The Use of Whey or Skimmed Milk Powder in Fortified Blended Foods for Vulnerable Groups

Abstract

Fortified blended foods (FBF), especially corn soy blend, are used as food aid for millions of people worldwide, especially malnourished individuals and vulnerable groups. There are only a few studies evaluating the effect of FBF on health outcomes, and the potential negative effect of antinutrients has not been examined. Different lines of evidence suggest that dairy proteins have beneficial effects on vulnerable groups. Here we review the evidence on the effects of adding whey or skimmed milk powder to FBF used for malnourished infants and young children or people living with HIV or AIDS. Adding whey or skimmed milk powder to FBF improves the protein quality, allowing a reduction in total amount of protein, which could have potential metabolic advantages. It also allows for a reduced content of soy and cereal and thereby a reduction of potential antinutrients. It is possible that adding milk could improve weight gain, linear growth, and recovery from malnutrition, but this needs to be confirmed. Bioactive factors in whey might have beneficial effects on the immune system and muscle synthesis, but evidence from vulnerable groups is lacking. Milk proteins will improve flavor, which is important for acceptability in vulnerable groups. The most important disadvantage is a considerable increase in price. Adding 10-15% milk powder would double the price, which means that such a product should be used only in well-defined vulnerable groups with special needs. The potential beneficial effects of adding milk protein and lack of evidence in vulnerable groups call for randomized intervention studies.

Including whey protein and whey permeate in ready-to-use supplementary food improves recovery rates in children with moderate acute malnutrition: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

“…Whey is known for its high-quality amino acid profile when compared with plant-sourced proteins (Supplemental Table 5). Whey protein is an excellent source of branched-chain amino acids (16), which are metabolized by muscle and counteract lean tissue breakdown (42)-a critical step in recovery from acute malnutrition. Whey supplementation has also been shown to increase fasting insulin and facilitate the retention of absorbed amino acids (12,15,16).…”

“…At its most basic level, milk protein consists of 2 major components: whey and casein. Whereas casein stimulates production of insulin-like growth factor I (15), whey has been linked to muscle restoration, bone growth, immune function, and intestinal integrity (11)(12)(13)(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

Differential effects of casein versus whey on fasting plasma levels of insulin, IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3: results from a randomized 7-day supplementation study in prepubertal boys

“…As both insulin and IGF-1 have a function in a number of noncommunicable diseases, this might provide a better understanding of the function of milk in preventing and developing noncommunicable diseases. Furthermore, identifying the components in cow's milk responsible for growth stimulation is important for designing milk-based foods for nutritional rehabilitation in developing countries (Hoppe et al, 2008) and in clinical nutrition.…”

Delivering Improved Nutrition

“…United States and international agencies have unified their efforts to strengthen and enrich the nutritional quality of food aid products in the last 10 years as well as to improve the cost-effectiveness and administration of nutrition programs with the reestablishment of dairy ingredients in the Food Aid Basket. 6,7 Food Aid Timeline Food aid has evolved continuously since its inception in the 1950s when US Public Law PL480 was enacted to initiate the Food Aid Program and the Farm Bill. Food shortages and famine in Asia and Africa in the 1960s spurred new international nutrition and agriculture initiatives to address hunger.…”

“…During this time, research emerged on the importance of protein, specifically animal protein, in preventing and treating malnutrition. 7,8 As a way to better improve nutritional status among program beneficiaries, milk powder and whey protein were added back into the Fortified Blended Foods (FBF).…”