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Fight cancer with serum

Studies on whey show that it is an even better protein supplement than previously thought. Although the health benefits of whey protein have only recently become clear, the use of whey protein for medicinal purposes has been prescribed since the time of Hippocrates. In fact, there are two ancient proverbs from the Italian city of Florence that say: “If you want to live a healthy and active life, drink serum” and “If everyone was raised on serum, the doctors would be bankrupt.”

In previous issues, we’ve chronicled the extensive research showing the many potential health benefits of whey protein concentrate. Most of that research was done in the 1980s and early 1990s, and it was extremely persuasive. Scientists have continued their research on whey proteins with even more impressive results. What follows is some of the most current, interesting, and helpful research on whey proteins.

Serum and cancer

Additional animal studies have been done on cancer-causing chemicals to see what effects whey protein concentrate would have on preventing or treating cancer. The scientists fed the rats various proteins and then subjected them to the powerful carcinogen dimethylhydrazine.

As with previous research, rats fed whey protein concentrate showed fewer tumors and a reduced pooled area of ​​tumors (tumor mass index). The researchers found that whey protein offered “considerable host protection” over other proteins, including soy. 1

Even more exciting, in vivo cancer and serum research showed that whey protein concentrate inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells at low concentrations (Baruchel S. and Vaiu G., Anti Cancer Research, 1996) . Finally, and most importantly, a fairly recent clinical study with cancer patients showed a regression in the tumors of some patients when they were given whey protein concentrate at a rate of 30 grams per day. two

Serum and glutathione

This new research using whey protein concentrate led researchers to a surprising discovery about the relationship between cancer cells, glutathione (GSH), and whey protein concentrate. Whey protein concentrate was found to selectively deplete cancer cells of their glutathione, making them more susceptible to cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.

Cancer cells and normal cells have been found to respond differently to nutrients and drugs that affect glutathione status. The most interesting thing to note is the fact that the concentration of glutathione in tumor cells is higher than that of the normal cells that surround it. This difference in glutathione status between normal cells and cancer cells is believed to be an important factor in the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy.

As the researchers put it, “GSH concentration in tumor cells may be among the determinants of cytotoxicity. [poisonous to cells] of many chemotherapeutic and radiation agents, and an increase in GSH concentration appears to be at least one of the mechanisms of acquired drug resistance to chemotherapy. “

Furthermore, they state: “It is well known that rapid GSH synthesis in tumor cells is associated with high rates of cell proliferation. Depletion of tumor GSH in vivo decreases the rate of cell proliferation and inhibits cancer growth.”

The problem is that it is difficult to sufficiently reduce glutathione in tumor cells without putting healthy tissue at risk and putting the cancer patient in a worse condition. What is needed is a compound that can selectively deplete cancer cells of their glutathione, while increasing, or at least maintaining, glutathione levels in healthy cells.

This is exactly what whey protein appears to do. In this new research it was found that cancer cells subjected to whey proteins were depleted of their glutathione and their growth was inhibited, while normal cells had increased GSH and increased cell growth.

These effects were not seen with other proteins. Not surprisingly, the researchers concluded, “selective depletion of tumor GSH may, in fact, make cancer cells more vulnerable to the action of chemotherapy and ultimately protect normal tissue against the deleterious effects of chemotherapy. “. The exact mechanism by which whey protein achieves this is not fully understood, but it appears to interfere with the normal feedback mechanism and regulation of glutathione in cancer cells.

Glutathione production is known to be negatively inhibited by its own synthesis. Since basal glutathione levels in cancer cells are higher than in normal cells, it is probably easier to achieve the level of negative feedback inhibition in cancer cells ‘glutathione levels than in cancer cells’ glutathione levels. normal cells.

Serum and LDL cholesterol

The positive health benefits of whey protein concentrate do not end with its effects on immunity and the prevention and treatment of cancer. Whey protein concentrate was also found to be a potent inhibitor of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Current research suggests that the conversion of LDL to oxidized LDL is the trigger that leads to atherogenesis … plaque formation and lesions associated with atherosclerosis.

