This study shows that the type of protein on a hypocaloric diet does matter! While all groups lost
about the same amount of weight, the control group (which didn't get a larger percentage of their
calories from protein, and didn't perform resistance exercise) lost 2.5kg of fat; the whey group
averaged 4.2kg fat loss and 2kg muscle gain, and the casein group averaged 7kg fat loss and 4kg
muscle gain!
Casein is good stuff!
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Effect of a hypocaloric diet, increased protein intake and resistance training on lean mass gains
and fat mass loss in overweight police officers.
Demling RH, DeSanti L.
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. [email hidden]
We compare the effects of a moderate hypocaloric, high-protein diet and resistance training, using
two different protein supplements, versus hypocaloric diet alone on body compositional changes in
overweight police officers. A randomized, prospective 12-week study was performed comparing the
changes in body composition produced by three different treatment modalities in three study groups.
One group (n = 10) was placed on a nonlipogenic, hypocaloric diet alone (80% of predicted needs). A
second group (n = 14) was placed on the hypocaloric diet plus resistance exercise plus a
high-protein intake
(1.5 g/kg/day) using a casein protein hydrolysate. In the third group (n = 14) treatment was
identical to the second, except for the use of a whey protein hydrolysate. We found that weight
loss was approximately 2.5 kg in all three groups. Mean percent body fat with diet alone
decreased from a baseline of 27 +/- 1.8 to 25 +/- 1.3% at 12 weeks. With diet, exercise and
casein the decrease was from 26 +/-
2.7 to 18 +/- 1.1% and with diet, exercise and whey protein the decrease was from 27 +/- 1.6 to 23
+/- 1.3%. The mean fat loss was 2. 5 +/- 0.6, 7.0 +/- 2.1 and 4.2 +/- 0.9 kg in the three groups,
respectively. Lean mass gains in the three groups did not change for diet alone, versus gains of 4
+/- 1.4 and 2 +/- 0.7 kg in the casein and whey groups, respectively. Mean increase in strength
for chest, shoulder and legs was 59 +/- 9% for casein and 29 +/- 9% for whey, a significant group
difference. This significant difference in body composition and strength is likely due to improved
nitrogen retention and overall anticatabolic effects caused by the peptide components of the
casein hydrolysate. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel