Properties of Whey Components~

BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF WHEY COMPONENTS
A REVIEW
1997

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Almost all of the individual whey proteins have been reported to have one or more biological activities, although the degree of evidence supporting the claims is variable. Some claims are strongly substantiated, where as others are based on limited information. The status of the various activities is dynamic, with new information becoming available almost daily. The following table gives the biological activity and the different whey proteins reported to have that activity. An effort has been made to list the activities in decreasing order to the degree to which the claims are substantiated, although the demarcation is somewhat fuzzy. In the majority of cases, the biological activity in humans is not substantiated with clinical trials. Our base of knowledge is dynamic and rapidly expanding, so that much more solid information can be expected over the next several years.

Biological Activity	Whey proteins with reported Activity*	Comments
Antimicrobial Action/wound healing	a) Lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme b) Lactoferricin (pepsin derived peptide from lactoferrin)	a) Supported by both invitro and some invivo studies. The proteins are being used applied commercially; combinations are synergistic. B )More antimicrobial than lactoferrin. Active component produced through biotechnology.
Passive immunity - disease protection	Whey protein concentrates, colostrum derived immunoglobulin concentrates; immunoglobulins	Have been proven effective in calves and pigs. Hyper-immunization increases specific Ig activity for some not all bacterial antigens.
Bifidobacteria growth factor/control of intestinal microflora	casein glycomacropeptide	Has been used commercially. Confirmed in trials with infants and one trial on human adults. Oligosaccharide portion considered most active. Oligoscacchide growth factors also provided by soybeans and Jerusalem artichokes
Anti-viral activity	a) lactoferrin b) lactoferricin c) Whey protein concentrates,	a) Supported by 3 invitro studies, one showing the antiviral property being independent of iron binding b) Supported by single study c) Only limited studies support this claim
Anti-cancer activity	whey protein concentrates	Fairly strong support based on cell culture studies and invivo in mice and rats
Gut microflora control	Whey Protein concentrates
Immunomodulating activity -	a) Whey protein concentrates b) Lactoferrin c) Casein glycomacropeptide d) a -lactalbumin	a) Based on invitro studies and several invivo studies in mice- enhanced humoral antibody responses b) Supported by cell culture studies and invivo studies with experimental animals c) Five reports supporting this activity - with different specific functions d) Based on a single report
Bacterial antitoxin activity	a) Lactoferrin b) Casein glycomacropeptide c) GMP derived peptides d)Glycated-b -lactoglobulin and glycated a -lactalbumin	a) Multiple reports confirming activity b) Supported by single report c) Supported by several studies d) Support only by a single invitro study Supported by only on report - not confirmed
Promotion of growth of some animal cells	a) lactoferrin	a) One invivo study and 2 patents claiming application
Platelet binding (anti thrombic activity)	a) lactoferrin b) GMP derived peptide	a )Limited evidence to support this claim b) 3 studies in support
Anti-inflammatory	lactoferrin	Based on single 1996 report
Anti-hypertensive	GMP derived peptide (108-110)	Supported by two reports
Control of cellular glutathione levels	Whey protein concentrate	Based on limited studies. Considered to possibly serve as an antioxidant and in the repair of DNA. Requires further confirmation
Diet suppressant -reduction in gastric secretion	Casein glycomacropeptide	Based primarily on studies with dogs, primarily studied by a single research group.
Control of PKU	casein glycomacropeptide	Is aromatic amino acid free, but not known to have been used for control of PKU
Iron transport	lactoferrin	Long accepted, but now being challenged - requires clarification
Opiod Effect (reduction in heart rate and respiration	Peptides derived from GMP, b -lactoglobulin, a -lactalbumin	Limited evidence to support this effect, primarily in experimental animals

*Where whey protein concentrates have been reported to have biological activity, the specific factor involved

can not be determined in most cases. A specific component may be involved, or more probably the effect is caused by products formed by the action of digestive enzymes. These could include peptides, glyco-

peptides or oligosaccharide components.

The whey proteins most strongly supported for multiple biological functionality's are lactoferrin and the casein glycomacropeptide. There are at least 3 supporting studies for each of the biological activities cited in the above table. It is suspected that further support will be provide over the next few years.

04/29/04 Copyright © The Ohio State University, 2000 http://class.fst.ohio-state.edu/FunctionalFoods/FFindex.htm

04/29/04
Copyright © The Ohio State University, 2000
http://class.fst.ohio-state.edu/FunctionalFoods/FFindex.htm