title: Supplementation of fermented Maillard-reactive whey protein enhances immunity by increasing NK cell activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of supplementation with fermented Maillard-reactive whey protein (F-MRP) on natural killer (NK) cell activity, circulating cytokines, and serum protein levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on a sample of 80 participants without diabetes or obesity. Over an 8-week study period, the F-MRP group consumed 6 g of powder containing 4.2 g of F-MRP each day, whereas the placebo group consumed the same amount of maltodextrin. For each participant, NK cell activity was evaluated based on the ratio of effector cells (E; peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) to target cells (T; K562 cells) at E : T ratios of 10 : 1, 5 : 1, 2.5 : 1, and 1.25 : 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass index (BMI) and NK cell activity under all assay conditions were significantly increased in the F-MRP group at the 8-week follow-up visit compared with the values at the baseline, whereas the placebo group showed significant reductions in NK cell activity (at an E : T ratio of 5 : 1), serum albumin, and pre-albumin at the 8-week follow-up visit compared with the values at the baseline. When comparing the changes between the placebo and F-MRP groups, the increases in NK cell activity under all assay conditions and serum interleukin (IL)-12 in the F-MRP group were greater than those in the placebo group after adjusting for baseline values. There were also significant differences in pre-albumin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 between the two groups; the change in (Δ) IL-12 was positively correlated with both Δpre-albumin (r = 0.435, P = 0.006) and ΔNK cell activity at an E : T ratio of 10 : 1 (r = 0.571, P < 0.001) in the F-MRP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily consumption of F-MRP enhanced NK cell function, which was positively associated with ΔIL-12. Moreover, ΔIL-12 was positively correlated with Δpre-albumin.
authors.affiliation: National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. jhleeb@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Miso
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Nam Su
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Minjoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyeon Yeong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Minghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shin-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hye Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D048191:Lactiplantibacillus plantarum / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000067816:Whey Proteins; D018664:Interleukin-12