Milk from cows reared differently was compared

The research was presented to the Soil Association's annual conference in Newcastle.

It showed organic milk has higher levels of vitamin E, omega 3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which help beat infections.

But nutritionists said people who drank non-organic milk would be getting these nutrients from other sources.

Grazing space

The research was carried out by a team from the Danish Institute of Agricultural Research, which is part of the University of Newcastle's Quality Low Input Food (QLIF) Congress.

Even if regular milk is slightly lower in some nutrients than organic milk, chances are you will be already be meeting your dietary needs for these nutrients by consuming other foods Dr Anne Nugent, British Nutrition Foundation,

Milk was tested from cows who were farmed organically and conventionally.

The study found cows farmed organically produced milk which was, on average, 50% higher in Vitamin E than conventionally produced milk.

Organic milk was also 75% higher in beta carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A in the body.

It was also two to three times higher in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthine.

Antioxidants are the naturally occurring substances in plants that protect the body from free radicals - 'bad' chemicals in the blood.

Free radicals alter cholesterol in a process known as oxidation, which is thought to speed up the hardening of the arteries.

Higher levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are believed to help provide protection from coronary heart disease, were also found in organic milk.

The study concluded that drinking a pint of organic milk a day would provide 17.5% of the required daily intake of Vitamin E for women, and 14% of that for men.

The researchers suggest it also provides as much beta carotene as a portion of vegetables, such as brussel sprouts.

They say organically-reared cows benefit from having more room to graze than conventionally-reared cows.

bbc.co.uk