Snacking towards healthy weight loss Clinical studies prove the efficacy of a whey-based weight management solution

TWO recent clinical studies have found that a specialty whey protein ingredient promotes fat loss and lowers glycemic index. Human subjects in the body composition trial lost 80% more fat than the control group and retained two times as much lean muscle. Those in the glycemic index trial saw a 38% reduction in glycemic response versus the control. The ingredient tested, Prolibra, is a partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate developed by Glanbia Nutritionals. High in protein and low in fat, the all-natural, the patent-pending ingredient is an excellent addition to bars formulated for healthy weight loss. The market for weight loss and weight management products, a fast-growing niche in the health foods segment, is valued at over $6 million globally. Obese subjects benefit Prolibra improved body composition by significantly reducing body fat while retaining lean muscle mass, according to the results of a human clinical study recently published in the open access journal

Nutrition & Metabolism.

Researchers, led by Loren Ward from Glanbia Research and Development Center, focused on obese subjects with body mass index of 30-42 kg/m2. The study was conducted at the Minnesota Applied Research Center in Edina Minnesota and the data was analyzed at the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center of the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Minneapolis. Over a 12-week period, 106 subjects were asked to reduce their caloric intake by 500 calories per day using a diet plan with a certain number of servings for various food groups similar to the standard set by the American Heart Association. The composition of the planned diet was approximately 55% of calories as carbohydrate, 15% as protein, and 30% as fat. These percentages were distributed into 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. In addition, study participants were then randomly divided into two groups and given supplements of either a Prolibra or isocaloric ready-to-mix beverage to be taken 20 minutes before breakfast and dinner. While both groups in the diet study lost weight, subjects supplementing their diet with Prolibra lost an average 6.1% of their body fat mass versus an average 3.5% for the control. Those in the Prolibra group lost 2.81 kg after 12 weeks compared to 1.62 kg for people in the control group. A reduction of 5% of body fat mass has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity-related disease, so the results have practical significance, the researchers said. Subjects receiving the whey protein ingredient also lost less lean body mass compared to control (1.07 vs. 2.41 kg). Retaining lean muscle translates into increased body strength, basal metabolic rate and bone, the researchers said, citing several other studies. In addition, study administrators observed fat-directed weight loss of 79% (fat loss/(lean loss + fat loss) versus 51% for the control. "Supplementation with Prolibra during dieting increased the loss of body fat and the retention of lean muscle mass compared to supplementation with an isocaloric control that had a lower calcium and lower protein content. Prolibra appears to preserve lean muscle and may partition the weight loss predominantly towards fat at a lower protein dose, 20 grams per day. Being able to target body fat while retaining lean muscle provides a healthy scenario or weight loss and the potential to decrease body fat," the researchers said. Lowering GI Consuming foods with a low glycemic index (GI) is one dietary approach for achieving healthy weight loss and may aid weight loss through the control of appetite, the delay of hunger, and the reduction of insulin levels and insulin resistance. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. A low GI food decreases postprandial glycemia and may have proven benefits for health, including reduciAdidas Yeezy