Milk Protein - NutraPedia
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Milk Protein: An Overview
1) Conditions Studied for Milk Protein
Milk proteins have been studied in relation to various conditions, including:
- Muscle repair and growth
- Bone health
- Weight management and obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular health
- Immune system support
2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions
Research on milk protein's ability to treat certain conditions has shown mixed results:
- Its content of essential amino acids can contribute to muscle repair and growth when combined with resistance training.
- Calcium and protein from milk may help in maintaining bone density, but further research is needed.
- Some studies suggest that high-protein dairy products can aid in weight management, but this is not conclusive.
- There is limited evidence that suggests milk protein may have a role in managing blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.
- The impact of milk protein on cardiovascular health is not clear and is subject to ongoing research.
3) Health Benefits
Consuming milk protein can offer several health benefits, such as:
- Supporting muscle synthesis and recovery
- Contributing to feelings of fullness, which can assist with weight management
- Possibly improving metabolic health markers
- Providing a source of essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D
4) Potential Downsides
Despite its benefits, milk protein also has potential downsides:
- It can cause allergic reactions or lactose intolerance in some individuals.
- Excessive consumption can lead to increased risk of certain diseases, including some forms of cancer.
- Environmental concerns are related to dairy production.
5) Genetic Variations and Milk Protein
The impact of milk protein can vary depending on genetic makeup:
- Individuals with lactase persistence can digest lactose, the sugar in milk, while those with lactase non-persistence may experience lactose intolerance.
- Some genetic variations may influence how individuals metabolize and respond to the proteins and fats in milk, but more research is needed to fully understand these interactions.
Milk Protein and Muscle & Bone Health: A Summary
Effectiveness of Dietary Protein Supplementation
Dietary protein supplementation has been shown to significantly increase muscle strength, fat-free mass (FFM), and muscle size during resistance exercise training in healthy adults. However, the effectiveness decreases with age and is more pronounced in those with resistance training experience. A protein intake exceeding 1.62 grams per kilogram of body weight per day does not provide additional FFM gains.
High-Protein Diets and Weight Loss
High-protein, low-fat diets lead to slightly greater reductions in body weight and fat mass, preserve fat-free mass and resting energy expenditure, and are associated with greater satiety, compared to standard-protein, low-fat diets.
Dietary Protein Needs in Older Adults
Older adults require more protein (1.0 to 1.5 g/kg body weight/day) to maintain health, recover from illnesses, and preserve functionality, due to age-related changes in protein metabolism.
Protein Types and Blood Sugar Control
Both whey and soy protein drinks significantly decrease post-meal blood sugar spikes, with whey protein being particularly effective in maintaining stable blood sugar levels after a meal.
High-Protein Diets for Type 2 Diabetes
A high-protein diet improves blood glucose control and reduces glycated hemoglobin levels in individuals with untreated type 2 diabetes, compared to a control diet.
Carbohydrate-Reduced High-Protein Diets in Type 2 Diabetes
A carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet significantly reduces long-term blood glucose control markers and liver fat content in individuals with type 2 diabetes, without changing body weight.
Dietary Acid Load and Bone Health
Studies have shown that dietary acid load increases urinary calcium excretion but does not indicate a net loss of body calcium. Hence, an acid-producing diet does not lead to bone mineral loss or osteoporosis, and dietary choices that reduce acid load could help in preventing osteoporosis.
Dietary Protein Intake and Bone Health
Dietary protein intake is slightly positively correlated with bone mineral density (BMD), but this does not necessarily imply a lower risk of fractures over the long term. Higher total dietary protein may lower the risk of hip fractures, but more research is needed.
Protein Intake Above RDA and Bone Health
Consuming protein above the recommended dietary allowance is associated with a decrease in the risk of hip fractures and may be beneficial for maintaining BMD at various sites.
Protein Intake and Renal Function
Higher-protein diets in healthy adults do not appear to negatively impact kidney function. There is no convincing proof that high protein diets harm kidney function in healthy individuals, including post-unilateral nephrectomy patients, and those with high protein intake show a higher post-intervention glomerular filtration rate.
References:
- A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults
- Effects of energy-restricted high-protein, low-fat compared with standard-protein, low-fat diets: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people: a position paper from the PROT-AGE Study Group
- Effect of different protein types on second meal postprandial glycaemia in normal weight and normoglycemic subjects
- An increase in dietary protein improves the blood glucose response in persons with type 2 diabetes
- A carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet improves HbA1c and liver fat content in weight stable participants with type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial
- Diet acids and alkalis influence calcium retention in bone
- Nutritional disturbance in acid-base balance and osteoporosis: a hypothesis that disregards the essential homeostatic role of the kidney
- Meta-analysis of the effect of the acid-ash hypothesis of osteoporosis on calcium balance
- Dietary protein and calcium interact to influence calcium retention: a controlled feeding study
- The impact of dietary protein on calcium absorption and kinetic measures of bone turnover in women
- Causal assessment of dietary acid load and bone disease: a systematic review & meta-analysis applying Hill's epidemiologic criteria for causality
- Dietary protein and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- The relationship between dietary protein consumption and risk of fracture: a subgroup and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
- Dietary Protein Intake above the Current RDA and Bone Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- High Versus low Dietary Protein Intake and Bone Health in Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Dietary protein and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis from the National Osteoporosis Foundation
- Effect of dietary protein on bone loss in elderly men and women: the Framingham Osteoporosis Study
- A 5-year cohort study of the effects of high protein intake on lean mass and BMC in elderly postmenopausal women
- Dietary protein intake and the progressive nature of kidney disease: the role of hemodynamically mediated glomerular injury in the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular sclerosis in aging, renal ablation, and intrinsic renal disease
- Changes in Kidney Function Do Not Differ between Healthy Adults Consuming Higher- Compared with Lower- or Normal-Protein Diets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- A Systematic Review of Renal Health in Healthy Individuals Associated with Protein Intake above the US Recommended Daily Allowance in Randomized Controlled Trials and Observational Studies
- Dietary protein intake and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Dietary protein intake and renal function
- Mechanisms of renal vasodilation and hyperfiltration during pregnancy
- Glomerular hyperfiltration
- Long-term followup of renal functional reserve capacity after unilateral nephrectomy in childhood
- Long-term consequence of nephrectomy
- Renal outcome 25 years after donor nephrectomy
- KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in CKD: 2020 Update
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