10/23/06 Whey protein research

There's a lot of research these days on whey protein, a by-product of cheese-making. It turns out that whey protein may help lower the blood pressure for those with hypertension. Bob Hoff has the details from our Washington State bureau in Spokane. HOFF - "Evidence already exists that links consumption of the bioactive peptides in whey protein with lower blood pressure in lab animals. Now working with a grant from the Washington Dairy Products Commission, a team of Washington State University scientists is ready to begin human trials of a whey protein-based beverage that has the potential for lowering blood pressure. Whey protein concentrate is treated with an enzyme to break the proteins into smaller units called bioactive peptides. The beverage will contain higher levels of those peptides than regular milk. In the U.S. alone, drugs to fight high blood pressure cost about 15-billion dollars a year. The U.S. dairy industry only uses about 70 percent of the whey that is produced in cheese making and dairy processing. That leaves a problem; how to dispose of the other 30 percent, which amounts to 360 million pounds of whey protein. The WSU study hopes to address both issues. That bioactive peptide beverage will come in a variety of flavors and during the study period it will be produced at the WSU Creamery on the Pullman campus. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott