WHEY PRODUCTS AS FUNCTIONAL FOODS

1
WHEY PRODUCTS AS FUNCTIONAL FOODS

• W. James Harper
• Department of Food Science Technology
• The Ohio State University

2
Functional Foods

• Functional foods have been defined as any food
  or food ingredient that may provide a health
  benefit beyond the traditional nutrients that it
  contains.

3
Functional Dairy Foods

• In the early 1980s, the Japanese were the first
  to recognize dairy components as having
  significant contributions to physiologically
  functional foods. Since then there has been an
  increasing number of investigations that have
  supported this view.

4
Functional Dairy Foods

• Current evidence for the health benefits of most
  dairy foods and dairy components is based
  primarily on in vitro and in vivo animal studies
• Human clinical studies are still needed in many
  areas

5
Significant Functions

• Anti-microbial including control of gut
  microflora
• Anti-viral
• Binding of E coli and cholera enterotoxins
• Anti-cancer
• Immunomodulation
• Anti-oxidative
• Opioid effects
• Retard osteoporosis

6
Cardiovascular Functions

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-hypertensive
• Anti-thrombic
• Cholesterol reduction

7
Whey Products and Whey Components with Bioactive
Functions
8
WHEY PRODUCTS WITH POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS

• Whey Protein Concentrates
• 34 to 85 protein
• Whey Protein Isolates
• Ion exchange and membrane processed
• Whey Protein Fractions
• Lactoferrin, Lactoperoxidase
• Whey Protein Hydrolysates
• Bioactive peptide concentrates
• Whey Salts From Permeate
• Enriched in calcium salts

9
Almost All Milk Components May Contribute
Potential Health Benefits - Including

• Proteins
• Peptides
• Lipids
• Minor Carbohydrates
• Minerals
• Vitamins

10
ANDAlmost all bioactive milk components are
found in whey
11
Whey Composition
12
Sweet Whey Proteins
13
Whey Lipids

• About 50 of whey lipids are phospholipids
  derived from small fat globules and fat globule
  membrane
• Bioactive lipids in whey include
• Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
• Sphingolipids
• Ether lipids
• Butyric acid

14
Relationship between Bioactive Function and Whey
Components
15
ANTI-CANCER POTENTIAL
16
Anti-cancer activity reported for the following
cancers

• Colon (c)
• Prostate (p)
• Gastric/stomach (g)
• Breast (b)
• Skin (s)
• based on cellular and animal models

17
Protection from Some Cancers
18
Other possible protectants include

• Colon Cancer
• Sphingolipids
• Butyric acid
• Calcium
• GMP
• Breast Cancer
• Alpha-lactalbumin
• MFGM protein

19
CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS
20
Components with Cardiovascular Effect
21
IMMUNOMODULATION
22
Immunomodulation

• Modified whey protein concentrate
• Immunoglobulins
• Lactoferrin
• Lactoperoxidase
• Kappa casein glycomacropeptide
• (CLA)

23
MICROBIAL/VIRAL RELATIONSHIPS
24
Microbial/Viral Effects
25
Antioxidative Effects

• Whey Protein Concentrates/Isolates
• Lactoferrin
• Vitamin C
• Peptides

26
WPC Digests

• Enhance cellular glutathione levels in normal
  prostate cells
• Do not alter glutathione levels in cancer
  prostate cells
• Provide some protection against hydrogen peroxide
  in normal prostate cells

27
Peptides

• Peptides from both caseins and whey proteins are
  bioactive
• End product of digestion of proteins
• Growing recognition that in vitro and in vivo
  results do not always give the same effects
• Multiple functionality

28
Peptide Functions Include

• Anti-microbial/Anti-viral/ Toxin binding
• Anti-hypertension
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-thrombic activity
• Immunomodulation
• Anti-cancer
• Appetite Control
• Opioid Effects

29
Opioid Like Effect

• Peptides
• Derived from alpha-lactalbumin
• Derived from beta-lactoglobulin
• Derived from caseins

30
Whey Peptides
31
Casein Glycomacropeptide

• Cancer Prevention
• Immunomodulation
• Diet Suppression
• Cardiovascular Effects

32
Lactoferrin

• Natural SECRETION of milk, tears and bile
• Elevated by inflammation and in some cancers
• Animal studies have shown addition of lactoferrin
  provides some protection against some cancers

33
Lactoferrin (continued)

• Anti-cancer
• Anti-bacterial
• Anti- viral
• Anti-thrombic
• Iron transport
• Immunomodulation
• Toxin binding properties

34
In Conclusion

• Almost all components of milk have a
  physiological function beyond nutrition
• The majority of bioactive components of milk are
  found in whey
• Milk and whey components are multifunctional
• Dairy foods, especially whey, possess a natural
  cluster of nutrients that protect health and
  enhance the immune system.
• More human clinical studies are needed to prove
  efficacy in most cases
•