It has been reported that whey proteins when used as supplements to normal diet can aid in good health for the young as well as the elder people alike. Whey is the most common used protein supplement that fulfills daily protein requirement. One of the reasons of its being common is its faster rate of absorption than most other forms of proteins, aiding in increasing muscle protein synthesis which is used to break a fasting state in the body.

Whey is one of the proteins found in milk, the other being Casein. It s made when milk is coagulated or curdled using rennin enzyme and it separates into whey which is the water soluble part and the casein which is the curd part of the resultant mixture.

Whey protein is non stimulatory but it provides energy to the body via means of insulin spike from the amino acids as well as caloric consumption. There is lowering of triglycerides and improvement of overall health. If exercise is combined with proper whey input, there is an overall positive balance of almost all aspects of good health viz. blood pressure, insulin levels, glucose levels, LDL levels, etc. even bone mineral density is protected by whey.

Whey protein can help in alleviating deficiencies due to aging as well as due to diabetes due to its ability to deliver a large amount of L-cysteine. As a function of protein itself, whey aids in fat loss making more fat burn while it is in the system, in a bid to balance lipids in the body.

An adequate protein diet aids in positive nitrogen balance in the body which is essential for muscle repair and muscle development. Even a slight negative in this nitrogen balance shifts the scales down to muscle loss. To provide a correct balance of nitrogen in the body, one needs at least one gram protein per kilogram of body weight daily. To compensate in the daily deficiency of protein, whey supplements aid in faster muscle building and hampering the creation of other deficiencies in the elderly.

Whey may balance stress too. It hinders the production of Cortisol, a hormone which is released during stress and which causes fat deposition around the midsection of the body. It has been reported that whey protein does not damage liver or kidneys but it can lead to exacerbation of pre existing harm. People with liver or kidney problems should use Whey protein with caution while increasing protein intake and should first consult and follow a doctor.

References:

Lemon, P. do athletes need more dietary protein and amino acids. International Journal of sports Nutrition, S39-61, 1995.

Ritz, B. (1991). Balance: What Growth is About. Muscle & Fitness. December, 1991.

Bortolotti M, et al Effects of a whey protein supplementation on intrahepatocellular lipids in obese female patients . Clin Nutr. (2011)