Effects of hydrolyzed whey protein after lactylation on muscle protein synthesis

Whey protein, as a natural complex, has demonstrated remarkable effects in enhancing human immunity, anti-cancer, muscle building, antiviral, antibacterial, and improving obesity. However, as a whole protein, long-term continuous supplementation may impose a burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Conversely, hydrolyzed whey protein after lactic acid modification requires only a small amount of proteolytic enzymes for digestion, causing minimal stimulation to the pancreas and being absorbed faster than whole protein products. It is worth noting that compared with whey protein, hydrolyzed whey protein after lactic acid modification has a higher leucine content, which can promote protein synthesis in C2C12 muscle cells by stimulating the expression of p-S6K and m-TOR. This conclusion has also been confirmed in animal and human experiments. Furthermore, after comprehensively evaluating factors such as market costs, we conducted gradient compounding of whey protein and hydrolyzed whey protein after lactic acid modification. Results showed a positive correlation between the proportion of hydrolyzed whey protein after lactic acid modification and the promotion of muscle protein synthesis in C2C12 cells, with significant differences observed even at 10%. The present findings position whey protein hydrolysate after lactylation as a functional nutrient that can stimulate anabolic signaling. This paper provides a potential strategy to address the limited product innovation in the whey protein market within the sports nutrition field.