Whey protein is comprised of complete branch chain amino acids in a highly bio-available form. These bring a wide range of health benefits to the human body. The US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health have an incredible searchable database of every article published in the US that is related to medicine. A search of the database shows that there is a significant amount of controlled scientific research being done on the benefits of whey protein for people with a wide variety of conditions. The summaries that follow are meant to be a bibliographical starting point for people who want to know more about how whey protein might help them.

Overview

“The Therapeutic Applications of Whey Protein”, K. Marshall. Alt. Med Rev. 2004 Jun; 9(2):136-56.

A terrific overview of the range functional benefits of whey protein. Reviews the biological components of whey, including lactoferrin, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and immunoglobulins and the immune-enhancing properties they demonstrate. Also discusses its ability to act as an antioxidant, antihypertensive, antitumor, hypolipidemic, antiviral, antibacterial, and chelating agent. Describes the process by which the amino acid cysteine found in whey is converted in the body to glutathione, a potent intracellular antioxidant. Cites clinical trials that have demonstrated positive results using whey in the treatment of cancer, HIV, hepatitis B, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and as an antimicrobial agent.

Glutathione

“The Antioxidant System”. Bounous G. and Molson JH. Anticancer Research. 2003 Mar-Apr; 23(2B): 1411-5.

Describes how the glutathione antioxidant system is the principal protective mechanism of the cell and is a crucial factor in the development of the immune response by the immune cells. Experimental data demonstrates that a cysteine-rich whey protein concentrate is an effective delivery system for glutathione replenishment during the immune response. Cysteine is the limiting factor amino acid in the synthesis of glutathione and it is naturally occurring in whey protein. Also cites animal studies that show whey protein exhibiting anti cancer activity through the glutathione pathway.

Whey Protein and Cancer

“Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment”. Bounous G. Anticancer Research, 2000 Nov-Dec; 20(6c):4785-92

Discusses animal experiments that show that whey protein concentrates in the diet increased glutathione concentration in relevant tissues, and may have anti-tumor effect on low volume tumors through stimulating and immune response. Discusses how oxygen radical generation is frequently a critical step in carcinogenesis, hence the effect of glutathione on free radicals and carcinogen detoxification.

Cystic Fibrosis

“Improved glutathione status in young adult patients with cystic fibrosis supplemented with whey protein.” Grey V., Mohammed SR, Smoutas AA, Bahlool R, and Lands LC. Journal of Cystic fibrosis. 2003: Dec;2(4):195-8.

The lung disease cystic fibrosis is associated with a chronic inflammatory reaction and an overabundance of oxidants relative to antioxidants. Glutathione functions as the major defense against the buildup of oxidants in the lungs. This study used a randomized trial where 21 patients were either given whey protein isolate or a placebo. The results showed that the dietary supplementation with whey protein increased glutathione levels in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Heart

“The effect of meal replacements high in glycomacropeptides on weight loss and markers of cardiovascular disease risk.” Keogh JB, Clifton P. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008 Jun;87(6): 1602-5.

Glycomacropeptide is a peptide that is naturally occurring in whey protein. It stimulates the release of cholecystokini, which promotes satiety.
This article discusses the results of a one-year weight loss trial that compared the results of one group using whey protein and another using skim milk powder. The results showed no significant weight loss difference between the skim milk and whey protein groups. Both showed improvement in all cardiovascular disease risk markers.

“Effects of whey peptides on cardiovascular disease risk factors”. Pins JJ, Keenan JM. Journal of Clinical Hypertension. 2008 Aug; 10(8): 631.

The authors tested the blood pressure lowing effects of a hydrolyzed whey protein supplement rich in bioactive peptides. The results indicated that there was a mean decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were improved by treatment. The authors concluded that whey – derived peptides might be a viable treatment option for prehypertensive and / or state 1 hypertensive populations.

“Milk whey protein decreases oxygen free radical production in a murine model of chronic iron-overload cardiomyopathy”

Chronic iron overload is a major cause of organ failure worldwide. The authors used a controlled trial on mice to create iron overload in mice then treat one group whey and the other no whey. After the treatments, they measured the presence of reactive free radical species and also antioxidant reserves. The results showed that the group that received the whey supplementation had lower levels of free radical species and a higher level of antioxidants.

