Say No Way to whey

Say No Way! To Whey!
B y B a r r i e C a r l s e n
Whey Protein has become a major category in health food stores and has been extensively promoted as a
superior protein for health and fitness. But does whey protein live up to the claims and does whey protein
belong in stores that are supposed to be promoting good health along with environmentally sound farming
practices including organic products whenever possible? Most store owners and staff accept at face value
the marketing statements made by the producers and formulators of whey protein, but what these whey
protein producers do not tell you is just what is whey protein, how is it obtained and the proven health
risks associated with it.
First of all, whey is a by-product of the cheese industry. After cheese is made, the clear liquid whey is left.
At one time this material had little commercial value and was usually provided to hog farmers for the cost
of removing the material from the cheese factories. Whey contains a small amount of protein aptly named
whey protein. This protein is extracted from the whey by various 'cross flow extraction and micro-
filtration technologies'. The producers make much of this 'advanced technology' diverting attention away
from the real properties of whey. Whey is composed of bovine blood proteins, serum albumen,
lactalbumen, dead white blood cells and hormonal residues including estrogen, progesterone and IGF-1
(insulin growth factor 1).
Whey protein is derived from whey, the by-product of cheese making. Cheese is produced from milk. The
cheese industry is the largest consumer of 'factory farmed' milk. The majority of the milk used in the
making of cheese is produced from milk from cows injected with bovine growth hormone (rBGH), along
with a vast array of antibiotics and other drugs. Many of these cows are cancerous, and the milk from
these cancerous cows still finds its way into the general production.
Most of these cows are fed genetically modified soy and corn, as 80% of the production of GMO grains is
for animal feed. Health food stores make a big issue of insisting on non-GMO foods for sale to the public,
but what about second-hand GMO foods such as beef, pork, milk, cheese, products containing casein
(another milk protein) and whey protein? Because whey protein is such a big money earner for health
food stores, this distinction is ignored. The dilemma is similar to the question of drug stores selling
tobacco products in spite of the overwhelming evidence that smoking is harmful. Many drug stores,
especially the smaller independent stores, voluntarily stopped selling tobacco because in spite of the loss
of income, they could not in good conscience, justify the practice in a store that was supposed to be
concerned with people's health. Milk and milk by-products are also linked to cancer and a host of other
diseases, and the dilemma is a similar one faced by drug stores regarding tobacco.
The following article which is posted on www.notmilk.com summarizes many of the concerns with milk
proteins along with references from scientific journals. After fat and casein are removed from milk, dairy
processors are left with whey protein. Whey is composed of bovine blood proteins, serum albumen,
lactalbumen, dead white blood cells and hormonal residues including estrogen, progesterone and IGF-1
(insulin growth factor 1).
The body's reaction to a foreign protein is to destroy that antigen-like invader with an antibody. For those
individuals unfortunate enough to possess a genetic pre-disposition to such an event, the antibody then
turns upon one's own cells. That is what is known as an auto-immune response.
In the case of diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS), the body's response to whey proteins is to attack the
outer membrane protecting nerve cells, or the myelin sheath. It has long been established that early

exposure to bovine proteins is a trigger for insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Researchers have made
that same milk consumption connection to MS. The July 30, 1992 issue of the New England Journal of
Medicine first reported the diabetes autoimmune response milk connection: "Patients with insulin
dependent diabetes mellitus produce antibodies to cow milk proteins that participate in the development
of islet dysfunction...Taken as a whole; our findings suggest that an active response in patients with
IDDM (to the bovine protein) is a feature of the auto-immune response."
On December 14, 1996, The Lancet revealed:
"Cow's milk proteins are unique in one respect: in industrialized countries they are the first foreign
proteins entering the infant gut, since most formulations for babies are cow milk-based. The first pilot
stage of our IDD prevention study found that oral exposure to dairy milk proteins in infancy resulted in
both cellular and immune response...this suggests the possible importance of the gut immune system to
the pathogenesis of IDD."
The Multiple Sclerosis Milk Connection
The April 1, 2001 issue of the Journal of Immunology contained a study linking MS to milk consumption.
Michael Dosch, M.D., and his team of researchers determined that multiple sclerosis and type I (juvenile)
diabetes mellitus are far more closely linked than previously thought. Dosch attributes exposure to cow
milk protein as a risk factor in the development of both diseases for people who are genetically
susceptible. According to Dosch: "We found that immunologically, type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis
are almost the same: in a test tube you can barely tell the two diseases apart. We found that the
autoimmunity was not specific to the organ system affected by the disease. Previously it was thought that
in MS autoimmunity would develop in the central nervous system, and in diabetes it would only be found
in the pancreas. We found that both tissues are targeted in each disease."Multiple Sclerosis affects
approximately 300,000 Americans. Two-thirds of those diagnosed with MS are women. Most researchers
believe that MS is an autoimmune disease. Auto means "self."
Who Does Not Get MS?
It is interesting to note that Eskimos and Bantus (50 million individuals living in East Africa) rarely get
MS. Neither do those native North and South American Indian or Asian populations who consume no
cow's milk or dairy products.
