Whey Proteins in the Regulation of Food Intake and Satiety
Researchers of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto in Ontario state
that Whey protein helps you control your body weight by sending signals that
you are satiated improving control of your appetite immediately and tuning your
appetite to be more under control over the long-term. At our present level of
knowledge we have determined the following:
- Whey protein reduces short-term food intake relative to placebo, to carbohydrate
and to other proteins.
- Various Whey protein ingredients are active and affect satiation and satiety
by the actions of: (1) whey protein fractions per se; (2) bioactive peptides;
(3) amino-acids released after digestion; (4) combined action of whey protein
and/or peptides and/or amino acids with other milk constituents.
- Whey ingestion activates many components of the food intake regulatory system.
- Whey protein is insulinotropic (this improves metabolism), and whey-born peptides
affect the renin-angiotensin system (this improves blood pressure and blood
volume).
Therefore whey protein has potential as a physiologically functional food component
for persons with obesity and its co-morbidities (hypertension, type II diabetes,
high cholesterol).
It remains unclear, however, if the favorable effects of whey on food intake,
subjective satiety and intake regulatory mechanisms in humans are obtained from
usual serving sizes of dairy products. The effects described have been observed
when whey is consumed in much higher amounts (supplementation levels). The study
is published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College
of Nutrition.
Dietary Protein and Resistance Training Effects on Muscle and Body
Composition in Older Persons
Scientists at Purdue University in West Lafayette Indiana also feel strongly
about high-quality protein. They state that regularly performing resistance
training exercises with regular consumption of adequate protein from high-quality
sources are two important ways for older persons to slow the progression of
and treat sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function. Resistance
training can help older people gain muscle strength, rebuild muscle, and increase
whole body fat-free mass. It can also help frail elderly people improve balance
and capability to physically function. Inadequate protein intake will lead to
the loss of muscle strength and size. They also feel that the recommended level
of protein intake for older adults may also not be adequate to rebuild muscle,
its strength and physical qualities needed for mobility. The study is published
in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
Emerging Health Properties of Whey Proteins and Their Clinical Implications
Scientists at the University of Auckland in New Zealand are emphatic about the
qualities of protein derived from cows’ milk. Milk provides complete nourishment
for the neonate for six months from birth, containing factors that help develop
various organ systems including the brain, immune system, and the intestine.
Importantly it provides immune protection at a time when the neonates own immune
system, though fully developed, is albeit immature. Many adult consumers include
cow's milk as part of a healthy diet as it provides protein and essential nutrients,
vitamins, and minerals, in particular calcium for strong bones. There is a growing
appreciation that milk, and in particular whey, contains components that not
only provide nutrition, but can also prevent and attenuate disease, or augment
conventional therapies, when delivered in amounts that exceed normal dietary
intakes. The study is published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal
of the American College of Nutrition.