Researchers at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences of South Ural State University (
SUSU), a partner of TV BRICS, have found that whey-based drinks enriched with active peptides have pronounced hypoglycaemic properties.

Scientists of the Department of Food and Biotechnology at SUSU are engaged in the production of hydrolysates from secondary animal raw materials. As Associate Professor Oksana Zinina explains, animal protein has a more valuable amino acid composition compared to vegetable protein, which increases the probability of obtaining peptides with hypoglycaemic activity.

The active peptides produced by this process lower blood sugar levels. They also have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties.

Researchers from Chelyabinsk have developed an optimal formulation of the drink to lower blood glucose levels and conducted initial clinical trials together with scientists from the South Ural State Medical University.

“We assume that after appropriate confirmation of effectiveness, our protein drink may become useful in terms of glycaemic regulation,” said Anna Nikolina, a master’s student at the Department of Food and Biotechnology at SUSU.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterised by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia) due to problems with insulin secretion or action. Patients with this disease require an easily digestible, vitamin-rich diet to help keep glucose levels in check. Protein hydrolysates are now considered promising active ingredients in speciality foods.

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