Whey Proteins for Cancer Patients in Development

VIBY JYLLAND, DenmarkArla Foods Ingredients announced its commitment to develop whey proteins that can help ease the side effects of chemotherapy.

According to Arla Foods, cancer patients going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy often experience mucositis, the severe damage of the mucus layer lining the gastrointestinal tract. Mucositis causes abdominal pain, nausea, heartburn, ulceration, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. These side effects may result in reduced appetite and consequently a severe reduction of nutritional status, which may delay recovery.

Arla Foods Ingredients believes whey protein may help relieve these undesirable side effects and is investing in development of new whey-based solutions tailor-made for cancer patients.

The company says whey protein is easy digestible and quickly absorbed compared to other protein sources, and also has the highest concentration of essential amino acids combined with a better bioavailability compared to other protein sources.

Besides this, whey protein contains specific amino acids, which may have beneficial effects to the cancer patient. Arla Foods Ingredients Lacprodan® products contain large amounts of the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine is normally a nonessential amino acid, but it may become conditionally essential in patients with cancer who experience glutamine depletion due to increased catabolic stress. Glutamine is a major substrate to intestinal mucus producing cells, which supports the formation of a protective gut barrier against infections and toxins.

A specific peptide found in whey, Lacprodan® CGMP-10, which is a caseino glyco-macropeptide contains a high proportion of the amino acid threonine. Threonine is an important component of the mucins that are a part of the protective mucus layer.

Thus, the company believes, whey proteins are promising candidates to help improve the nutritional status of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy.