Research over the last several years shows that dairy products can contribute to weight loss, and now another study adds evidence to the theory. A clinical trial abstract, presented at the 2006 Experimental Biology meeting in San Francisco by USDA researchers, found that those consuming supplemental whey protein weighed less and put on less body fat compared to individuals who consumed a calorie-equivalent carbohydrate supplement. The whey-protein group also ended up with a smaller waist circumference than both the soy and carbohydrate supplemented groups.
“While research is still emerging on this topic, the results of this study support existing research suggesting that whey protein may improve body composition by preserving lean body mass and promoting fat loss,” says Joseph O’Donnell, Ph.D., executive director of the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF), Davis, CA, and chairman of the U.S. Whey Protein Research Consortium. The consortium provided funding for the study.
In the six-month double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 90 healthy, but overweight and obese (BMI greater than 28 and greater than 38, respectively), participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: those consuming 60 grams per day of whey protein, those consuming 60 grams per day of soy protein or a control group receiving 60 grams per day of carbohydrate. The supplement was taken as part of their normal diet. After six months, the researchers found that the whey-protein supplemented group weighed 2% less, had less body fat and lost more inches around the waist compared to the carbohydrate group. Those who lost body weight also experienced a decrease in body fat without a significant loss in lean body mass.
“The findings of this study add to our knowledge about the health benefits of whey protein,” comments USDA’s David J. Baer, Diet and Human Performance Research Physiologist, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD, and researcher for the study. “It’s noteworthy that people who consumed whey protein daily, without any additional exercise or caloric restriction, still had a smaller waist circumference at the end of the study compared to the other groups.”