Lee Swanson Research Update

Whey Protein Appears to Help Lower Blood Pressure

February 2011

Whey protein beverages reduced blood pressure in young men and women in a six-week controlled intervention. A study out of Washington State University found that daily consumption of whey protein resulted in at least a six-point reduction in average blood pressure of women and men who had pre-existing high blood pressure.

Though the 71 study participants were between 18 and 26 years old, the study’s leader, Susan Fluegal, says that older people with high blood pressure would probably get similar benefits from the whey protein. The study is published in the International Dairy Journal. Whey protein is low-cost and has not been linked to any adverse effects, says Fluegal, a nutritional biochemistry instructor.

Results showed up in the first week of the study and lasted for the study’s six-week duration. However, there were no results for study participants who had pre-existing normal blood pressure.

High blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer” as it typically does not present with any symptoms. However, high blood pressure is strongly correlated with stroke risk, as well as risk of heart disease, the nation’s number-one killer. Nearly 800,000 Americans suffer from a stroke every year, the leading cause of adult disability.

Risk factors for high blood pressure include: age, black race, family history, obesity or overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, a high sodium diet, inadequate potassium and vitamin D, heavy drinking and emotional stress. High blood pressure can also lead to an aneurysm, heart failure, kidney problems, vision loss, metabolic syndrome (which can lead to type 2 diabetes) and memory problems.

International Dairy Journal 20(11):753-760, 2010

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