Whey protein supplement effective for weight loss

Life Extension, August, 2008 by Laura J. Ninger

A purified whey protein supplement achieves substantial weight loss while sparing lean muscle, a recent study reports. * The supplement contains high levels of leucine from whey protein, bioactive peptides, and calcium.

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More than 100 overweight adults (body mass index of 30-42 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to a low-calorie diet plus the whey supplement twice daily before meals or the same diet plus a control beverage of equal calories. After 12 weeks, the supplement group lost more weight than controls, and significantly more of the loss was in body fat (6.2 lb versus 3.6 lb). Supplement users were also less likely to lose lean muscle.

Total body fat loss in the supplement group was 6%, leading the authors to conclude that "because a 5% reduction of body fat mass has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity-related disease, the results have practical significance."

Reference

* Frestedt JL, Zenk JL, Kuskowski MA, Ward LS, Bastian ED. A whey-protein supplement increases fat loss and spares lean muscle in obese subjects: a randomized human clinical study. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2008 Mar 27;5:8.

--Laura J. Ninger, ELS