Whey Protein Intervention and Inflammatory Factors and Oxidative Stress: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 39196774 · doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae100
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through March 2022. Two independent reviewers selected RCTs examining the effects of whey protein supplementation versus control on inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6) and oxidative stress markers (glutathione, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity) in adults. Effect sizes were pooled using random-effects models as weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, confidence intervals, or study counts. It states that whey protein supplementation had no significant effect on markers of inflammation or oxidative stress compared with controls, and predefined subgroup analyses did not explain differences in outcomes.
Why it matters
Despite mechanistic hypotheses suggesting anti-inflammatory benefits of whey protein, pooled human trial evidence does not support its efficacy for reducing systemic inflammatory cytokines or oxidative stress markers in adults.
Limits
The abstract omits critical details including the number of included studies, total participant sample size, specific doses, intervention durations, baseline health statuses of participants, and exact effect estimates with confidence intervals.
Cited by
- supports Randomized controlled trials show that whey protein supplementation has either a neutral or positive (reducing) effect on inflammatory markers.