Usage of whey protein may cause liver damage via inflammatory and apoptotic responses

Abstract

<jats:p> The purpose of this study was to investigate the long- and short-term inflammatory and apoptotic effects of whey protein on the livers of non-exercising rats. Thirty rats were divided into three groups namely (1) control group, (2) short-term whey (WS) protein diet (252 g/kg for 5 days), and (3) long-term whey (WL) protein diet (252 g/kg for 4 weeks). Interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cytokeratin 18 (CK-18-M30) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical methods. Apoptosis was evaluated using the terminal transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated by quanitation of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Based on the biochemical levels and immunohistochemical results, the highest level of IL-1β was identified in the WL group ( p &lt; 0.01). The IL-6 and TNF-α results were slightly lower in the WS group than in the control group and were highest in the WL group ( p &lt; 0.01). The CK-18-M30 and TUNEL results were highest in the WS group and exhibited medium intensity in the WL group ( p &lt; 0.01). AST results were statistically significant for all groups, while our ALT groups were particularly significant between the WL and control groups ( p &lt; 0.01). The results showed that when whey protein is used in an uninformed manner and without exercising, adverse effects on the liver may occur by increasing the apoptotic signal in the short term and increasing inflammatory markers and hepatotoxicity in the long term. </jats:p>

Hepatotoxicity of green tea: an update

“…However, the young man was consuming also other supplements such as Nopal ® , an extract from cactus of Opuntia genus, used as source of dietary fibers in the management of overweight (Grube et al 2013), GNC Mega Men Sport ® , a complex mixture containing numerous vitamins, minerals among which are chromium, branched chain amino acids, l-carnitine, lycopene, choline, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, alpha-lipoic acid and others and, finally, whey protein. The latter, even if reputed a hepatoprotective substance (Gad et al 2011), has been shown to cause liver damage in humans and in laboratory experiments (Vilella et al 2013;Gürgen et al 2014;Whitt et al 2008). Moreover, chromium has been suspected of hepatotoxicity as already stated.…”

The Effect of Dietary Replacement of Fish Meal with Whey Protein Concentrate on the Growth Performance, Fish Health, and Immune Status of Nile Tilapia Fingerlings, Oreochromis niloticus

“…Initiating type (caspase -2, -8, -9, -10 and -12), is triggered autocatalysis upon sensing death signals; and killer type (caspase-3, -6, and -7) is triggered proteolysis by initiating caspases [89]. Gürgen et al [90] reported that when whey protein is used indiscriminately, and in the absence of sufficient physical activity, negative effects on the liver may occur, due to the increased apoptotic signs short-term, and increased inflammatory markers and hepatotoxicity long-term. They also reported increased levels of AST and ALT in whey protein-fed groups.…”

Therapeutic potential of glutathione-enhancers in stress-related psychopathologies

“…Similarly, supplementation with approximately 7 g of whey protein daily for 2 months in Crohn`s patients was also well tolerated (Benjamin, Makharia et al 2012). Nevertheless, there have been some reports of liver toxicity in rats after treatment with 0.5 g /kg for 21 days (Żebrowska-Gamdzyk, Maciejczyk et al 2018), or following treatment with extremely high doses of whey proteins (252 g/kg for 4 weeks) (Gürgen, Yücel et al 2015).…”