Whey and other proteins promote health - Hippocrates etc.

Hippocrates and Whey: Historical Context (Perplexity AI)

Hippocrates (c. 460–c. 370 BCE) was a renowned Greek physician from the island of Kos, widely regarded as the "Father of Medicine." He is credited with advancing the systematic study of clinical medicine, emphasizing observation, diagnosis, and ethical standards in medical practice 1 2 3 4. The medical texts attributed to him and his followers, known as the Hippocratic Corpus, laid the foundation for Western medicine.

Hippocrates’ Use of Whey

Whey is the liquid byproduct left after milk is curdled and strained during cheese production 5. Its use dates back thousands of years, with archaeological evidence of cheese and whey processing as early as 5500 BCE in Poland 6 7 8.

In ancient Greece, Hippocrates recognized the health benefits of whey and prescribed it to his patients. He referred to whey as “serum” or simply “the whey” and recommended it primarily to boost the immune system and promote general health 6 7 8. This practice is considered one of the earliest documented uses of whey for medicinal purposes:

"Hippocrates would prescribe whey protein to patients in order to boost their immune system. He referred to this magic liquid as 'serum.' Other doctors followed his lead and many sick people reaped benefits from the higher protein intake." 6

Whey’s use as a health tonic continued for centuries after Hippocrates, with other Greek physicians and later European practitioners adopting it as a remedy for various ailments 7 8.

Whey in Ancient Medicine

Hippocrates and his contemporaries believed that food and drink could be used therapeutically, and whey fit into this tradition as a nourishing, restorative liquid. While the scientific understanding of protein and immune function was not developed at the time, Hippocrates' empirical approach led him to recognize the benefits of whey for convalescence and recovery 6 7 8.

Summary Table: Hippocrates and Whey

Conclusion

Hippocrates’ advocacy for whey as a health-promoting substance marks one of the first recorded uses of a dairy byproduct in medicine. His empirical approach to health and nutrition influenced generations of physicians, establishing a tradition of using whey as a therapeutic agent that persisted for centuries 6 7 8.

1. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hippocrates

2. https://www.biography.com/scholars-educators/hippocrates

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocrates

4. https://www.vedantu.com/biography/hippocrates

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whey

6. https://www.nzprotein.co.nz/article/history-of-whey-protein

7. https://realgreekdairies.gr/en/blog-history-of-whey-protein-whey-bars/

8. https://m2proteins.com/whey-protein-history/

9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3704070/

10. https://www.livescience.com/62515-hippocrates.html

11. https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/funny-science-hippocratic-medicine-and-four-humours

12. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4263393/

13. https://www.greeknewsagenda.gr/hippocrates/

14. https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/23/4/507

15. https://supplementfactoryuk.com/blog/2023/06/history-of-whey-protein/

16. https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/lifestyles/whey-protein

17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_e4HttTWR4

18. https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-Whey-Prescription/Christopher-Vasey/9781594778933

19. https://www.wellwisdom.com/where-does-whey-protein-come-from-a-brief-history-of-whey-protein/

20. https://gognarly.com/blogs/blog/whey-protein-powder-benefits-the-ultimate-health-guide

Association Between Whey and Vitamin D (Perplexity AI)

Combined Supplementation for Muscle Health

There is a well-documented association between whey protein and vitamin D, particularly in the context of muscle health and physical performance. Multiple studies have investigated the effects of combining whey protein with vitamin D supplementation, often alongside other nutrients like leucine or branched-chain amino acids, in both young adults and older populations.

• Muscle Mass and Strength: Research shows that supplementing with both whey protein and vitamin D (often with added leucine) leads to greater improvements in muscle mass and strength during resistance training compared to placebo or protein alone 1 2 3 4. For example, a study in young males found that taking 25 g of whey protein plus 4000 IU vitamin D3 either before bed or after waking, combined with resistance training, significantly increased muscle mass and serum vitamin D levels compared to a control group 1 2.

• Sarcopenia in Older Adults: In elderly individuals with sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), supplementation with whey protein, essential amino acids, and vitamin D, along with exercise, resulted in increased fat-free mass, improved strength, better functionality, and reduced inflammation 3. Another study using a vitamin D and leucine-enriched whey protein supplement showed similar benefits for muscle mass and strength in older adults 4.

  Potential Mechanisms

• Synergistic Effects: Vitamin D is known to play a role in muscle function and protein synthesis, while whey protein provides high-quality amino acids necessary for muscle building. The combination may have a synergistic effect, especially when paired with resistance exercise 1 3 4.

• Bioavailability: Some research has explored whether complexing vitamin D with whey proteins could enhance its bioavailability. However, studies in animal models suggest that complexing vitamin D3 with whey protein does not significantly improve circulating vitamin D metabolites or bone outcomes compared to vitamin D alone 5.

  Summary Table

Conclusion

There is a clear association between whey protein and vitamin D in the context of supplementation for muscle health. Their combined use, particularly alongside resistance training, has been shown to improve muscle mass, strength, and related outcomes in both young and older adults. However, complexing vitamin D with whey protein does not appear to significantly increase its bioavailability over vitamin D supplementation alone 5. The benefits are most pronounced when both are used as part of a comprehensive nutritional and exercise regimen 1 2 3 4.

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9183069/

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35684089/

3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522065698

4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525861015003886

5. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/fo/d1fo03645a

6. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/10/1448

7. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/7/1524

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Founder of Vitamin D Life uses a plant-based complete protein

If using whey, probably best if the cows had been fed grass instead of grain/glysophate