Milk protein isolate in a Western diet during weight loss
What it found
In adults classified as overweight or obese, replacing some carbohydrate with milk protein isolate in an energy-restricted Western-style diet led to greater drops in blood pressure and triglycerides.
Body composition changes were about the same in both groups.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood pressure
The milk protein isolate group had greater reductions in average 24-hour and sleeping systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and in waking systolic blood pressure, compared with the carbohydrate group.
Triglycerides
Fasting triglycerides dropped more in the milk protein isolate group than in the carbohydrate group.
Other blood fats and sugars
Reductions in fasting insulin, glucose, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were not different between the two groups.
Body composition
Whole body mass, lean mass, fat mass, and thigh muscle area all decreased over time, but the changes were similar in both groups.
What the authors conclude
“For those who may find it difficult to deviate from a WSEP, replacing a portion of their carbohydrate with foods and beverages containing milk protein isolate may be an effective dietary strategy to reduce blood pressure and improve triglyceride concentrations after weight loss.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that for adults who find it difficult to deviate from a Western-style eating pattern, replacing a portion of their carbohydrate with foods and beverages containing milk protein isolate may be an effective dietary strategy to reduce blood pressure and improve triglyceride concentrations after weight loss.
How it was done
Most people find it hard to change their usual Western-style eating pattern, so the authors wanted to see if adding a potentially health-promoting ingredient to typical foods and drinks could improve heart and metabolic health during weight loss.
44 adults aged 35 to 65 with a BMI of 25 to 38 followed a Western-style diet for 3 weeks, then an energy-restricted version (750 kcal/day below their estimated needs) for 16 weeks. They were randomly assigned to get either extra carbohydrate (0.7 g/kg/day, mostly maltodextrin) or extra milk protein isolate (0.7 g/kg/day) mixed into foods and drinks.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial cannot show whether the blood pressure and triglyceride improvements came specifically from milk protein or from the higher total protein intake.
- It also cannot show whether these results would apply to people with chronic diseases, since participants were apparently healthy.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- J.L.H., J.Z., and J.E.K. have no conflicts of interest to report. W.W.C. was a member of the National Dairy Council Whey Protein Advisory Panel while the research was being conducted. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
- Authors work at
- Purdue University, USA; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA; University of Singapore, Singapore
The paper
- Title
- Incorporating Milk Protein Isolate into an Energy-Restricted Western-Style Eating Pattern Augments Improvements in Blood Pressure and Triglycerides, but Not Body Composition Changes in Adults Classified as Overweight or Obese: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Hudson JL, Zhou J, Kim JE, Campbell WW (2020). Incorporating Milk Protein Isolate into an Energy-Restricted Western-Style Eating Pattern Augments Improvements in Blood Pressure and Triglycerides, but Not Body Composition Changes in Adults Classified as Overweight or Obese: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu12030851Free full textPubMed 32235773DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error