Whey protein intake may reduce hunger in people with abdominal obesity

Consumption of whey protein (WP) for 12 weeks leads to reductions in subjective ratings of hunger in abdominally obese individuals, a study has shown.

Additionally, neither WP nor dietary fibre from wheat bran has had an impact on insulin sensitivity, 24-h blood pressure (BP), gut hormone responses, body composition, or energy expenditure compared with maltodextrin and low dietary fibre.

This 12-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel intervention study examined the effects of intake of WP and dietary fibre from enzyme-treated wheat bran on metabolic parameters of the metabolic syndrome.

Seventy-three individuals with abdominal obesity were randomly assigned to one of four iso-energetic dietary interventions: 60 g per day of either WP hydrolysate or maltodextrin combined with high-fibre (30 g dietary fibre/day) or low-fibre (10 g dietary fibre/day) cereal products.

The investigators evaluated the changes in insulin sensitivity, gut hormones (GLP-1, GLP-2, GIP, and peptide YY), body composition, 24-h BP, resting energy expenditure and respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and appetite.

Of the 73 participants, 65 completed the trial. Subjective hunger ratings were lower after 12 weeks of WP compared with maltodextrin, independent of fibre content (p=0.02). No effects were found on rating of satiety, fullness, or prospective food consumption for either of the interventions.

Consumption of WP plus low-fibre cereal products increased the postprandial peptide YY response. Neither WP nor fibre had any effect on insulin sensitivity, body composition, energy expenditure, incretins, or 24-h BP.