eBook: The Whey It Is - The Protein Whey

emc2 · 07-11-2008, 12:09 AM

When we talk about whey we are actually referring to a complex protein made up of many smaller protein subfractions such as: Betalactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, immunoglobulins (IgGs), glycomacropeptides, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and minor peptides such as actoperoxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin. Each of the sub fractions found in whey has its own unique biological properties. Up until quite recently, separating these subfractions on a large scale was either impossible or prohibitively expensive for anything but research purposes. Modern filtering technology has improved dramatically in the past decade allowing companies to separate some of the highly bioactive peptides from whey, such as lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase.

Some of these sub fractions are only found in very minute amounts in cows milk, normally at less than one percent. For example, though one of the most promising subfractions for preventing various diseases, improving immunity and over all health, lactoferrin makes up approximately 0.5% or less of whey protein derived from cow milk (where as human milk will contain up to 15% lactoferrin). Over the past few decades, whey protein powders have evolved several generations from low grade concentrates to very high grade

concentrates and isolates.