• Whey protein beverage, homeostatic balancer of energy production and obesity reduction by regulating UCP1 gene expression
  • Alieh Abdolrezaie,1,* Hashem Nayeri,2
    1. Department of Biochemistry, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
    2. Department of Biochemistry, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.


  • Introduction: Introduction and Aim: The effect of high protein diets on weight management has always been controversial. The nutrients in whey protein have introduced this combination as the king of proteins which has potential benefits in weight management, obesity prevention and improvement of metabolic parameters. In this study, whey protein used to formulate a protein beverage and the effect of this nutrient composition on UCP1 gene expression was evaluated.
  • Methods: Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 male mice divided into four groups: placebo, treatment with whey protein supplement, exercise, and simultaneous treatment with supplement and exercise. Then the liver tissue sample was take and the expression of UCP1 gene in the liver under the influence of the supplement evaluated.
  • Results: Results: The studies showed that mice supplemented with whey protein beverage gained less weight than other groups. They also showed an increase in UCP1 expression and energy consumption as a result of whey protein supplementation.
  • Conclusion: Conclusion: This supplement increases the expression of the UCP1 gene as the protein responsible for cellular respiration in the liver and heat production in brown fat tissue, by inhibiting the proton gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane during the process of oxidative phosphorylation, it can create homeostatic balance in the body. Therefore, with the results of this research, this beverage can be considered as an important protein in reducing the development of obesity.
  • Keywords: Keywords: UCP1, Whey Protein, Obesity, Energy Metabolism, Supplement.