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Effects of Whey Protein Supplementation on Aortic Stiffness, Cerebral Blood Flow, and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the ANCHORS A-WHEY Clinical Trial. Nutrients 2020 Apr 10;12(4)

Date

04/16/2020

Pubmed ID

32290271

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7230701

DOI

10.3390/nu12041054

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85083407169 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   7 Citations

Abstract

UNLABELLED: ANCHORS A-WHEY was a 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to examine the effect of whey protein on large artery stiffness, cerebrovascular responses to cognitive activity and cognitive function in older adults.

METHODS: 99 older adults (mean ± SD; age 67 ± 6 years, BMI 27.2 ± 4.7kg/m2, 45% female) were randomly assigned to 50g/daily of whey protein isolate (WPI) or an iso-caloric carbohydrate (CHO) control for 12 weeks (NCT01956994). Aortic stiffness was determined as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Aortic hemodynamic load was assessed as the product of aortic systolic blood pressure and heart rate (Ao SBP × HR). Cerebrovascular response to cognitive activity was assessed as change in middle-cerebral artery (MCA) blood velocity pulsatility index (PI) during a cognitive perturbation (Stroop task). Cognitive function was assessed using a computerized neurocognitive battery.

RESULTS: cfPWV increased slightly in CHO and significantly decreased in WPI (p < 0.05). Ao SBP × HR was unaltered in CHO but decreased significantly in WPI (p < 0.05). Although emotion recognition selectively improved with WPI (p < 0.05), WPI had no effect on other domains of cognitive function or MCA PI response to cognitive activity (p > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to CHO, WPI supplementation results in favorable reductions in aortic stiffness and aortic hemodynamic load with limited effects on cognitive function and cerebrovascular function in community-dwelling older adults.

Author List

Lefferts WK, Augustine JA, Spartano NL, Hughes WE, Babcock MC, Heenan BK, Heffernan KS

Author

William E. Hughes Postdoctoral Fellow in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Age Factors
Aged
Aorta
Cerebrovascular Circulation
Cognition
Dietary Carbohydrates
Dietary Supplements
Elasticity
Female
Hemodynamics
Humans
Independent Living
Male
Middle Aged
Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Whey Proteins