Wheat Protein Better Than Whey Protein for Elderly Muscle Maintenance, Says Study

26 Aug 2016 --- A study from the University of Maastricht has proven that hydrolysed wheat protein is significantly more capable than whey protein when it comes to stimulating the muscle protein synthesis rates in the elderly.

The randomized, double blind clinical trial in healthy elderly men, was published in the Journal of Nutrition, and conducted in partnership with the Tereos, a leading global producer of wheat proteins, as well as the Meripro Hydrolysed wheat protein used in the study.

Yves Timmermans, Product Manager at Tereos Starch & Sweeteners Europe told NutritionInsight: "We will continue to focus on the nutritional assets of wheat proteins alone or in combination with other proteins, and this study will be followed by others in the future to back these assets on a scientific base."

"All populations needing a higher protein intake such as sports people or protein-deficient populations could benefit from a good protein source like wheat, available at an affordable price and with a broadand regular supply," she added. 

The results of the research could impact the protein for elderly market, as currently, whey protein is mostly used in products for elderly muscle maintenance. 

This is because, naturally, wheat protein has a relatively low leucine content compared to animal-derived proteins, and leucine has been suggested to play an important role in postprandial muscle protein synthetic response.

However, Tereos hypothesized that providing the amount of wheat protein hydrolysate containing the same leucine level to whey protein could allow a similar or greater postprandial muscle protein synthetic response in elderly. 

Meripro hydrolysed wheat protein is a purified, highly concentrated protein source and is digestibility is similar to animal-derived proteins. Until now, relatively little data exists in evaluating plant proteins effect on the muscle protein synthetic response following their ingestion, despite that as much as 60% of our daily protein intake is provided by plant-based protein sources, wheat protein being the most abundant in our diet. 

Based on the new results, Tereos has announced that, in the context of a balanced diet, Meripro is a good candidate of protein source to stimulate muscle protein synthesis in view of muscle mass maintenance in elderly.

Preserving skeletal muscle is important for maintaining functional capacity and independence of the elderly, and muscle mass maintenance is regulated largely by the basal muscle synthesis rates and their stimulation after food intake. 

They also stated that protein blends combining Meripro and dairy proteins could be applied to support muscle mass gains and prevent muscle mass loss. 

Additionally, protein blends like these are much more economic for both the industry and the consumer, and more sustainable for the environment.

by Hannah Gardiner