[Role of whey protein and whey components in weight management and energy metabolism]

Abstract

An anti-obesity effect of dietary calcium and dairy foods is evident from animal studies, observational and population studies, and randomized clinical trials. Dietary calcium appears to be responsible for 50% of the anti-obesity bioactivity of dairy. The additional dairy bioactivity has not been fully identified, but is localized primarily in whey, the anti-obesity effect appears to result from calcium, high proportion of branched chain amino acids, and specific bioactive whey-derived peptides. This article presents recent research progress on the role of whey protein and whey components in weight management and energy metabolism.