Written by Tatjana Djakovic, Staff Writer. Cystic fibrosis patients taking whey protein at 10 grams per day had 46.6% higher levels of glutathione – a major defense against lung infections.
Chronic lung infections form a major threat to the prognosis of cystic fibrosis patients (CF) (1). The body’s inflammatory response results in an increase of white blood cells which release chemical messengers called cytokines. As a result of this process there is an overabundance of oxidants compared to anti-oxidants. The body’s natural defense system against the damaging oxidants includes a protein called glutathione (GSH) (2). This protein is highly important to CF patients, because their nutritional status is compromised due to ineffective pancreatic enzymes needed to absorb nutrients from the consumed food (3).
In this study, researchers aimed to increase the levels of this important anti-oxidant (GSH) by supplementation with whey-based protein in 24 CF patients for a period of 3 months. One-half of the patients were randomized to take 10 grams of whey protein isolate twice daily, while the other half took casein protein which served as a control. The patients had mild to moderate lung disease as indicated by having 40% of predicted FEV1 (forced expiratory volume)-which is the amount of air that a person can forcefully exhale in one second. It is converted to percent of predicted amount based on height, weight, and race (4). The researchers postulated that the whey-based supplement would increase glutathione levels, because it is rich in cysteine which is an important precursor of glutathione.
At baseline there were no significant differences in age, height, or weight, and the level of glutathione (GSH) was similar in the two groups. After 3 months, the researchers observed a significant 46.6 % increase from baseline (P<0.05) in the glutathione levels of white blood cells in the group that took whey protein (5).
The significant increase in this important anti-oxidant is highly significant, because it is a major defense-line against oxidative damage which is common during lung infections. Maintaining optimal levels of glutathione by supplementing the diet with whey protein is a useful nutritional approach to improving the outlook of CF patients.
Source: Grey, Vijaylaxmi, Shawn R. Mohammed, Argyrios A. Smountas, Rasha Bahlool, and Larry C. Lands. “Improved glutathione status in young adult patients with cystic fibrosis supplemented with whey protein.” Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 2, no. 4 (2003): 195-198.
© 2003 European Cystic Fibrosis Society
Posted March 3, 2014.
References:
- Lyczak, J. B., Cannon, C. L., & Pier, G. B. (2002). Lung infections associated with cystic fibrosis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 15(2), 194-222.
- Velsor, Leonard W., Anna van Heeckeren, and Brian J. Day. “Antioxidant imbalance in the lungs of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein mutant mice.” American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 281.1 (2001): L31-L38.
- Hill, C. M., et al. “Pancreatic enzyme supplementation in cystic fibrosis.” Archives of Disease in Childhood 68.1 (1993): 150.
- Kelly, C. A., and G. J. Gibson. “Relation between FEV1 and peak expiratory flow in patients with chronic airflow obstruction.” Thorax 43.4 (1988): 335-336.
- Grey, Vijaylaxmi, et al. “Improved glutathione status in young adult patients with cystic fibrosis supplemented with whey protein.” Journal of Cystic Fibrosis 2.4 (2003): 195-198.