Who Gets MS?
The British medical journal Lancet reported that dairy-rich diets filled have been closely linked to the
development of MS. (The Lancet 1974; 2:1061) A study published in the journal Neuro-epidemiology
revealed an association between eating dairy foods and an increased prevalence of MS. (Neuro
epidemiology 1992; 11:304Â12.) MS researcher, Luther Lindner, M.D., a pathologist at Texas A & M
University College of Medicine, wrote: "It might be prudent to limit the intake of milk and milk products.
"Women are targeted by dairy industry scare tactics that offer misinformation regarding osteoporosis.
Two-thirds of MS victims are women. As milk and cheese consumption increase along population lines,
so too does an epidemic number of MS cases. The numbers add up. The clues add up. The science
supports epidemiological studies. Got diabetes? Got MS? The milk connection has been established.
Whey Also Contains Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1)

On January 23, 1998 researchers at the Harvard Medical School released a major study providing
conclusive evidence that IGF-1 is a potent risk factor for prostate cancer. Should you be concerned? Yes,
you certainly should, particularly if you drink milk produced in the United States. IGF-1 or insulin-like
growth factor 1 is an important hormone that is produced in the liver and body tissues. It is a polypeptide
and consists of 70 amino acids linked together. All mammals produce IGF-1 molecules very similar in
structure and human and bovine IGF-1 are completely identical. IGF-1 acquired its name because it has
insulin-like activity in fat (adipose) tissue and has a structure that is very similar to that of pro-insulin.
The body's production of IGF-1 is regulated by the human growth hormone and peaks at puberty. IGF-1
production declines with age and is only about half the adult value at the age of 70 years. IGF-1 is a very
powerful hormone that has profound effects even though its concentration in the blood serum is only
about 200 ng/mL or 0.2 millionth of a gram per milliliter (1-4).Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) in
humans and cows are identical. Like a key fitting into a lock, this hormone is a perfect match between
two species of animal and exerts powerful growth effects. IGF-I is the most powerful growth hormone in
the human body. Every sip of milk, every bite of cheese, every whey protein drink contains IGF-I.
IGF-1 and Cancer
IGF-1 is known to stimulate the growth of both normal and cancerous cells (2, 5). In 1990 researchers at
Stanford University reported that IGF-1 promotes the growth of prostate cells (2). This was followed by
the discovery that IGF-1 accelerates the growth of breast cancer cells (6-8). In 1995 researchers at the
National Institutes of Health reported that IGF-1 plays a central role in the progression of many childhood
cancers and in the growth of tumors in breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and cancers of the
pancreas and prostate (9). In September 1997 an international team of researchers reported the first
epidemiological evidence that high IGF-1 concentrations are closely linked to an increased risk of
prostate cancer (10). Other researchers provided evidence of IGF-1's link to breast and colon cancers (10,
11). The January 1998 report by the Harvard researchers confirmed the link between IGF-1 levels in the
blood and the risk of prostate cancer. The effects of IGF-1 concentrations on prostate cancer risk were
found to be astoundingly large - much higher than for any other known risk factor. Men having an IGF-1
level between approximately 300 and 500 ng/ml were found to have more than four times the risk of
developing prostate cancer than did men with a level between 100 and 185 ng/ml. The detrimental effect
of high IGF-1 levels was particularly pronounced in men over 60 years of age. In this age group men with
the highest levels of IGF-1 were eight times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men with low
levels. The elevated IGF-1 levels were found to be present several years before an actual diagnosis of
prostate cancer was made (12). The evidence of a strong link between cancer risk and a high level of
IGF-1 is now indisputable. The question is why do some people have high levels while others do not? Is it
all genetically ordained or could it be that diet or some other outside factor influences IGF-1 levels? Dr.
Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois is one scientist who strongly believes so. His 1996 article in
the International Journal of Health Sciences clearly warned of the danger of high levels of IGF-1
contained in milk from cows injected with synthetic bovine growth hormone (rBGH). He postulated that
IGF-1 in rBGH-milk could be a potential risk factor for breast and gastrointestinal cancers (13).
"BGH-treated milk is safe because it is indistinguishable from normal milk." Executive Branch Report on
rbGH, February 9, 1994 "Milk from cows given supplemental bovine somatotropin is the same as any
other milk...
