Immunocal is a registered trademark of Immunotec Inc.

Using data from an animal study, we created a model that correlates protein composition with the ability to elevate intracellular glutathione levels in the liver. Using this model a numerical comparison value for any whey protein powder can be computed if the protain composition is given. This index has the name, Cysteine Donor Efficacy (CDE) since whey protein mostly acts to increase glutathione levels by acting as a more effective donor of the amino acid, cysteine. We ran the numbers for 16 whey powder products. Immunocal is used as the baseline because it is very well validated. For the top performers, we then calculated equivalent amounts using the model. That is, by what factor must the protein percentages be increased to get a CDE of 7.95? This gives an adjusted comparison with the Immunocal benchmark. Then the equivalent amounts were multiplied by cost per gram of protein to give a comparative cost per CDE unit. This table lists results of this comparison for six protein products:

* Immunocal prices based on the best price we were able to find, $72.54 for a 30 packet box available at:
www.discountwholesaleonline.com

It takes 2.2 ounces of the protein in unflavored Jarrow whey powder to equal the effect of 1 ounce of protein in Immunocal. But even then, the increased amount is only $1.32 for the Jarrow compared to $6.73 for the Immunocal. Therefore, Jarrow unflavored whey powder is more cost-effective than Immunocal by a factor of 5.101, that is, the same effect for less than one fifth the cost. Small variations in composition can have a big effect on the affordability of whey protein CDE. The CDE is really what you are paying for when using whey protein powder as a glutathione supplement.

Product details:

Details of our evaluation: For a general report of this evaluation, click here. A review of the mathematical basis of this model and a statistical validation click here. The computer model is implemented using a Java class called wheyCalc. To veiw the source code, click here. To validate the model, we use the standard deviation of the averages to calculate the probability that a repeat equivalent to the original test trials would produce data that is:

• consistent with the computer model
• produces the same or a substantially similar sort sequence of product scores.

The main difficulty with this is that it was based on an animal study and a small scale study at that. Humans probably do not respond to whey protein in exactly the same manner as mice. Therefore, these estimates are likely to be only approximate. Still, there are details about how whey increases glutathione levels that are not well understood. Further study could lead to more effective, more affordable, and better validated whey protein glutathione supplements. This would allow more people to enjoy the health benefits of whey protein.

For gentle, long term maintenence of elevated glutathione levels, 32 grams of unflavored Jarrow would probably be sufficient. It may be helpful to take additional supplements to support the recycling and regulation functons of glutathione metabolism. A daily dose of 250mg of alpha lipoic acid and 800mg of conjugated linoleic acid is one protocol that may meet these requirements. Please note, this particular protocol has not undergone any sort of controlled clinical evaluation to validate its effectiveness. It is an example of protocols that one might find helpful, not a specific recommendation.