When we talk about whey, we are actually referring to a complex ingredient made up of protein, lactose, fat and minerals. Protein is the best known component of whey and is made up of many smaller protein subfractions (Beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, immunoglobulins (lgGs), glycomacropeptides, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and minor peptides such as lactoperoxidases, lysozyme and lactoferrin). Each of the subfractions found in whey has its own unique biological properties. 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, such as lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase, from whey. Some of these subfractions are only found in very minute amounts in cow's milk, normally less than one percent. Lactoferrin makes up approximately 0.5 percent or less of whey protein derived from cow's milk (whereas human milk protein will contain up to 15 percent lactoferrin). Over the past few decades, whey protein powders have evolved several generations from low-protein concentrates to very high protein isolates.

What's So Great About Whey?

Whey protein has become a staple supplement for many athletes, and for good reason. It's a great protein with a wide variety of benefits. Whey has more recently caught on with the anti-agingilongevity-minded groups. Whey also has an exceptionally high biological value rating and an exceptionally high Branch Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) content. One of whey's major effects is its apparent ability to raise glutathione (GSH). The importance of GSH for the proper function of the immune system cannot be overstat-ed. GSH is arguably the most important water-soluble antioxidant found in the body.

The concentration of intracellular GSH is directly related to lymphocytes' (an important arm of the immune system) reactivity to a challenge, which suggests intracellular GSH levels are one way to modulate immune function.. GSH is a tri-peptide made up of the amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamine and glycine. Of the three, cysteine is the main source of the free sulfhydryl group of GSH and is a limiting factor in the synthesis of GSH (though the effect of whey on GSH is more complicated than simply its cysteine content). Because GSH is known to be essential to immunity, oxidative stress and general well being, whey has a place in anyone's nutrition program. Reduced GSH is also associated with overtraining syndrome (OTS) in athletes, so whey may very well have an application in preventing, or at least mitigating, OTS. Pertaining directly to athletes, some recent studies suggest whey may have direct effects on performance and muscle mass, but this research is prelilminary at best. Some studies have found oxidative stress contributes to muscular fatigue, so having higher GSH levels may allow you to train longer and harder, as some recent data suggests.