A systematic review of whey protein supplementation effects on human glycemic control: A mechanistic insight

• Published in: Diabetes & metabolic syndrome clinical research & reviews Vol. 16; no. 7; p. 102540
• Main Authors: Nouri, Maryam, Pourghassem Gargari, Bahram, Tajfar, Pedram, Tarighat-Esfanjani, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2022
• Subjects: Blood Glucose - metabolism; Diabetes mellitus; Dietary Supplements; Glucose; Humans; Incretins; Insulin; Whey - metabolism; Whey protein; Whey Proteins; Glucose; Whey protein; Insulin; Humans; Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 1871-4021; 1878-0334; 1878-0334
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2022.102540

Some studies showed that dietary factors such as whey protein (WP) are effective on glycemic regulation. Due to the current controversy about WP effects and mechanisms of its action on glycemic control, we conducted this systematic review to shed light on the subject. Web of Science, Medline (Pubmed), and Scopus online databases were searched from 2012 up to February 2022 using the following keywords: “whey protein” and “glycemic control”/“glycemia”/“glucose”/“insulin”. The search included original English articles, human clinical trials with WP supplementation and measurement of glucose or insulin as an outcome, studies on healthy individuals/patients with diabetes mellitus (DM)/impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Title/abstract of 1991 studies were reviewed. After excluding studies due to inappropriate full title and duplication, and exercising inclusion criteria, 58 studies were reviewed in detail. Ample evidence showed that WP decreased postprandial glucose incremental area under the curve (iAUC) and increased iAUCs of insulin and incretin hormones. WP affects glycemic control mainly through stimulating insulin and incretins secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and appetite suppression. Although most of the recent evidence showed beneficial effects of WP supplementation on glycemic response, further long-term clinical trials are required which assess the long-term impact of WP supplementation and its exact mechanisms. •Whey protein (WP) supplementation improves glycemic control.•The mechanisms of glucose lowering effect of WP in healthy subjects and patients are identical.•WP can suppress appetite and slow gastric emptying as well, which leads to glycaemia control.•Future studies with longer intervention periods are required for investigating the long-term impact of WP supplementation.