High protein foods
As a representative example of protein foods, there is a nutrient subsidiary food called protein, which forms a market for athletes, females, elderly people, and the like, and the commercial form thereof varies. The raw materials therefore mainly are vegetable protein represented by
soybean protein and animal protein, such as albumen and whey.
Whey proteins are the group of milk proteins that remain soluble in milk serum or whey after precipitation of caseins at pH 4.6 and 20.degree. C. The proteins in whey are divided into two principal groups, i.e. the globulin fraction containing mainly beta-lactoglobulin (bet.-Lg) and immuno-globulins (Ig-G), and the albumin fraction including alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-La) and blood serum albumin (BSA). Whey and whey protein have been utilized from time immemorable for nutritional purposes. In addition, whey was recommended in folk and ancient medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The proteins in milk may provide significant nutritional and other health benefits to infants and adults. Among the proteins that confer such benefits are casein, which is a mixture of phosphoproteins naturally occuring in milk. This material contains all of the common
amino acids and is particularly rich in essential amino acids. Due to its desirable nutritional balance, casein is very useful as an ingredient in many food products, particularly cheese analogs. Albumin, especially human serum albumin (HSA), is an important protein of the circulatory system. The protein is produced in the liver and has a major role in maintaining normal osmotic pressure of body fluids, such as blood. It also serves as a carrier of various molecules. Serum albumin is the major protein component of serum in higher species. Its role is in maintaining osmotic balance and it is involved in the binding and transport of sparingly soluble metabolic products from one tissue to another, especially in the transport of free fatty acids. Human serum albumin (HSA) is the major protein component of plasma. The primary function of albumin in plasma is maintenance of the colloid osmotic pressure within the blood vessel. Furthermore, the protein acts as a carrier of several ligands, for instance bilirubin and fatty acids. uman
serum albumin is used in therapy for the treatment of hypovolemia, shock and hypoalbuminemia. It is also used as an additive in perfusion liquid for extracorporeal circulation. Furthermore, human serum albumin is frequently used as experimental antigen. The use of vegetable protein, especially soy protein, is receiving greater attention due to its health benefit claims. Soybean protein powders have been used in a wide variety of foods such as processed meat products, fish paste products, frozen cooked foods, beverages, desserts and the like for various purposes, for example, to improve physical properties of foods, to enhance nutrition of foods, and to reduce manufacturing cost of foods. High-protein foods are often called "protein supplements" or "compound proteins". They have incorporated therein various vitamins, minerals, flavors, and the like in appropriate amounts and have now been utilized in the food field including health foods and
nutrient supplementary foods. For example, they find use as an aid for strengthening the muscles for athletes, weight reduction for obese persons, supplying nutrition to postoperative patients, improving nutritional balance of diets, and the like. High protein nutritive foods are useful for patients who need to ingest large amounts of proteins, such as those with liver diseases, nephrosis syndrome, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer or the like and postoperative patients. They are also well suited as dietary foods for healthy persons. It is known that high-protein diets can be beneficial for
weight loss. In addition, high-protein,
low carbohydrate diets have been recommended by some doctors for diabetes patients.
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