A study published in the Journal of the International Union of Crystallography revealed that milk produced by the Pacific beetle cockroach, Diploptera punctata, contains nutrient-rich crystals that are more energy-dense than cow’s milk.
Researchers found that a single protein crystal from cockroach milk contains three times more energy than an equivalent amount of cow’s milk.
The milk also provides a balanced mix of essential amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars, making it a complete food.
“They have proteins, fats and sugars. If you look into the protein sequences, they have all the essential amino acids,” the study revealed.
Unlike most insects, the Pacific beetle cockroach gives birth to live young and produces a nutrient-rich milk to feed its offspring.
The Milk-like Fluid Cockroach Produces
Researchers investigated the milk-like fluid produced by the Pacific beetle cockroach (Diploptera punctata), the only known cockroach to give birth to live young.
The fluid, secreted by the female to nourish embryos, crystallizes in the offspring’s gut to form dense protein crystals.
At atomic resolution (1.2 Å), scientists found that these in vivo-grown protein crystals are made of a highly heterogeneous mix of glycosylated lipocalin-like proteins bound to fatty acids, an unusual feature, especially for crystalline structures.
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A single crystal is estimated to hold more than three times the energy of an equivalent mass of dairy milk, including calorie-rich buffalo milk, formerly the gold standard.
Lead author Sanchari Banerjee described the crystals as “like a complete food, they have proteins, fats, and sugars.” She noted they also contain all nine essential amino acids required for human health.
Scientists say the unique milk could serve as a sustainable food source in the future, especially in a world grappling with food insecurity.
Can Human Consume Cockroach Milk
While cockroach milk is not commercially available, researchers are exploring ways to produce it synthetically in laboratories to make it safe and accessible for human consumption.
Nutrition experts caution that more research is needed to assess the safety and feasibility of cockroach milk before it can reach consumers.
Still, the findings have sparked global curiosity about the potential of unconventional food sources.
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For now, cockroach milk remains a scientific curiosity.
If researchers succeed in scaling production, it could join the list of alternative proteins shaping the future of nutrition.
“Milk protein crystals and other products produced from cockroaches could be part of a next generation of super foods. Milk is a valued component of the human diet as its nutritional properties enhance human health and quality of life,” Experts in the EXCLI Journal wrote
Currently, there’s no proof that it’s safe for human consumption.
Experts caution against premature enthusiasm; the substance has not undergone human safety testing.
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