Whey protein and glycaemia in adults with poor glucose control_V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of whey protein on fasting and postprandial glycaemia in adults with poor glucose control
IRAS ID
239941
Contact name
Julie Lovegrove
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Reading
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
In the UK, more than 700 people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each day, which has significant cost effects for the NHS of approximately £10 billion each year for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. The primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is dietary and lifestyle changes, however there is still considerable uncertainty about the best dietary strategies to reduce blood glucose levels and improve glucose control. The existing scientific evidence suggests an important role of milk and dairy products and especially of whey protein in the control of blood glucose levels.
This study is designed to determine if 50 g of whey protein is consumed every day in the diet, for 8 weeks, will result in a better fasting blood glucose control compared with 50 g of wheat protein and 50 g of wheat protein containing a similar amount of leucine as the whey protein. In this double-blind (both the researcher and the participant will not know the type of protein that has to be consumed during each study arm, controlled cross-over dietary intervention study, 48 people (24 men and 24 women), aged 20-65 years with poor fasting glucose control will receive 3 different protein supplements in random order for 8 weeks, with a 4-week wash-out period between each protein supplement. At the beginning and end of each protein phase, a fasting blood sample will be collected to evaluate the long-term effects of the specific protein on fasting blood glucose control, endothelial function (blood vessel health), markers of insulin sensitivity and other cardio metabolic risk markers.
At the end of each protein intervention phase, a subgroup of participants (28) will also take part in a day-long (postprandial) study visit to assess the effects of the assigned protein powders on short-term changes in blood sugar control.REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0140
Date of REC Opinion
20 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion