Effect of a 12-mo intervention with whey protein powder on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial

Fengping Li; Ruikun He; Zhongbao Yue; Haoran Yi; Likang Lu; Longbang Zhang; Jiahui Shi; Chenchen Zheng; Jiayi Jiao; Jianying Peng; Benchao Li; Shuang Rong

doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.019

Effect of a 12-mo intervention with whey protein powder on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial

Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 Nov 20:S0002-9165(24)00889-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Fengping Li¹, Ruikun He², Zhongbao Yue², Haoran Yi³, Likang Lu³, Longbang Zhang⁴, Jiahui Shi⁴, Chenchen Zheng⁴, Jiayi Jiao⁴, Jianying Peng³, Benchao Li³, Shuang Rong⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Food and Nutrition Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Clinical Nutrition, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China.
² Innovation R&D department, BYHEALTH Institute of Nutrition & Health, Huangpu District, Guangzhou, China.
³ Academy of Nutrition and Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
⁴ Department of Food and Nutrition Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
⁵ Department of Food and Nutrition Health, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Clinical Nutrition, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China; Academy of Nutrition and Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: rongshuang@whu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39571910
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.019

Abstract

Background: Our previous animal study revealed that supplementation with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) alleviated Alzheimer's disease pathology in mice. We hypothesized that supplementation with whey protein powder rich in MFGM, taurine, and B vitamins would improve cognitive function in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objectives: We conducted a 12-mo randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of whey protein powder on cognitive function in older adults with MCI.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the active intervention group (whey protein powder, 15 g/d) or the control group (placebo, 15 g/d). We performed comprehensive cognitive function tests at baseline, 6 mo, and 12 mo. The primary outcome was global cognitive function determined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Secondary outcomes included other cognitive subdomains, and body composition. The data were analyzed using the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle.

Results: A total of 107 participants [mean (standard deviation) age 62.94 (4.33) y] were randomly assigned to the active intervention group (n = 53), or control group (n = 54). In the ITT analysis, the mean change in MoCA score at 12 mo was 3.23 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.17, 4.30] in the active intervention group and 1.42 (95% CI: 0.36, 2.48) in the control group, with the mean difference between groups (group × time interaction) in change of MoCA score was 1.81 (95% CI: 0.32, 3.30). The modified ITT and per-protocol analyses showed similar results. The results also found a significant beneficial effect of the active intervention for several secondary cognitive outcomes such as Digit Symbol Substitution Test score, and the mean difference between groups in the ITT analysis was 2.72 (95% CI: 0.20, 5.23). Few side effects were reported during the study, and there was no statistically significant difference between groups (P = 0.74).

Conclusions: Supplementation with whey protein powder rich in MFGM, taurine, and B vitamins for 12 mo improve cognitive function in older adults with MCI. This trial was registered at the https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=150871 as ChiCTR2200062705.

Keywords: cognitive function; elderly; mild cognitive impairment; milk fat globule membrane; whey protein powder.