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.