Whole blood and mononuclear cell glutathione response to dietary whey protein supplementation in sedentary and trained male human subjects

• Published in: International journal of food sciences and nutrition Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 131 - 141
• Main Authors: Middleton, N., Jelen, P., Bell, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 01.03.2004; Taylor & Francis; Nature Publishing; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Amino Acids - analysis; Bicycling - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; body weight; Dietary Proteins - pharmacology; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food science; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione; Glutathione - blood; Humans; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Male; males; Milk Proteins - pharmacology; Peptides; placebos; protein supplements; Proteins; Training; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; whey protein isolate; Whey Proteins; Human; Blood cell; Mononuclear cell; Supplemented diet; Supplementation; Whey protein; Athlete; Sedentary; Comparative study; Feeding; Glutathione
• ISSN: 0963-7486; 1465-3478; 1465-3478
• DOI: 10.1080/096374080410001666504

Sedentary male subjects (n=9) on a controlled diet were fed two doses (0.8 or 1.6 g/kg body mass) of a whey protein isolate (WPI), in addition to an isocaloric placebo; blood samples were drawn over a 4-h period and glutathione concentration determined. There was no effect of the supplementation at either level over the 4-h sampling period. The effects of a WPI supplemented diet on glutathione concentrations in whole blood as well as peripheral mononuclear cell populations were also investigated over a 6-week period in male subjects (n=18) involved in arduous aerobic training; blood was collected prior to and following a 40 km simulated cycling trial. The aerobic training period resulted in significantly lower glutathione concentrations in whole blood, an effect that was mitigated by WPI supplementation. A significant increase in mononuclear cell glutathione was also observed in subjects receiving the WPI supplement following the 40 km simulated cycling trial.