Glycomacropeptides for Weight Management
Glycomacropeptides (GMPs) are a typical component of whey protein. It now appears that the GMPs themselves, as distinct from the grams of protein, have distinct weight loss properties.
It is quite clear that whey protein, as compared to similar amounts of other proteins, is a highly superior food for weight management. This has been demonstrated in a number of human studies.
Its ability to help weight loss is partly due to the quality of the protein, ease of absorption, and high leucine content that helps correct insulin and blood sugar issues. Additionally, researchers have been looking into the biological activity of various other components of whey for their potential role as regulators of metabolism – factors that do not exist in most other protein sources.
One of these factors is the GMPs, which have known anti-inflammatory and immune-support regulatory properties. Most research on GMPs has focused on digestive health. We now know that stubborn weight issues are heavily influenced by inflammatory problems within white adipose tissue. A Chinese research group is exploring the relationship between GMPs and white adipose tissue health.
Their first study involved baby fat cells, seeking to determine if exposing them to GMPs influenced their behavior. They found that GMPs inhibited the rate at which baby fat cells became adult fat cells. Furthermore, GMPs reduced the amount of fat taken up by fat cells. Since overweight people have too many baby fat cells becoming adults too quickly and excessively filling up with fat, these initial cell results were encouraging.
In their most recent study they induced obesity in rats with a high fat diet. Some rats were fed various amounts of GMP along with the high fat diet over an 8-week period. The rats fed GMP had significantly less white adipose tissue weight gain. Their livers did not become fatty. They had lower levels of leptin (preventing leptin resistance). They had lower cholesterol and triglycerides. They had lower levels of free radical damage in the mitochondria of cells and the liver, as well as boosted antioxidant enzyme function. And they had lower levels of key inflammatory signals coming from fat (TNFa and IL6), which are the hallmark of sickly fat.
The number of anti-obesity benefits the researchers documented is stunning. They are consistent with findings of many human studies on whey protein in the weight loss context. It is quite likely that part of the weight loss benefit of whey protein has to do with metabolic regulation coming from the GMPs. It also tells us that there is more to food than the fat, carbohydrate, and protein content. Certain foods, such as whey protein, appear to be a metabolic powerhouse.
