Whey protein

Containers of whey protein being sold at a health food store.

Whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production.

Whey protein is commonly marketed as a dietary supplement, and various health claims have been attributed to it.[1]

Production of whey

Whey is left over when milk is coagulated during the process of cheese production, and contains everything that is soluble from milk after the pH is dropped to 4.6 during the coagulation process. It is a 5% solution of lactose in water, with some minerals and lactalbumin.[2] The fat is removed and then processed for human foods.[2] Processing can be done by simple drying, or the relative protein content can be increased by removing lipids and other non-protein materials.[3] For example, spray drying after membrane filtration separates the proteins from whey.[4]

Whey can be denatured by heat. High heat (such as the sustained high temperatures above 72 °C associated with the pasteurization process) denatures whey proteins. While native whey protein does not aggregate upon renneting or acidification of milk, denaturing the whey protein triggers hydrophobic interactions with other proteins, and the formation of a protein gel.[3] Heat-denatured whey can still cause allergies in some people.[5]

Composition

Whey protein is the collection of globular proteins isolated from whey. The protein in cow's milk is 20% whey protein and 80% casein protein,[6] whereas the protein in human milk is 60% whey and 40% casein.[7] The protein fraction in whey constitutes approximately 10% of the total dry solids in whey. This protein is typically a mixture of beta-lactoglobulin (~65%), alpha-lactalbumin (~25%), bovine serum albumin (~8%)(see also serum albumin), and immunoglobulins.[8] These are soluble in their native forms, independent of pH.

The amino acid cysteine in whey protein is a substrate for the synthesis of glutathione in the body which is a ubiquitous cellular antioxidant; laboratory experiments have suggested that whey protein and its components might reduce the risk of cancer in animals, suggesting an avenue for future medical research.[9]

Major forms and use

Whey protein typically comes in four major forms:

  • Concentrates (WPC) have typically a low (but still significant) level of fat and cholesterol but, in general, compared to the other forms of whey protein, they are higher in carbohydrates in the form of lactose — they are 29%–89% protein by weight.
  • Isolates (WPI) are processed to remove the fat and lactose — they are 90%+ protein by weight. Like whey protein concentrates, whey protein isolates are mild to slightly milky in taste.
  • Hydrolysates (WPH) are whey proteins that are predigested and partially hydrolyzed for the purpose of easier metabolizing, but their cost is generally higher.[3] Highly hydrolysed whey may be less allergenic than other forms of whey.[5]
  • Native whey protein is extracted from skim milk, not a byproduct of cheese production, and produced as a concentrate and isolate.[10][11][12]

Whey protein is commonly marketed as a dietary supplement, typically sold in powdered form for mixing into beverages. The products have varying proportions of the major forms above, and are promoted with various health claims.[1] Although whey proteins are responsible for some milk allergies, the major allergens in milk are the caseins.[13][14]

Health effects

In 2010 a panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) examined proposed health claims made for whey protein: satiety, weight loss, reduced body fat, increased muscle, increased strength, increased endurance and faster recovery after exercising. The EFSA concluded that the provided literature did not adequately support the proposed claims.[1]

EFSA has also evaluated the claims for proteins in general and they authorized the following claims which are also applicable to whey protein as well: - Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass - Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass - Protein contributes to the maintenance of normal bones - Protein is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children.

The database on health claims which have been evaluated by EFSA and published by the European Comission is available on this link: [15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (October 2010). "Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to whey protein". EFSA Journal. 8 (10): 1818. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1818.
  2. 1 2 "Whey." The Encyclopædia Britannica. 15th ed. 1994
  3. 1 2 3 Foegeding, EA; Davis, JP; Doucet, D; McGuffey, MK (2002). "Advances in modifying and understanding whey protein functionality". Trends in Food Science & Technology. 13 (5): 151–9. doi:10.1016/S0924-2244(02)00111-5.
  4. ↑ Tunick MH (2008). "Whey Protein Production and Utilization.". In Onwulata CI, Huth PJ. Whey processing, functionality and health benefits (abstract). Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing; IFT Press. pp. 1–13.
  5. 1 2 Lee YH (November 1992). "Food-processing approaches to altering allergenic potential of milk-based formula". J. Pediatr. 121 (5 Pt 2): S47–50. doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(05)81406-4. PMID 1447634.
  6. ↑ Jay R. Hoffman & Michael J. Falvo (2004). "Protein - Which is best?". Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (3): 118–130.
  7. ↑ Luhovyy BL, Akhavan T, Anderson GH (2007). "Whey proteins in the regulation of food intake and satiety". Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 26 (6): 704S–712S. doi:10.1080/07315724.2007.10719651. PMID 18187437.
  8. ↑ Haug A, Høstmark AT, Harstad OM, A; Høstmark, AT; Harstad, OM (25 September 2007). "Bovine milk in human nutrition – a review". Lipids Health Dis. 6: 25. doi:10.1186/1476-511X-6-25. PMC 2039733. PMID 17894873.
  9. ↑ P.W. Parodi (2007). "A Role for Milk Proteins and their Peptides in Cancer Prevention". Current Pharmaceutical Design. 13 (8): 813–828. doi:10.2174/138161207780363059. ISSN 1873-4286.
  10. ↑ Alan L. Kelly; Seamus A. O'Mahony. "Technologies for whey processing: "Is there a better whey?"" (PDF). Dairyaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  11. ↑ Burrington, Kimberlee. "Technical Report: Milk Fractionation Technology and Emerging Milk Protein Opportunities" (PDF). USDairy. U.S. Dairy Export Council. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Leprino Foods enters direct-to-consumer whey protein market with Ascent Protein". Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  13. ↑ Wal JM (November 2004). "Bovine milk allergenicity". Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 93 (5 Suppl 3): S2–11. doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)61726-7. PMID 15562868.
  14. ↑ Burks W, Helm R, Stanley S, Bannon GA (June 2001). "Food allergens". Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 1 (3): 243–8. doi:10.1097/01.all.0000011021.73682.01. PMID 11964696.
  15. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/labelling_nutrition/claims/register/public/?event=search. Missing or empty |title= (help)

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