title: Effect of whey supplementation on circulating C-reactive protein: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: Whey supplementation is beneficial for human health, possibly by reducing the circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) level, a sensitive marker of inflammation. Thus, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to evaluate their relationship. A systematic literature search was conducted in July, 2014, to identify eligible studies. Either a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model was used to calculate pooled effects. The meta-analysis results of nine trials showed a slight, but no significant, reduction of 0.42 mg/L (95% CI -0.96, 0.13) in CRP level with the supplementation of whey protein and its derivates. Relatively high heterogeneity across studies was observed. Subgroup analyses showed that whey significantly lowered CRP by 0.72 mg/L (95% CI -0.97, -0.47) among trials with a daily whey dose≥20 g/day and by 0.67 mg/L (95% CI -1.21, -0.14) among trials with baseline CRP≥3 mg/L. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the baseline CRP level was a potential effect modifier of whey supplementation in reducing CRP. In conclusion, our meta-analysis did not find sufficient evidence that whey and its derivates elicited a beneficial effect in reducing circulating CRP. However, they may significantly reduce CRP among participants with highly supplemental doses or increased baseline CRP levels.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China. zhoulingmei1112@sina.com.
authors: Ling-Mei
authors: LM
authors: Zhou
authors: Key Laboratory of Radiation Biology, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China. xujiaying@suda.edu.cn.
authors: Jia-Ying
authors: JY
authors: Xu
authors: Suzhou Health College, 28 Kehua Road, Suzhou 215009, China. rcping@sina.com.
authors: Chun-Ping
authors: CP
authors: Rao
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China. sfhan@suda.edu.cn.
authors: Shufen
authors: S
authors: Han
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China. zhxwan@suda.edu.cn.
authors: Zhongxiao
authors: Z
authors: Wan
authors: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China. qinliqiang@suda.edu.cn.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Disease, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China. qinliqiang@suda.edu.cn.
authors: Li-Qiang
authors: LQ
authors: Qin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000178:diet therapy; D008297:Male; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008894:Milk Proteins; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein