Whey is a byproduct of cheese-making, while soy is derived from soybeans, and both substances are sometimes used as protein supplements for dietary and other health purposes. You might take soy or whey supplements to get extra protein or to help treat a variety of medical conditions. Before you begin taking soy or whey supplements, consult your doctor about the correct dosage and possible health dangers.
Function
Whey supplements mainly provide easily digestible protein, but they also appear to increase your body's levels of glutathione, a naturally occurring antioxidant, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Whey protein contains large amounts of branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, which seem to promote muscle-tissue development. Also, whey protein's content of the amino acid called tryptophan could influence mental function by improving sleep quality. Soy supplements provide protein as well, but they also contain isoflavones, compounds that have estrogen-like effects in the body. Soy isoflavones may act to restore hormonal balance in menopausal women, as well as prevent excess calcium excretion through the urine to improve bone density, explains the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Effects
In addition to providing dietary protein, soy supplements may also help in treating high cholesterol levels, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Whey is also commonly used to increase glutathione levels in people who are deficient, such as individuals suffering from HIV, diabetes, cancer, liver disease, hepatitis and cataracts. Whey protein is also sometimes taken to improve physical performance for athletes, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Don't take whey or soy supplements without first talking with your doctor.
Potential
Additionally, both whey protein and soy supplements may possibly help treat diabetes and osteoporosis. Whey protein supplements could have the potential to help treat cataracts and hepatitis, as well as support the treatment of cancer and HIV, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You could take whey supplements to improve your immune-system function, reduce the effects of stress or support weight loss, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Like whey protein, soy supplements also have various potential uses and health benefits. For example, soy could help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as treat menopausal symptoms, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Soy may have uses for treating allergies, migraines caused by the menstrual cycle, ulcerative colitis, cyclic mastitis and hypertension. No widely accepted, conclusive scientific evidence supports the use of whey protein or soy supplements to prevent or treat any medical condition, however.
Dosage
Whey is the liquid that's extracted from milk when cheese is made, and the supplement is typically taken at a dosage rate of 20 to 30 g daily, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You can get soy from eating tofu, soy milk and other soybean food products, but you could also take a soy supplement. An average intake of soy protein in food or supplement form is 25 g per day, but as little as 10 g daily could provide adequate nutrition. Ask your doctor about the dosage that's right for you before taking whey or soy protein supplements.
Warning
Don't take whey protein supplements if you're allergic to dairy products, cautions the University of Michigan Health System. Likewise, don't take soy supplements if you have a soy allergy. The isoflavones in soy could potentially interact negatively with tamoxifen, specifically when the medication is used for treating estrogen-sensitive breast cancer, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. If you have thyroid problems or take thyroid medications, or if you're a man with erectile dysfunction or infertility, you should avoid taking soy protein supplements, advises the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. High protein consumption may potentially cause diabetes in children, kidney problems and osteoporosis or bone loss.
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