Unfortunately, a few fringe groups are using misleading statements and blatant falsehoods as part of a
running campaign to scare consumers about a perfectly safe food." Statement of C. Everett Koop on
genetically engineered milk, February 6, 1994 "Five independent authorities, the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), World Health Organization (WHO), the
Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and ex-Surgeon General C. Everett Koop had
found rbGH-treated milk to be indistinguishable from normal milk." Monsanto (manufacturer of rbGH)
Press Release, June, 1992" From 1984 to 1986, Dr. Daughaday was the recipient of a research contract
from Monsanto Co., a small fraction of which was paid to Dr. Daughaday as a consulting fee. JAMA, 264
(8), 8/22/90 (Dr. Daughaday, the author of the JAMA publication was an "independent authority" referred
to in Monsanto's Press Release)"Recombinant rbGH treatment produces an increase in the concentration
of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in cow's milk." FDA review of genetically engineered milk
SCIENCE, 8/24/90, Vol 249 "After somidobove (rbGH) injection, mean IGF-I levels in the treated milk
are always higher than those found in the controls." World Health Organization Report Geneva,
Switzerland, June, 1992"Levels of IGF increase in milk after cows are treated with rbGH." December,
1990 National Institutes of Health Assessment of Bovine Somatotropin "A strong positive association was
observed between IGF-I levels and prostate cancer risk."Science, vol. 279. January 23, 1998
"Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, a mitogenic and antiapoptotic peptide, can affect the proliferation of
breast epithelial cells, and is thought to have a role in breast cancer."The Lancet, vol. 351. May 9,
1998"Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), in particular IGF-I and IGF-II, strongly stimulate the
proliferation of a variety of cancer cells, including those from lung cancer. High plasma levels of IGF-I
were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Plasma levels of IGF-I are higher...in patients with
lung cancer than in control subjects." Journal of the National Cancer Institute, vol. 91, no. 2. January 20,
1999. "Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is expressed in many tumor cell lines and has a role in both
normal cell proliferation and in the growth of cancers. Cancer Gene Ther., 2000 Mar, 7:3 "The insulin-
like growth factor (IGF) system is widely involved in human carcinogenesis. A significant association
between high circulating IGF-I concentrations and an increased risk of lung, colon, prostate and pre-
menopausal breast cancer has recently been reported. Lowering plasma IGF-I may thus represent an
attractive strategy to be pursued..." Int. J Cancer, 2000 Aug, 87:4, 601-5"... serum IGF-I levels increased
significantly in the milk drinking group, an increase of about 10% above baseline-but was unchanged in
the control group." Journal of the American Dietetic Association, vol. 99, no.10. October 1999A study
published in the Nov. 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Further implicates whey
protein as a factor in postprandial insulin responses, which should caution diabetics about using milk
protein and whey in particular.
Whey Protein and Bone Loss
A study 28 comparing bone loss in the lumbar spine in perimenopausal woman showed that the control
group who supplemented the diet with whey protein, significant bone loss occurred. In the group who
supplemented the diet with isoflavone-rich soy protein, significant positive effect on bone mineral density
(BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) occurred. The researchers at Iowa State University concluded
that regular consumption of isoflavone-rich soy protein could translate into a decrease in lifetime risk of
osteoporosis. By analogy, regular consumption of milk proteins such as whey could increase the lifetime
risk of osteoporosis.
Soy beats milk protein for cholesterol improvements: RCT
Supplements of soy protein, but not milk protein, may improve blood levels of HDL (good) cholesterol,
and enhance the overall cholesterol balance, says a new study 29.

Forty grams per day of soy protein was associated with significant decreases in total cholesterol levels,
compared to carbohydrate supplements, and improvements in HDL levels, compared with milk protein,
according to findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
“Our study is the first randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of soy protein, milk protein and
complex carbohydrate on serum lipids,” report researchers from the University of Mississippi, Tulane
University, and Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
“There is increasing evidence that consumption of soy protein in place of animal protein lowers blood
cholesterol levels and may provide other cardiovascular benefits. Our study provides additional evidence
that consumption of soy protein in place of carbohydrate might improve the lipid profile,” they added.
Study details
Led by Dr Jiang He from Tulane University, the researchers recruited 352 US healthy adults with an
average age of 47.7 to participate in their randomized, controlled trial. Participants were assigned to
receive 40 g/day supplementation of soy protein, milk protein or complex carbohydrate for eight weeks in
a random order.
In addition, compared to milk protein, the soy protein was associated with a 1.54 mg/dl increase in HDL
cholesterol levels and a 0.14 mg/dl decrease in the ratio of total: HDL cholesterol.
On the other hand, milk protein supplementation was significantly associated with a 1.13 mg/dL decrease
in HDL levels, compared to carb. supplements, added the researchers.
“Our study suggests that soy protein supplement reduces total cholesterol and total/HDL cholesterol ratio
compared with carbohydrate, and increases HDL and reduces total/HDL cholesterol ratio compared with
milk protein,” wrote the researchers.
“The effect of milk protein did not confer a significant favorable effect on any lipid measures compared
with carbohydrate. “Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to examine the effect of various
amounts of soy proteins on lipid levels to recommend a particular optimal level to increase soy protein
intake as part of a nutrition intervention strategy for the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia
and subsequent CVD,” they concluded.
References
1. Wilson, Jean D. and Foster, Daniel W., eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 8th edition, London,
W.B. Saunders Company, 1992, pp. 1096-1106
2. Cohen, Pinchas, et al. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), IGF receptors, and IGF-binding proteins in
primary cultures of prostate epithelial cells. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol. 73,
No. 2, 1991, pp. 401-07
3. Rudman, Daniel, et al. Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old. New England
Journal of Medicine, Vol. 323, July 5, 1990, pp. 1-6
4. LeRoith, Derek, moderator. Insulin-like growth factors in health and disease. Annals of Internal
Medicine, Vol. 116, May 15, 1992, pp. 854-62