Know2eat

Buffalo milk

Bubalus bubalis

What buffalo milk has been studied for

2 associations assessed — 1 with at least some human evidence behind it. Strongest first.

  • 1 Limited
  • 1 Insufficient
4 things to know first — allergies, interactions and intake limits

About buffalo milk

Milk from the domestic water buffalo, richer than cow milk in fat, protein and total solids, and whiter because buffaloes convert dietary carotene to vitamin A rather than passing it into the milk. India produces more of it than any other milk, and it is what mozzarella di bufala is made from.

Also known as Water buffalo milk, Indian buffalo milk, Latte di bufala

Bone HealthMuscle & Physical Performance

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Limited

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Bone mineral density

Bone Health
Limited evidence

Supplies calcium, phosphorus and complete protein at higher concentrations than cow milk. The dairy-and-bone association is largely observational and strongest during skeletal growth, and no bone research has used buffalo milk specifically.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

1 source

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Muscle protein synthesis

Muscle & Physical Performance
Insufficient evidence

Evidence is limited for buffalo milk specifically. It supplies more casein and whey per glass than cow milk, but the dairy protein and muscle literature is entirely based on cow milk and isolated dairy proteins.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

4 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Ask about Buffalo milk

Ask about Buffalo milk

Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.

AI explanations are not switched on for this site, so there is nothing to ask here. Everything above is read straight from the database and does not need them.

Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories97 kcal5%
Protein3.75 g8%
Total fat6.89 g9%
Carbohydrate5.18 g2%
Fibre0 g0%
Water83.4 g—
Fats
Saturated fat4.6 g23%
Monounsaturated fat1.79 g—
Polyunsaturated fat0.146 g—
Cholesterol19 mg6%
Linoleic acid (omega-6)0.07 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A53 µg6%
Vitamin C2.3 mg3%
Thiamin (B1)0.052 mg4%
Riboflavin (B2)0.135 mg10%
Niacin (B3)0.091 mg1%
Pantothenic acid (B5)0.192 mg4%
Vitamin B60.023 mg1%
Folate6 µg2%
Vitamin B120.36 µg15%
Minerals
Calcium169 mg13%
Iron0.12 mg1%
Magnesium31 mg7%
Phosphorus117 mg9%
Potassium178 mg4%
Sodium52 mg2%
Zinc0.22 mg2%
Copper0.046 mg5%
Manganese0.018 mg1%
Other measured compounds
Ash0.79 g—

Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

Source record: Milk, indian buffalo, fluid (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 171280).

% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.

Bioactive compounds

Compounds present in meaningful amounts. Presence is banded rather than quantified, because whole-food levels vary enormously with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

How preparation changes things

Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.

Nothing dependable is recorded about how preparation changes this food’s nutritional properties. Rather than guess, this section stays empty.

Things to know

Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.

  • Allergy

    Cross-reacts with cow milk protein

    Buffalo caseins are structurally close to cow caseins and buffalo milk is not a safe alternative in cow milk protein allergy, despite occasionally being suggested as one.

  • Too much

    Considerably richer than cow milk

    Buffalo milk carries roughly twice the fat of whole cow milk, most of it saturated, along with more protein, more lactose and more energy per glass. That richness is exactly why it makes such good cheese.

  • Worth knowing

    Raw buffalo milk and brucellosis

    Unpasteurised buffalo milk carries the same pathogen risks as other raw milk, and buffaloes are a recognised reservoir for Brucella in South Asia and the Mediterranean. Pasteurisation is the control step.

  • Worth knowing

    Not lower in lactose

    Buffalo milk contains slightly more lactose per volume than cow milk, so it is a poorer rather than a better choice for people with lactose intolerance.