Diabetes

“Differential effects of protein quality on postprandial lipenia in response to a fat-rich meal in type 2 diabetes: comparison of whey, casein, gluten, and cod protein.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Mortensen LS, et. al. 2009 Jul;90(1):41-8.Epub 2009 May 20.

Enhanced and prolonged postprandial (after eating) triglyceride responses involve increased cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetics. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 4 different types of protein on postprandial livid and incretion responses to a high-fat meal in persons with type 2 diabetes. The results demonstrated the triglycerides levels were lower after the whey meal. Free fatty acids were most suppressed after the whey meal and the glucose response was the lowers. The data suggest that as a supplement to a fat-rich meal in patients with diabetes, whey protein seems to outperform other proteins in terms of postprandial lipenia improvement.

“A whey protein supplement decreases postprandial glycemia”. Peterson BL, et. al. Nutrition Journal. 2009 Oct 16;8:47.

The incidence of diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance are associated with high glycemic load diets. This study tested the glycemic impact of adding escalating doses of a glycemic index lowering peptide fraction from whey to a glucose drink. Ten healthy subjects participated in the randomized trial. The results showed that by including one of the naturally occurring peptides in whey, it had the affect of lowering the blood glucose triggered by the drink. This is consistent with previous research on the affect of protein on the glycemic response of a meal.

Woundcare and Burns

“N-acetyl cysteine promotes angiogenesis and clearance of free oxygen radicals, thus improving wound healing in an alloxan-induced diabetic mouse model of incisional wound”. Aktunc E., et al. Clinical Experimental Dermatology. 2010 April 15. (Epub ahead of print).

The study investigated whether N-acetyl cysteine induced any favorable affects on cutaneous incisional would healing in diabetic and nondiabetic mice. The mice that were given the cysteine resulted in lower levels of oxidative stress, higher levels of tissue glutathione, higher wound breaking strength and shorter wound healing period for both diabetic and non-diabetic mice. Both the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the cysteine may be involved in this healing process for incisional wounds.

“Nutritional immunomodulation in burn patients”. Alexander JW, Gottschlish MM. Critical Care Medicine. 1990 Feb; 18(2 Suppl):S149-53.

A series of studies on the impact of diet on burned guinea pigs in a laboratory setting identified optimal diets for nutritional support of burn patients contain 20% of energy from whey protein, 2% from arginine, 0.5% from cysteine, and 0,5% from histidine. (All three of the latter amino acids are naturally occurring in whey protein). This diet was found to reduce wound infection, shorten hospital stays, and reduce death when compared to other standard enteral formulations.

Aging

“The influence of dietary whey protein on tissue glutathione and the diseases of aging”. Bounous G. et. al. Clinical Investigatory Medicine.
1989 Dec; 12(6):343-9.

This study compared the effects of a whey rich diet with that of Purina mouse chow or casein-rich diet on the liver and heart glutathione content and the survival of old male mice. The mice were given the controlled diets after the onset of senescence at 84 weeks and observed over a 6.3 month period. The group fed the whey protein diet lived longer than the chow and casein groups. Body weight curves were similar in all three dietary groups. The whey protein diet appeared to enhance the liver and heart glutathione concentration in aging mice and to increase longevity over a 6.3 month observation period.

“Whey protein ingestion in elderly persons results in greater muscle protein accrual than ingestion of its constituent essential amino acid content” Katsonos CS. Et.al. Nutrition Research. 2008 Oct; 28 (10):651-8.

The purpose of this study was to test whether the effects of whey protein ingestion on muscle protein accrual in elderly persons are due solely to its constituent amino acid content. Fifteen elderly patients were randomly assigned to ingest either whey, nonessential amino acids, or essential amino acids found in whey, and their muscle accrual was measured. The whey group measured the most gain in muscle protein accrual compared to both groups that only received the amino acids. Whey protein improves skeletal muscle protein accrual through mechanisms that are beyond those attributed to its EAA content.

Immunity

“Immunomodulatory effects of dietary whey proteins in mice” .Wong CW, Watson, DL. Journal of Dairy Research. 1995 May;62(2):359-68.

