste of a2 Milk™, which is all natural and contains no permeate, additives or preservatives. It’s just good old-fashioned milk, the way it should be.

“It does cost more than supermarket own-brand milk, but the benefits are so great we are willing to pay the extra,” says Alison. “And it’s readily available in most major supermarkets, so it’s not a case of having to order it specially or go searching for it.”

Alison works actively within her local community to support families with children with autism, and has had no hesitation in recommending a2 Milk™ to her peers.

Catherine - South Australia

Catherine’s daughter, Shay, is 11 years old. She was born with a chromosome deletion, a very rare disability about which doctors have limited information. Consequently, as she grew older, it was assumed that any unusual physical or developmental symptoms were due to her condition. As Shay grew older and began to display obsessive compulsive and sometimes violent behaviour, this was similarly attributed to her disability. However, when Shay’s brothers were found to have food intolerances which affected both their digestion and behaviour and which were successfully addressed using an elimination diet, Catherine began to wonder if certain foods could be playing a role in some of Shay’s symptoms too.

By process of elimination, Catherine worked out that milk could be affecting Shay, and so tried her on an allergy formula. However, she reacted badly. The formula upset her stomach, her behaviour became even more unpredictable and she frequently flew into violent rages. In desperation, Catherine took Shay off the formula and tried instead a special type of cows’ milk - a2 Milk™ - which a friend of hers had recently discovered. a2 Milk™ is identical to the majority of the milk available in supermarkets, save for one key difference. All milk contains a protein known as beta-casein. The majority of milk available contains a combination of the A1 and A2 versions of this protein, with A1 being dominant. a2 Milk™, as its name suggests, is rich in A2 beta-casein with minimal traces of A1.

The change in Shay was remarkable and almost instantaneous. Her behaviour altered, not simply returning to the way it had been before she started the allergy formula, but improving dramatically. Not only is she now considerably calmer, but her concentration appears better and she has begun to try to communicate with her parents and siblings, having previously been non-verbal.

Catherine says, “The change in Shay is really amazing. She is more attentive, less obsessive and is now really trying to engage with me and the rest of the family.”

Shay’s motor skills are progressing - for the first time ever, Catherine has noticed her attempting to play with her baby sister, and matching the pieces from a Tupperware shape sorter into the correct holes. Her general awareness has improved to the extent that Catherine has been able to toilet train her during the day. She’s also gaining weight.

“The next step for us is teaching Shay to sign - we tried once before but she just wouldn’t pay attention and it was a frustrating battle that I knew I was losing, so I gave up”, says Catherine. “It seems incredible that the difference in her could be down to something as simple as switching milk, but that’s the only change I’ve made to her diet. And it was really a last resort, I was literally at the end of my tether. If it weren’t for the a2 Milk™, I don’t know what I would have done.”

Now, the whole family drinks a2 Milk™, including the baby. “I was having difficulty getting her to digest her baby formula but had no alternative so kept trying. Then I ran out of formula one night so as an emergency measure gave her some a2. She took it with no trouble at all and promptly slept through the night, so I’ve continued with it. She’s thriving.”

Catherine’s experience is by no means unique. The parents of many children, with conditions from mild milk intolerance to neurological disorders, have noticed that their child’s behaviour and digestion improves when they switch to a2 Milk™. Research has suggested that the A1 form of the beta-casein protein is responsible for various digestive and behavioural abnormalities, while no such link has been found to the A2 beta-casein. Only a2 Milk™ is guaranteed to be rich in the A2 form of beta-casein.