Whey Protein Absorption

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Some interesting research on type and amount of protein intake:

An open label study to determine the effects of an oral proteolytic enzyme

system on whey protein concentrate metabolism in healthy males

Julius Oben* 1 , Shil C Kothari2 and Mark L * 3

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found

online at: http://www.jissn.com/content/5/1/10

Abstract

Background

Current research suggests that protein intake of 1.5 – 2.8 g/kg/day (3.5 times

the current recommended daily allowance) is effective and safe for individuals

trying to increase or maintain lean muscle mass. To achieve these levels of

daily protein consumption, supplementing the diet with processed whey protein

concentrate (WPC) in liquid form has become a popular choice for many people.

Some products have a suggested serving size as high as 50 g of protein. However,

due to possible inhibition of endogenous digestive enzymes from over-processing

and rapid small intestine transit time, the average amount of liquid WPC that is

absorbed may be only 15 g. The combined effect of these factors may contribute

to incomplete digestion, thereby limiting the absorption rate of protein before

it reaches the ceacum and is eliminated as waste. The purpose of this study was

to determine if Aminogen®, a patented blend of digestive proteases from

Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae, would significantly increase the

in-vivo absorption rate of processed WPC over control values. It also

investigated if any increase would be sufficient to significantly alter nitrogen

(N2) balance and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels over control values as further

evidence of increased WPC absorption rate.

Methods

Two groups of healthy male subjects were assigned a specified balanced diet

before and after each of two legs of the study. Subjects served as their own

controls. In the first leg each control group (CG) was dosed with 50 g of WPC

following an overnight fast. Nine days later each test group (TG) was dosed

following an overnight fast with 50 g of WPC containing either 2.5 g (A2.5) or 5

g (A5) of Aminogen®. Blood samples were collected during each leg at 0 hr, 0.5

hr, 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, 3.5 hr and 4 hr for amino acid (AA) and CRP analyses. The

following 18 AAs were quantified: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine,

glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,

phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine.

Urine was collected for 24 hours from 0 hr for total N2 analysis. Results are

expressed as means ± SEM. All significance and power testing on results was done

at a level of alpha = 0.05. Area under the concentration time curve (AUC) was

calculated using the trapezoidal rule. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA-1)

was done between CGs, between TGs and between time points. One-way repeated

measures analysis of variance (ANOVA-1-RM) was done to compare CGs and TGs.

Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA-2) was performed on total serum amino acid

(TSAA) levels, urine N2 levels and CRP levels between each CG and TG.

Results

After baseline subtraction the mean AUC was significantly (p & #8804; 0.05)

greater in each TG compared the corresponding CG. Comparison of the mean AUC

between each TG and each CG was not significantly different. Total serum amino

acid (TSAA) levels were significantly greater in each TG compared the

corresponding CG. They were also significantly different between each TG but not

between each CG. All individual serum amino acid (ISAA) levels in TG-A2.5 except

glycine, histidine, methionine and serine were significantly higher than in

CG-A2.5 at 4 hr. All ISAA levels in TG-A5 except methionine and serine were

significantly higher than in CG-A5 at 4 hr. The N2 balance was significantly

higher in each TG compared to the corresponding CG, but not significantly

different between each CG and between each TG. Significant differences in CRP

levels are reported between each TG compared to the corresponding CG, but not

significantly different between each TG and between each CG.

Conclusion

A patented blend of digestive proteases (Aminogen®) increased the absorption

rate of processed WPC over controls, as measured by statistically significant

increases in AUC, TSAA levels, ISAA levels and N2 balance. Significant decreases

in CRP levels and fluxes in AA levels are also reported.

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W.G.

Ubermensch Sports Consultancy

San Diego, CA