TUESDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. researchers are hoping to milk genetically-modified goats for a new way to protect children against intestinal/diarrheal diseases, which kill more than two million children worldwide each year.

Animal scientists at the University of California, Davis, studied milk produced by transgenic goats with the gene for an antibacterial enzyme (lysozyme) found in human breast milk. When this milk was fed to young goats and pigs, it altered their intestinal bacteria.

This research may lead to the development of milk that can protect children from intestinal/diarrheal illnesses, the scientists said. The findings were published in the August issue of the journal Transgenic Research.

"This goat's milk represents one of the first transgenic food products that has the potential to really benefit human health," study author Jim Murray said in a prepared statement. "The results of the study indicate that the protective, antibacterial characteristics of lysozyme-rich human breast milk are also present in milk produced by transgenic goats that carry the gene for lysozyme."

Lysozyme limits the growth of bacteria that cause intestinal infections and diarrhea, and encourages the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

"This study underscores the potential for using biotechnology to improve the healthfulness of the milk of dairy animals by introducing the beneficial properties of human milk into dairy animals," Murray said.

It may be possible to use this method to produce lysozyme-rich powdered milk, and eventually, herds of transgenic dairy goats for use by developing nations.

Larger, more in-depth studies are needed to examine the other possible benefits of the lysozyme-rich milk from the transgenic goats, the study authors said.

More information

The Nemours Foundation has more about diarrhea in children.