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Ergo-Log

31.01.2011


Dipeptides in whey hydrolysate are glucose boosters

Energy drinks and post-workout preparations probably work better when they contain the whey peptides that the Japanese food concern Meiji Seika has been studying: chains of two BCAAs from whey hydrolysate, which make muscle cells absorb more glucose.

Dipeptide

Dipeptide

Whey hydrolysate contains highly fragmented proteins. The smaller the fragments, the quicker the body can absorb them. In the small intestine there are transport proteins that can absorb chains of two and three amino acids: di- and tripeptides. The same transport proteins are found in many cell types, so that the peptides can be most tissues - including muscle.

Studies show that the BCAAs leucine and isoleucine enhance the muscle cells' glucose uptake. Do the peptides of BCAAs do the same?

To answer this question the researchers did test-tube experiments with muscle cells, muscle fibres and muscle tissues of rats.

The researchers used enzymes to split whey proteins into dipeptides, and then separated out the fractions. When they introduced the BCAA peptides into test tubes with muscle fibres, together with glucose, they saw that all dipeptides increased the glucose uptake.


Dipeptides in whey hydrolysate are glucose boosters


The most common dipeptide in whey hydrolysate is leucine-isoleucine, so the researchers continued their experiments with this dipeptide. When the researchers added isoleucine-leucine to a glucose solution, they saw that complete muscle tissue also absorbed more glucose.


Dipeptides in whey hydrolysate are glucose boosters


Dipeptides in whey hydrolysate are glucose boosters


The researchers repeated the experiment but added the compound LY294002 to the test tube. LY294002 inhibits P13 kinase, an enzyme that passes on the signals from the insulin and IGF-1 receptor to the cell. The compound neutralised the effect of the dipeptide. That means that the dipeptide imitates and enhances the effect of insulin, according to the researchers.

The Japanese have recently published more about the potential of whey hydrolysate to increase the uptake of glucose by muscle cells. We'll be writing about these studies soon.

Source:
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2009 Feb;55(1):81-6.

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