Whey Supplementation Combined with Energy-Restricted Diet Alleviates 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, Adipocytokines, Inflammatory Factors and Body Composition in Obese Women with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is designed to determine the effect of whey protein on 2-AG, some biochemical indices and body composition in women with metabolic syndrome under a weight loss diet. Each subject was assigned randomly to one of two groups: whey group (n=12) received whey supplementation for 8 weeks (30 gr daily) + weight loss diet, and control group (n=12) received only weight loss diet. For weight loss intervention, all volunteers consumed -800 kcal/day under estimated energy requirements. The results of ANCOVA test showed that changes of weight, BMI did not differ significantly between whey and control groups after the intervention, but values of percent changes of WC (-3.84%), body fat (-7.46%), fat free mass percent (0.37%), 2-AG (-41.1%), TNF-α (-19.07%), IL-6(-15.28) and adiponectin (45.93%) were significant difference between two groups. For the first time, the effects of simultaneous weight loss diet and whey protein supplementation on 2-AG was demonstrated in this study, and the other benefits of whey protein supplementation on health were reported. It was concluded that using ways other than weight loss could reduce endocannabinoids and other metabolic risk factors.