Comparative Effects of Co-Ingesting Whey Protein and Glucose Alone and Combined on Blood Glucose, Plasma Insulin and Glucagon Concentrations in Younger and Older Men

Abstract

The ingestion of dietary protein with, or before, carbohydrate may be a useful strategy to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia, but its effect in older people, who have an increased predisposition for type 2 diabetes, has not been clarified. Blood glucose, plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations were measured for 180 min following a drink containing either glucose (120 kcal), whey-protein (120 kcal), whey-protein plus glucose (240 kcal) or control (~2 kcal) in healthy younger (n = 10, 29 ± 2 years; 26.1 ± 0.4 kg/m2) and older men (n = 10, 78 ± 2 years; 27.3 ± 1.4 kg/m2). Mixed model analysis was used. In both age groups the co-ingestion of protein with glucose (i) markedly reduced the increase in blood glucose concentrations following glucose ingestion alone (p < 0.001) and (ii) had a synergistic effect on the increase in insulin concentrations (p = 0.002). Peak insulin concentrations after protein were unaffected by ageing, whereas insulin levels after glucose were lower in older than younger men (p < 0.05) and peak insulin concentrations were higher after glucose than protein in younger (p < 0.001) but not older men. Glucagon concentrations were unaffected by age. We conclude that the ability of whey-protein to reduce carbohydrate-induced postprandial hyperglycemia is retained in older men and that protein supplementation may be a useful strategy in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes in older people.