(P04-012-25) Chronic Effects of Whey Protein vs Carbohydrate Supplementation With or Without Exercise on Type 2 Diabetes Risk Factors: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objectives: Emerging research suggests whey protein (WP) supplementation may have positive effects on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) risk factors. This research assessed the chronic effects of WP vs carbohydrate (CHO) supplementation, with or without exercise (EX), on T2DM risk factors based on randomized controlled trials in adults who classify as healthy, at risk for, or living with chronic disease.

Methods: Researchers independently screened 6,624 articles from 5 health research databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov) published through September 2024. Eligible articles reported on at least one outcome: systolic/diastolic blood pressure, indexes of body composition (body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference), lipid-lipoprotein profile (total, LDL, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides), or glycemic control (fasting/postprandial glucose and insulin, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or meal glucose tolerance test (MGTT), blood glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting C-reactive protein (CRP)). Included articles were assessed for quality using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 assessment tool.

Results: Among 42 included studies (WP vs CHO: n=20; WP+EX vs CHO+EX: n=22), a preponderance of evidence supports that chronic consumption of WP, compared to CHO, with or without exercise, may not influence T2DM risk factors. In WP vs CHO comparisons, 76% (13 of 17) of studies reported no improvements in indexes of body composition, 70% (7/10) in lipid-lipoprotein profile, 80% (12/15) in glycemic control, and 63% (5/8) in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. In WP+EX vs CHO+EX comparisons, 95% (19/20) of studies reported no improvements in indexes of body composition, 88% (7/8) in lipid-lipoprotein profile, and 100% in glycemic control (11/11) or blood pressure (10/10). Whey protein amounts averaged 30 g/d (median: 27 g/d; range: 12-80 g/d), and intervention durations averaged 18 weeks (median: 12 weeks; range: 1-71 weeks).

Conclusions: Chronic consumption of whey protein, compared to carbohydrates, with or without exercise, may not improve T2DM risk factors in adults.

Funding Sources: Whey Protein Research Consortium