High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the pressure it takes to move blood thorough your artery walls. Over time, high blood pressure can damage your healthy arteries, causing a disruption of blood flow to your heart. This increases your chance of getting cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and stroke. Evidence indicates that whey protein might help lower blood pressure. Consult your health care provider if you plan on taking whey protein supplements.
Vascular Function
One of the ways whey protein might lower your blood pressure is by improving your blood vessel function, or vascular function. This in turn allows your blood vessels to dilate and decreases the pressure it takes to move blood through the body. Scientists at Curtin University of Technology in Australia discovered that overweight and obese subjects consuming whey protein daily for 12 weeks experienced reductions in blood pressure and improvements in vascular function compared with those ingesting casein protein. The findings were reported in the July 2010 issue of "Obesity."
Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
Hydrolyzed whey protein is a form of whey protein in which protein chains are broken down into smaller fragments called peptides, which it makes it easier for you to digest. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School investigated the impact of hydrolyzed whey protein on individuals with prehypertension and Stage 1 hypertension. Participants consumed 20 g of hydrolyzed whey protein or an unmodified whey protein daily for six weeks. Scientists reported in the November 2006 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Hypertension" that those in the hydrolyzed whey protein group lowered their blood pressure compared with those in the other group.
Elevated Blood Pressure
Similar results were also seen in another study performed by scientists at Washington State University. They observed that subjects with elevated blood pressure consuming 28 g of hydrolyzed whey protein in a beverage for six weeks significantly reduced their blood pressure compared with those ingesting non-hydrolyzed whey protein. Scientists reported their research in the June 2010 issue of the "International Dairy Journal."
Safety
Although whey protein may help lower blood pressure, concerns have been raised about its impact on kidney function. Scientists from the University of Connecticut found that increasing your protein intake or adhering to a high-protein diet has no adverse effects on kidney function if you have normal kidney function. On the other hand, avoid increasing protein if you have kidney ailments or kidney disease, according to the September 2005 issue of "Nutrition & Metabolism."
References
- "Obesity"; The Chronic Effects of Whey Proteins on Blood Pressure, Vascular Function, and Inflammatory Markers in Overweight Individuals; S. Pal and V. Ellis; July 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Hypertension"; Effects of Whey Peptides on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors; J.J. Pins and J.M. Keenan; November 2006
- "International Dairy Journal"; Whey Beverages Decrease Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Hypertensive Young Men and Women; S.M. Fluegel et al.; November 2010
- "Nutrition & Metabolism"; Dietary Protein Intake and Renal Function; W.F. Martin et al.; September 2005
