**8. Whey protein role in metabolic syndrome related to amelioration in pro-inflammatory cytokines**

Hormones, cytokines and various other compounds involved to prohibit insulin sensitivity are produced by adipose tissue, an endocrine organ [66]. It is established that in the obese people, there is an increased discharge of adipocytokines through adipose tissue and macrophages [92]. Pal & Ellis [93] found that supplementing whey protein (54 g) for 12 weeks had little effect on pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, C-reactive protein-CRP, and TNF-α) in overweight and obese participants. In rats with D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis and liver fibrosis, however, whey protein intake significantly decreased plasma amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines

*Bio-Molecular Characteristics of Whey Proteins with Relation to Inflammation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.99220*

**Figure 3.**

*Cytokine profile related to whey proteins; by inhibiting IL-1*α*, IL-1*β*, IL-6, TNF-* α*, CRP and IL-10 whey protein show anti-inflammatory effect while release of IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-8 and TNF-* α *showed its immunity related function [60, 96, 97].*

(IL-1β: 59 percent and IL-6: 29 percent) as paralleled to casein consumption [37]. Since consuming whey protein and its amino acids, a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines can be linked to a reduction in body weight gain [94]. In streptozotocininduced diabetic rats, whey protein fed in 100 mg amount related to body weight in kg and results showed the decrease in number of oxidative stress markers, like; MDA, nitric oxide, and ROS concentrations, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-4) and raised glutathione amount [81]. A study in which rats were fed with a food of more carbohydrate content, no fat diet to cause fatty livers (nonalcoholic fatty liver model) plus orally directed whey protein (0.15 g/d/rat) for 28 days resulted in decreased MDA and elevated glutathione levels [95]. Hence it can be concluded that whey proteins plays a vital role to enhance endogenous antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) and limits oxidative stress markers in obese, diabetic, or stroke patients, along with low expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α) [94]. TBARs are commonly used to measure lipid peroxidation products in cell and MDA is used as an oxidative stress marker. Summary of all cytokines related to whey proteins is discussed in **Figure 3**.
