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Q: Whey Protein
IMMUNOCAL.... Any info on this product? Only ingredient listed on box is Milk Protein Isolate. I have friends who say it works on re-building the immune system of HIV patients. At their web site www.immunocal.com I could only find out that the product includes L-Glutemine, Whey and Cystin. It cost $99.00 for a month supply and I'm skeptical.
A: Chester Myers, PhD, MS responds:
Whey proteins provide exceptional nutritional quality within the protein category of food components. The sulfur-containing amino acids, an important part of proteins and often somewhat low in many proteins, are particularly rich in whey protein. It is believed that this is a main source of observed improvements in various monitors used to reflect the health of the immune system and muscle mass with use of whey protein.
There are a number of whey products that provide excellent protein. The technology available for isolation, drying and other processing of these products has been under scrutiny, particularly with respect to maintenance of the sulfur-containing amino acids in their 'native' form. When oxidized, these amino acids can become unavailable for the normal body chemistries. Therefore, it is important to minimize oxidation during preparation of whey protein products. I am not aware that there are any clinical trials that have indicated any one product is definitively superior to the others. Some studies have compared whey proteins with non-whey proteins, but this doesn't provide us with information that would justify choosing one particular whey product over other whey products.
Two other sources of whey protein (besides Immunocal) worth checking out are:
1. The whey protein available at www.bioadvantex.com. It is advertised as selling for $37US per 750 grams. This would be my choice for an excellent whey protein supplement.
2. The whey protein products available at DAAIR (Direct AIDS Access Information Resources) are also worth checking out.
