Cancer & Whey

In recent laboratory studies, researchers compared the protective effects of whey protein against chemically induced tumors in the milk-producing glands of rats. They found that approximately 50 percent fewer rats had mammary tumors when fed a diet containing whey protein concentrate, as compared with rats eating a standard diet. Whey protein offered considerable protection to the host over that of other proteins, including soy.

Clinical studies with cancer patients have shown regression in tumors, when fed whey protein concentrate at 30 grams per day. A research study presented at the 1997 International Whey Protein Conference demonstrated that patients with breast cancer were able to withstand a more concentrated schedule of chemotherapy treatments because ingesting whey proteins enhanced their immune systems. This new information led researchers to a spectacular discovery regarding the relationship between cancerous cells, glutathione (GSH) and whey protein concentrate. The discovery showed that whey protein concentrate selectively depletes cancer cells of their glutathione, thus making them more susceptible to cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.

Potential Anti-Cancer Activity of Milk & Milk Components - Ohio State

J Nutr. 2001 Dec;131(12):3281-7.
Soy and whey proteins downregulate DMBA-induced liver and mammary gland CYP1 expression in female rats.
Rowlands JC, He L, Hakkak R, Ronis MJ, Badger TM.
Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.

Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Vol. 10, 555-558, May 2001
Dietary Whey Protein Protects against Azoxymethane-induced Colon Tumors in Male Rats1
Reza Hakkak2, Soheila Korourian, Martin J. J. Ronis, Jeffery M. Johnston and Thomas M. Badger
Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and Departments of Pediatrics [R. H., M. J. J. R., J. M. J., T. M. B.] and Pathology [S. K.], University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202

Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention Vol. 9, 113-117, January 2000
Diets Containing Whey Proteins or Soy Protein Isolate Protect against 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced Mammary Tumors in Female Rats1
Reza Hakkak, Soheila Korourian, Susan R. Shelnutt, Shelly Lensing, Martin J. J. Ronis and Thomas M. Badger
Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center and Departments of Pediatrics [R. H., S. R. S., S. L., M. J. J. R., T. M. B.] and Pathology [S. K.], University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2000;1(4):277-282.
Milk Components as Cancer Chemopreventive Agents.
Tsuda H, Sekine K.
Experimental Pathology and Chemotherapy Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute,Tokyo 104-0045, Japan

Cancer Lett. 1991 May 1;57(2):91-4.
Whey proteins in cancer prevention.
Bounous G, Batist G, Gold P.
Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.

Anticancer Res. 2000 Nov-Dec;20(6C):4785-92.
Whey protein concentrate (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment.
Bounous G.
Research & Development Department, Immunotec Research Ltd., 292 Adrien-Patenaude, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, Canada, J7V 5V5.

Anticancer Res. 1995 Nov-Dec;15(6B):2643-9.
The use of a whey protein concentrate in the treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma: a phase I-II clinical study.
Kennedy RS, Konok GP, Bounous G, Baruchel S, Lee TD.
Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Clin Invest Med. 1988 Jun;11(3):213-7.
Dietary whey protein inhibits the development of dimethylhydrazine induced malignancy.
Bounous G, Papenburg R, Kongshavn PA, Gold P, Fleiszer D.
Department of Surgery, Montreal General Hospital, Quebec, Canada.

Children & Whey

Unique whey proteins have been found to be significantly useful for infants suffering from ailments like chronic diarrhea, allergies or colic. Pediatricians are prescribing whey protein hydrolysate-based milk formulas because of its ability to aid digestion and absorption of infants, less than six months of age, with gastrointestinal symptoms of cow milk and/or soy protein-based infant formula intolerance. Although using whey as an ingredient in infant formulas is not revolutionary, new research has uncovered techniques that can help manufacturers make infant formula more like human breast milk.

Simulating mother’s milk is an important consumer issue and the industry is responding to it. Certain proteins in cow’s milk are very much the same as in mother’s milk, but in different concentrations. Cow’s milk contains beta-lactoglobulin. Human breast milk contains only negligible traces of it but contains higher concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin, and lactoferrin – proteins that play a role in infant nutrition. Researchers have discovered that eliminating beta-lactoglobulin and retaining or adding alpha-latalbumin, infant formula is closer to human milk. Under the process known as fractionation, whey proteins are separated from each other and transformed into usable, isolated ingredients, such as alpha-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and other concentrated proteins. By pulling out the fractions, manufacturers can blend them together to form a more appropriate composition.

Comparison of an elemental with a hydrolysed whey formula in intolerance to cows' milk
CM McLeish, A MacDonald and IW Booth
Children's Hospital, Birmingham.

Diet and faecal flora in the newborn: casein and whey proteins
SE Balmer, PH Scott and BA Wharton
Sorrento Maternity Hospital, Birmingham.

PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 6 December 2000, pp. 1349-1354
Infantile Colic: Crying Time Reduction With a Whey Hydrolysate: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Received Jun 1 1999; accepted Mar 21 2000.
Peter L. B. J. Lucassen, Willem J. J. Assendelft, Jan W. Gubbels, Jacques ThM. van Eijk, and Adriaan C. Douwes

Ann Allergy. 1989 Aug;63(2):102-6.
Effect of feeding whey hydrolysate, soy and conventional cow milk formulas on incidence of atopic disease in high risk infants.
Chandra RK, Singh G, Shridhara B.
Department of Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.

Additional Benefits

Bioactives Components of Whey and Cardiovascular Health – U.S. Dairy Export Council

Emerging Health Benefits of Whey – Dairy Council Digest, Nov/Dec 2003

U.S. Whey Proteins & HIV/AIDS – U.S. Dairy Export Council

Whey Proteins & Body Composition – U.S. Dairy Export Council

Whey Proteins & Immunity - U.S. Dairy Export Council

Whey Proteins & Seniors Nutrition – Dairy Management, Inc.

U.S. Whey Ingredients & Weight Management – U.S. Dairy Export Council

J. Nutr. 135: 1164-1170, 2005.
Bovine Glycomacropeptide Is Anti-Inflammatory in Rats With Hapten-Induced Colitis1

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy 2002, Vol. 16 (Supplement 1): 68.
Whey Protein Isolate Reduces Hypertension
Davisco Foods International, Polly Olson, 952-914-0400, polly.olson@daviscofoods.com

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002 Jul;42(4):353-75.
Whey components: millennia of evolution create functionalities for mammalian nutrition: what we know and what we may be overlooking.
Walzem RL, Dillard CJ, German JB.
Faculty of Nutrition, Texas A & M University, College Station 77843, USA.

Whey Ingredients & Weight Management - U.S. DEC (pdf)

J Nutr Biochem. 2003 May;14(5):251-8.
Functional properties of whey, whey components, and essential amino acids: mechanisms underlying health benefits for active people (review).
Ha E, Zemel MB.

Curr Pharm Des. 2003;9(16):1257-75.
Antibacterial and antiviral effects of milk proteins and derivatives thereof.
Florisa R, Recio I, Berkhout B, Visser S.
Department of Product Technology, NIZO food research, P.O. Box 20, 6710 BA Ede, The Netherlands.

Visit the Whey Protein Institute for more information or abstracts about the beneficial role of whey in health, including:
–  Physical performance
–  Digestion
–  Cardiovascular health
–  Cancer
–  Immune Defense
–  HIV
–  Bone health
–  Infant nutrition
–  Weight management
–  And more!