Effect of Whey Powder Bread on Blood Glucose

In cheese making, whey is the liquid that is separated from the clot formed as a result of coagulation of milk with rennet or acid, does not coagulate and contains milk dry matter. Serum proteins in whey increase the nutritional value of whey proteins and help the absorption of minerals. In addition to their nutritional value, whey proteins have important health effects in terms of other metabolic functions such as strengthening immunity, stimulating gastrointestinal hormone secretion, antiviral activity, and satiety response. Therefore, the aim of this study was to add whey powder, which is lost as waste in cheese production and has many health benefits, to bread, which is consumed very much daily in Turkey, to enrich bread in terms of nutrients and to examine the effect of whey powder added bread on postprandial blood glucose. The study is planned to be conducted in 20 healthy individuals aged 19-35 years with normal body mass index (18.5-25.0 kg/m2) between August 2024 and March 2025. In the study, all volunteer participants will be randomly assigned to a breakfast meal consisting of all bread types (bread made from white flour, bread made from white flour with whey powder added, bread made from whole wheat flour and bread made from whole wheat flour with whey powder added) for four consecutive days. During these days, participants will have their fasting blood glucose measured immediately before the meal containing the test bread and will then be asked to consume the entire test bread with their breakfast meal within 15 minutes. After breakfast, postprandial blood glucose will be measured at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 minutes. Food consumption records will be taken by the researchers and participants will be instructed not to eat or drink anything 8 hours before breakfast and not to perform any physical activity other than their daily activities during that day. Anthropometric measurements will be taken by the researchers using appropriate methods and food consumption records will be questioned in detail on a daily basis. According to the food consumption record, the types and amounts of foods consumed daily will be determined and energy, macro and micronutrient values will be analyzed using the Turkey Specific Nutrition Information System (BeBIS) computer program. There is no study in the literature investigating the effect of whey powder added to bread on blood glucose. In addition, enriching bread, which is very important in the nutrition of the Turkish nation, with whey powder, which is considered as "waste", will contribute to both sustainability and economy.

Inclusion criteria

• having a normal BMI (18.5-25.0 kg/m2),
• being between 19-35 years of age,
• not having any chronic disease,
• not taking any medication, multivitamin or mineral supplements,
• not drinking alcohol or smoking,
• not engaging in heavy physical activity,
• not being pregnant or lactating.

Exclusion criteria

• having very low and high BMI (<18.5 kg/m2 and >25.0 kg/m2),
• being younger than 19 years and older than 35 years,
• having any chronic disease,
• taking medication, multivitamin or mineral supplements,
• alcohol and smoking, heavy physical activity,
• being pregnant or lactating