Definitions of Terms Associated With

Whey-Protein-Powder

 

 

Alpha-Lactalbumin

 

Alpha-Lactalbumin is an important whey protein in cow's milk. It also occurs in the milk of all other mammalian species, including humans for whom it is the major protein in breast milk. It is a source of essential amino acids and quite high in tryptophan and cysteine. A significant difference between Alpha-Lactalbumin and Beta-Lactalbumin is that it will not form gels upon denaturation and acidification due to its lacking in any free thiol group that can serve as the point at which covalent aggregation commences. Alpha-Lactalbumin binds zinc and calcium strongly and may possess bactericidal or antitumor activity.

 

 

Amino Acid

 

Amino Acids are one of the 20 building blocks of protein that contain oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen and are linked together by peptide bonds to form proteins or that function as chemical messengers and as intermediates in metabolism. The 20 amino acids are alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threoline, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine. Eight of those 20 amino acids cannot be synthesized in human cells and thus must be consumed as part of a person's diet. These eight are called essential amino acids

 

 

Antioxidant

 

Antioxidants are any substances that reduce damage due to oxygen, or oxidative damage, such as the damage caused by free radicals. It is believed that antioxidants reduce the risks of cancer and antioxidants clearly slow the progression of macular degeneration.

 

 

Beta-Lactoglobulin

 

Beta-Lactoglobulin is the major whey protein component of cow's milk. This protein may also be found in many other mammals, the notable exception being humans. Glycodelin, secreted by the endometrium, is the human equivalent. Beta-Lactoglobulin binds several hydrophobic molecules, inferring that it plays a role in their transportation in addition to existing mainly as a food source, though its function remains unknown.

 

 

Bovine Serum Albumin

 

Bovine serum albumin, or BSA, is a serum albumin protein possessing several biochemical applications, including blots, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs). Albumin is used to describe a protein, or protein group, that are soluble in water. Albumin is the protein most occurring in the circulatory system. Serum albumin is primarily responsible for the maintenance of blood pH levels. Bovine Serum Albumin binds free fatty acids, lipids and other flavor compounds. BSA makes up approximately 5% of the protein in whey protein concentrates.

 

 

Cysteine

 

Cysteine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning that humans can synthesize it. Highly reactive, cysteine is an important structural component of many enzymes and proteins. Elderly and infants and persons with certain metabolic disease, or those suffering from malabsorption syndromes, find cysteine essential. One of cysteine's primary applications is in the production of flavors at an industrial level and cysteine, due to its direct counteraction to acetaldehyde, a major by-product of the metabolisation of alcohol and responsible for many of alcohol's harmful effects, has been found to be a remedy to certain hangover symptoms.

 

 

Globular Protein

 

Globular proteins are those possessing a "glob-like" or spherical appearance when applied in free solution. Having a variety of functions, globular proteins facilitate transport, provide storage and act as enzymes.

 

 

Glutathione

 

Glutathione is the body's most important antioxidant as it is within every cell in the human body. In addition to being an anti-oxidant, glutathione is an important detoxifier, helping the liver to remove pollutants, drugs and other chemicals that are foreign to the body.

 

 

Immunoglobulins

 

Playing an important role in your body's immune system, immunoglobulins are proteins produced by lymphocytes and plasma cells. Attaching themselves to foreign bodies such as bacteria, viruses, fungus, cancer cells or animal dander, immunoglobulins assist in their destuction. As a result of this, immunoglobulins are sometimes known as antibodies. When your body has a low level of immunoglobulins you may have a higher risk of infection.

 

 

Serum Albumin

 

Serum albumin is the most frequently occuring plasma protein in humans, as well as other mammals. Often simply referred to as albumin, this protein is essential in order to maintain the osmotic pressure required to distribute body fluids between body tissues and intravascular compartments. Additionally, albumin acts as transport protein for fatty acids and hemin as well as a plasma carrier by binding several hydrophobic steriod hormones in a non-specific manner.

 

 

Undenatured Whey Proteins

 

Undenatured whey proteins make up one of the two major protein groups of bovine milk (the other being caseins and make up approximately 20 percent of bovine milk's total protein. Undenatured means native structure. In other words, it has not undergone heat processing, pH changes or agitation that may alter its chemical structure and thus provides much stronger immune system building ability.

 

 

Whey Protein Concentrate

 

One of the three major forms of whey protein, concentrate has higher levels of bioactive compounds and carbohydrates in the form of lactose and low levels of cholesterol and fat. Whey protein concentrate is generally 29% to 89% by weight.

 

 

Whey Protein Hydrolysate

 

When protein hydrolysate, one of the three major whey protein forms, are partically hydrolyzed predigested whey proteins that are more easy to absorb.

 

 

Whey Protein Isolate

 

Whey protein isolates are one of the three major whey protein forms. Though generally lower in bioactive compounds than the other whey protein forms, the isolates are processed to remove the fat and lactose, they are over 90 percent protein by weight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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