Data published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that 12 months of taking the formulation led to positive changes in cognition by supporting gut health, nerve membranes and body composition.
“In this study, subjects with MCI were targeted as intervention population in an attempt to find effective nutritional interventions to reduce the transition from cognitive decline to Alzheimer’s disease (AD),” explained the researchers from China-based BYHEALTH Institute of Nutrition & Health and Wuhan University.
“As expected, we revealed that the combined intervention of MFGM, taurine and B vitamins significantly improved cognitive function in older adults with MCI.”
Nutrients for brain health
The researchers noted that previous research highlighted the neuroprotective effects of B vitamins due to their ability to lower homocysteine.
Raised homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of dementia, and experts agree that B vitamins are an effective strategy to protect against this risk.
“At the same time, except for the potential cognitive protective effect of lowering homocysteine (Hcy) levels, B vitamin supplementations could also enhance choline utilization and promote phospholipid synthesis in nerve membranes,” the current study noted.
The intervention also included taurine, an amino acid that has evidence as a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease.
“All in all, our study, along with previous research, has provided promising results for the combination of multiple nutrients to prevent cognitive decline,” the researchers wrote.
Milk fat globule membrane
MFGM is a complex membrane structure mainly composed of proteins and lipids surrounding fat globules in mammalian milk.
In feeding infants, MFGM is beneficial for cognitive development and gut maturation.
Research suggests that MFGM may act like a prebiotic, supporting probiotic bacteria and a healthy microbiome. Additionally, although the exact mechanisms are yet to be confirmed, MFGM may alter the metabolism of probiotics and improve cognitive function via the gut-brain axis.
Study details
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the effects of whey protein powder on cognitive function in 107 adults between the ages of 55 and 80 years with MCI during a 12-month period.
Participants in the intervention group took 15 g of whey protein daily, provided by BYHEALTH Co. Ltd., which funded the study. The main components of the whey protein were MFGM, taurine and B vitamins.
Researchers assessed participants at baseline, six months and trial completion using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which is designed to screen for MCI and evaluated body composition.
The intervention significantly improved global cognitive function and specific cognitive domains. The mean change in MoCA score at 12 months was 3.23 in the intervention group and 1.42 in the control group.
The researchers also found a significant beneficial effect of the intervention on several secondary cognitive outcomes, such as the digit symbol substitution test. There were few side effects which did not differ between groups.
Subgroup analysis revealed that the intervention group had improved body mass index (BMI) and muscle mass. The researchers noted that sarcopenia is associated with poorer cognitive function and, therefore, “it seems feasible to maintain good cognitive function by improving muscle mass with protein supplementation.”
They noted that future longer term studies may address some discrepancies they found with individual tests.
Source: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.019
“Effect of a 12-month intervention with whey protein powder on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial”
Authors: F. Li et al.
