whey protein

Whey protein is a mixture of proteins isolated from whey, the liquid part of milk that separates during cheese production. It is a high-quality, complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids, and is particularly rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) like leucine. [4, 21, 23] It is commonly sold as a dietary supplement in several forms, including concentrate (WPC), isolate (WPI), and hydrolysate (WPH), which differ in protein content, processing level, and speed of absorption. [4, 12, 17, 21] Whey protein is studied for its role in muscle building, weight management, and metabolic health. Its mechanisms of action include stimulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS) via the mTOR pathway, which is strongly activated by leucine. [15, 16, 19, 25] It also aids in glycemic control by stimulating the secretion of insulin and incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and by slowing gastric emptying. [1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 28, 29, 30] Additionally, it has been shown to promote satiety, which can help reduce overall calorie intake and support weight loss while preserving lean muscle mass. [1, 7, 14]

Brand names

Lacprodan DI-9224Lacprodan SP-9225 InstantMiprodan 30Miprodan30Miprodan-30Prolibra

Other names

whey proteinswheywhey protein complexwhey protein concentrateWPCwhey protein isolateWPIwhey protein hydrolysateWPH