Whey protein drinks could shortly be making a center stage entrance following brand new research carried out by Washington State University and published in the International Dairy Journal this November. Research has shown this drink can lower blood pressure and helped blood flow, along with providing immune system and antioxidant benefits.

Protein Drink

The manifold health benefits of whey proteins have been known for a long time but now a new study suggests that beverages formulated with whey proteins may provide a dietary approach to lowering blood pressure in people susceptible to hypertension.

Protein Drink

Young adults in the early stages of developing hypertension experienced significant lowering in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures following six weeks of consuming a daily beverage rich in whey proteins, according to a report published in the International Dairy Journal.

"Researchers from Washington Sate University (WSU) have stated that the majority of the subjects enjoyed the taste and convenience of the functional whey protein beverages. Taste and convenience are both important to ensure compliance during a dietary intervention. They also reported that whey protein beverages may be a valuable dietary intervention in the treatment of hypertension.

High blood pressure, regarded as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in the USA and Europe.

Research facts

Under the auspices of Susan Fluegel, the WSU researchers recruited 71 young men and women with an average age of 20 and an average body mass index of 24.6 kg/m2 and assigned them at random to be given either a beverage containing 28 grams of whey protein concentrate 80 (WPC80) or a beverage containing 28 grams of hydrolyzed WPC80.

After 6 weeks, the researchers found no overall differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), or mean arterial pressure (MAP) between the groups. However, when Fluegel and her co-researchers examined sub-groups, they noted significant reductions of 8.0, 8.6, and 6.4 mm Hg for SBP, DBP, and MAP, respectively, in young adults with elevated DBP and SBP. The evident improvement was seen after consumption of either beverage. On the other hand, individuals with normal blood pressure levels at the start of the study exhibited no changes in their blood pressure measurements.

The researchers found that whey protein beverages lowered BP only in individuals with previously high BP but not in those with normal blood pressure. The findings suggest that the whey protein beverages had a normalizing effect on elevated BP and did not cause hypotension. This is important since hypotension can be a health concern in certain population groups, such as young women and the elderly."

Excessive pressure on artery walls caused by hypertension can be harmful to blood vessels, in addition to organs in the body. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in heart attack or stroke, in addition to other conditions. The researchers determined that whey protein drinks might be useful for the dietary treatment of prehypertension and/or stage 1 hypertension and, therefore, potentially invaluable in dealing with these conditions..

Remarking on the possible way in which whey proteins affect blood pressure, the WSU researchers found that the effects may be related to whey's influence on production of nitric oxide; a chemical genus known to play a role in blood pressure regulation. This suggestion is backed by a randomized, double-blind study which showed that the proprietary peptide NOP-47, improved blood vessel function in healthy individuals with the effects occurring by means of nitric oxide dependent and independent mechanisms. NOP-47 was discovered by a proprietary organization based in Ireland, Europe, as part of its search for naturally derived whey peptide fragments that promote health and sports performance.

There are millions of people worldwide who suffer from high blood pressure and the blood pressure sector of the massive international drugs industry is one of the largest of all. How wonderful it would be if we can help deal with our blood pressure issues by something as simple as a regular whey protein drink. ACE-inhibiting peptides obtained from food sources are thought to be safer and to have fewer side effects than drugs currently prescribed for hypertension treatment, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Fortunately for us all, these beverages are already available and have been applauded for years as being good for boosting one's immune system, assisting one's blood flow and providing valuable antioxidants. No doubt research will be ongoing but there is much cause for optimism and that the onset of hypertension, especially in young adults, could well be more pleasant to control than one could ever have hoped.