Reviews studies of the immunomodulatory effects of dietary whey on mice. Summarizes that the present results confirm previous results that dietary bovine milk whey proteins have immunoenhancing properties in mice and these properties are unlikely to be related solely to the nutritional effects.

“Immunoenhancing property of dietary whey protein in mice: role of glutathione.” Bounous G, et. al. Clinical Investigative Medicine. 1989 Jun;12(3):154-61.

This study looked at the observed immunoenhancing effect of whey protein compared to casein. The results indicated that the effect is dependant on the overall amino acid pattern resulting from the contribution of all of the components. Even though cysteine is considered to be a rate limiting substrate for the synthesis of glutathione, the study demonstrated that more glutathione was produced and a higher immune response was observed when the mice were fed their cysteine in whey than in casein.

“A bovine whey protein extract stimulated human neutrophils to generate bioactive IL-1Ra through a NF-kappaB-and MAPK-dependent mechanism.” Rus D., et. al. Journal of Nutrition. 2010 Feb;140(2):382-91. Epub2009 Dec 23.

Innate immunity depends on the efficiency of neutrophilis to be activated rapidly to restore homeostasis. It can benefit from priming agents that enhance neutrophil capacity to respond more efficiently to a subsequent stimulation. Among natural products, bovine why protein extract has been shown to prime normal human blood neutrophils by enhancing their chemotasis, phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and degranulation. These leukocytes are also an important source of cytokines, some of which have anti-inflammatory functions. This study’s data suggest that the beta-lactoglobulins and alpha-lactalbumins in whey protein have immunomodulatory properties and the potential to increase host defenses.

“Effect of dietary whey protein concentrate on primary and secondary antibody responses in immunized BALB/c mice. Low PP, et. al. Int Immunopharmacology. 2003 Mar;3(3):393-401.

In previous studies, the authors described how whey protein concentrate can boost intestinal tract antibody response to orally administered antigens. In this study the researchers investigated the effects of feeding whey protein concentrate to mice on a specific antibody responses to several orally or parenterally administered antigens, including influenza vaccine, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, poliomyelitis vaccine, ovalbumin and cholera toxin. The WPC fed mice produced higher antibody responses in their upper and lower intestinal tracts than those mice that were fed a chow diet. The authors conclude that whey protein concentrate is an important dietary protein supplement that is capable of enhancing humeral immune responses to a range of heterogonous antigens.

HIV

“Effects of long-term supplementation with whey proteins on plasma glutathione levels of HIV-infected patients”. Micke P., et.al. European Journal of Nutrition. 2002 Feb; 41(1):12-8.

HIV infection is characterized by an enhanced oxidant burden and a systemic deficiency in glutathione. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of whey supplementation on plasma glutathione levels. The double blind trial was conducted over a two week period with two brands of whey protein. The results suggest that supplementation with whey protein persistently increased plasma glutathione levels in patients with advanced HIV infection. The treatment was well tolerated. A longer-term trial “is clearly warranted to evaluate whether this positive influence on the glutathione level translates into a more favorable course of the disease.

“Features of whey protein concentrate supplementation in children with rapidly progressive HIV infection”. Moreno YF, et al. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics. 2006 Feb; 52(1):34-8. Epub 2005 Jul 13.

HIV’s association with low glutathione levels and whey protein supplementation’s ability to increase them has been documented in other studies in adults. This study looked at the affect of supplementation on children with rapidly progressive AIDS. A double blind trial involving children already taking retrovirals looked at the differences between children who received the whey supplement and those that did not on glutathione levels and the frequency of co-infections. The results showed that children who received whey protein concentrate supplementation showed higher glutathione levels and a lower frequency of co-infections.

Heavy Metals

“Cysteine metabolism and metal toxicity”. Quig, D. Alternative Medical Review. 1998 Aug; 3(4):262-70.

Chronic low level exposure to toxic metals is an increasing global problem. The symptoms associated with the slow accumulation of toxic metals are multiple and may be slow to appear. Sulfhydry-reactive metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic) are particularly insidious. Among other things, they disrupt the metabolism and biological activities of many proteins due to their affinity for free sulfate groups. This article describes the protective affects of glutathione and the transport of toxic metals into the brain. The article also discusses the case for using whey protein to support metal detoxification and neurological function.