Therefore, any substance that prevents LDL oxidation is believed to be antiatherogenic. Although proteins of animal origin have traditionally been implicated as proatherogenic, whey proteins appear to be an exception to the rule. Whey protein is made up of several major and minor fractions, including beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, albumin, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulin. It was found that the minor component responsible for the whey protein concentrate’s ability to prevent LDL oxidation appears to be the lactoferrin fraction of the protein. 3

Serum lactoferrin

When lactoferrin was removed from the protein, the ability of whey protein concentrate to prevent LDL oxidation was greatly reduced, leading the researchers to speculate: “Our results suggest that LF (lactoferrin) is the main factor responsible for the inhibitory effect of whey protein (in LDL) and can work synergistically together with other factors in whey protein, eg alpha-lactalbumin. “

Another study in rats examined the effects of whey protein concentrate and casein on cholesterol and risk factors for heart disease. Although casein (another milk-based protein commonly used in research) is known to increase cholesterol in humans and animals, whey protein has the opposite effect, leading researchers to note: ” high level of protein in the diet [300 gram per kilogram of feed] , whey protein significantly reduced plasma and liver cholesterol and also plasma triacylglycerols “4.

The cholesterol-lowering effects of whey protein concentrate in this study were also associated with a reduction in LDL cholesterol. Most interesting was the fact that this effect on cholesterol was not observed when animals were fed amino acid mixtures that simulated whey protein, so it is clear that there are properties within whey that have these effects beyond its amino acid profile.

Serum and bone growth

Finally, whey protein appears to play a direct role in bone growth. The researchers found that rats fed whey protein concentrate showed increased bone strength and bone proteins such as collagen. This discovery led to research testing whether or not whey protein directly stimulated the growth of osteoblasts (bone cells) in vitro.

Whey protein was found to stimulate, based on dose, total protein synthesis, DNA content, and increased hydroxyproline content of bone cells. 5

It should be noted that not all whey protein concentrates are the same. The processing of whey protein to remove lactose and fat without losing its biological activity takes special care on the part of the manufacturer. The protein must be processed at low temperature and under low acid conditions so as not to “denature” the protein. Maintaining the natural state of the protein is essential for its biological activity.

These research findings, combined with the previous decade of studies on whey protein, should convince anyone that whey protein concentrate is truly the protein that prolongs life.

Higher glutathione and serum levels

A decade and a half of findings on the benefits of whey protein are far reaching.

Previous studies include the following:

* Whey protein concentrate dramatically increases glutathione levels. Glutathione is an essential water-soluble antioxidant in the body that protects cells and serves as a primary detoxifier from harmful compounds such as peroxides, heavy metals, carcinogens, and other toxins.

* Glutathione is also closely linked to immunity, and lowered glutathione levels have been associated with diseases such as AIDS, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, to name just a few. In fact, glutathione levels appear to be a way to modulate immunity. 6

* Whey Protein Concentrate was found to consistently increase this extremely important immune-boosting antioxidant beyond any protein studied (including soy) to higher than normal levels in multiple animal studies. 7

A small pilot study of HIV-positive men who were fed whey protein concentrate found dramatic increases in glutathione levels for all study participants, with two out of three men reaching their ideal body weight. 8

In fact, several US and international patents have been issued for treating AIDS and enhancing immunity with whey protein concentrates.

* Whey protein improves immune function and fights infection. Animals fed whey protein concentrate consistently showed dramatic enhancement of humoral and cellular immune responses to a variety of immune challenges, including salmonella, strep 9 pneumonia, and extreme cancer-causing chemicals. This effect on immunity was not observed with other proteins.

* Whey protein concentrate fights cancer. Whey protein fed animals.

References

1. (McIntosh GH ,. Et al., Journal of Nutrition, 1995)

2. (Kennedy RS, Konok GP, Bounous G., Baruchel S., Lee TD, Anti Cancer Research, 1995)

3. (M. Kajikawa et al. Biochemica and Biophysica Acta, 1994)

4. (Zhang X. and Beynen AC Brit. J. de Nutri., 1993)

5. (Takada Y., Aoe S., Kumegawa M., Biochemical Research Communications, 1996)

6. (Rosanne K., Fidelus and Min Fu Tsan. Cellular Immunology, 1986)

7. (Bounous G. and Gold P., Clin. Invest. Med. 1991)

8. (Bounous G., Baruchel S., Faiutz J., Gold P., Clin. Invest. Med. 1992)

9. (Bounous G., Konshavn P., Gold P., Clin. Invest. Med. 1988)

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