Whey Protein Studied for Lipid Balancing

A recently published study reports that whey protein supports healthy levels of serum lipids and liver fats. Other research has indicated that high-protein intake can modulate lipid levels in animal models and humans fed a high-fat diet. Thus, researchers investigated the effect of whey protein supplementation on intra-hepatic (liver) fats, known as steatosis, and serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels in obese women.

In this study, investigators supplemented obese women with normal blood sugar levels with 60 grams per day of whey protein for 4 weeks. The women were evaluated at the beginning of the study and again after 4 weeks for intrahepatocellular lipid concentrations, total liver volume, fasting serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and abdominal body fat, which is the fat that surrounds organs. The women were also assessed for blood pressure, body composition, creatinine clearance (a measurement of kidney function), and glucose tolerance, which is a test that measures the response of insulin after ingesting 75 grams of carbohydrates.

The results of the study found that whey protein supplementation resulted in healthier levels of intrahepatocellular lipids, as well as fasting total cholesterol and triglycerides. In fact, average intrahepatocellular lipids decreased by 20.8 percent, total cholesterol decreased by 7.3 percent, and total triglycerides decreased by 15 percent. There was no effect on abdominal fat, total liver volume, glucose tolerance, creatinine clearance or insulin sensitivity.

The researchers stated that whey protein supplementation improved liver health and plasma lipid profiles in obese women with normal blood sugar levels without adversely affecting glucose tolerance or kidney function.

Reference:

Bortolotti M, Maiolo E, Corazza M, Van Dijke E, Schneiter P, Boss A, Carrel G, Giusti V, Lê KA, Quo Chong DG, Buehler T, Kreis R, Boesch C, Tappy L. Effects of a whey protein supplementation on intrahepatocellular lipids in obese female patients. Clin Nutr. 2011 Jan 31. Published Online Ahead of Print.