Whey protein can help manage Type 2 Diabetes

A GOOD first meal of the day is always important, and even better if it contained a good source of protein.

In a study presented at ENDO 2016, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society, in Boston, Massachusetts, Daniela Jakubowicz, MD, professor of medicine at Tel Aviv University, confirmed that when compared to other protein sourcces like egg, soy or tuna, whey protein showed the most benefit especially in people with Type 2 diabetes.

“A high-calorie protein breakfast, medium-sized lunch and small dinner is a proven successful strategy for weight loss, improved satiety and reduced glucose spikes throughout the day in people with obesity and Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr Jakubowicz who is also the lead study author.

“However, the benefits of high protein content at breakfast also depend on the protein source and quality,” she said. “Whey protein powder, which is a byproduct of milk during cheese production, induced greater satiety and reduction of glucose spikes after meals compared to other protein sources, such as eggs, soy or tuna.”

The team from Israel compared whey protein for breakfast with other proteins for weight loss, satiety and reduction of glucose spikes and HbA1C (glycated hemoglobin) levels. In the study, 48 overweight and obese participants with Type 2 diabetes, with average age of 59, were given one of three diets with the same calories.

For 23 months, all participants ate a large breakfast, medium-sized lunch and small dinner, but the breakfast composition, amount and source of proteins differed among the groups.

One group ate breakfast containing mostly whey protein such as whey protein shakes, the second group ate breakfast containing other proteins including eggs, soy and tuna, and the third ate breakfast high in carbohydrates or starch.

After 12 weeks, the group on whey protein lost the most weight: 7.6 kg (16.7 pounds), compared to 6.1 kg (13.4 pounds) for those on the other proteins, and 3.1 kg (6.8 pounds) for those in the carbohydrate group.

Whey protein diet participants were more satiated and less hungry throughout the day, with lower glucose spikes after meals compared to the other two diets, and their HbA1C also decreased more than with the other two diets.

“The whey protein diet significantly suppresses the hunger hormone ‘ghrelin.’ A whey protein drink is easily prepared and provides the advantages of a high-protein breakfast on weight loss, reduction of hunger, glucose spikes and HbA1c,” Dr Jakubowicz said.

The research was supported by The Foundation for Scientific Research of the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel.