Previous research has demonstrated a benefit of whey protein for weight management when taken with concurrent energy restriction or physical activity. However, the research, to be published in the Journal of Nutrition, demonstrates the ability of supplemental whey protein to improve bodyweight and composition without energy restriction and changes to the habitual diet of obese and overweight adults, in comparison to consuming an equal amount of calories from carbohydrates.
It concludes that whey protein can play a role in weight management, without the need for additional changes in physical activity or diet.
“This study contributes strong evidence to support the benefits of whey protein for weight management,” says Suzane Leser, nutrition manager for Lifestyle Ingredients at Volac, whey protein suppliers and the European member of the USWPRC. “The design meets EFSA scientific requirements to support health claims on this area, according to the latest draft guidance.”
Researchers from the USDA ARS Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Centre tracked bodyweight, body composition and waist circumference data from 73 overweight and obese adults. These adults were assigned to consume a 200-calorie beverage consisting of 28g of whey or soy protein plus carbohydrate or carbohydrate alone, twice a day for six months. There were no significant differences between groups at the start of the trial, but by the end of the trial, the whey protein group’s bodyweight was 2% lower than the carbohydrate group.
The results of the study indicate that whey protein supplementation has the potential to promote lean body composition, with results showing subjects in the whey protein group recording reduced body fat, five pounds less than the carbohydrate group, and a waist size nearly an inch less than both the carbohydrate and soy protein groups.
Study data indicates that participants compensated for the additional 400 calories a day by cutting back on other foods, as none gained a significant amount of weight during the 23-week period. However, the whey protein group made up for the added calories more effectively, showing improvements in bodyweight and composition when compared to the carbohydrate group.
This could be related to satiety with whey protein, as participants in the whey protein group showed significantly lower levels of hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin compared to the other two groups.
“This pre-competitive consortium research is a great example of what the industry can achieve by working together,” says Leser. “In Europe, it has the potential to support future applications for health claims as it tackles EFSA concerns resulting from the rulings. The careful methodology applied to this study tested the long-term effect of whey protein specifically on appetite ratings and subsequent energy intake. It also demonstrates the most obvious health benefit of reducing bodyweight, which is the concomitant reduction in body fat mass, particularly abdominal fat.”
Source: Volac
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