Today we return to Examine.com and a review of a 6-week randomized controlled trial in 97 men and women with uncontrolled grade 1 primary hypertension. The researchers had the people enrolled in the trial taking Ma’aljobon, a whey protein preparation traditionally used in Persian medicine, to find out if it could reduce both diastolic and systolic blood pressure (the primary outcomes.)
Key study details
“The participants took either 50 grams of Ma’aljobon powder dissolved in 200 milliliters of water or a placebo (maltodextrin) daily. The researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure at the start of the trial and at weeks 2, 4, and 6.”
Ma’aljobon is a traditional Persian medicine preparation made from cow milk. The process involves heating the milk and then adding vinegar to it, which causes the milk to coagulate. The liquid portion that remains after this coagulation is collected and processed further.
The final product contains whey proteins, specifically the major biological components such as lactoferrin, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and immunoglobulins, which are identified as the main proteins in the whey.
These components are similar to those found in whey protein powders, especially whey concentrate which has not been extremely filtered and processed, which are also rich in essential amino acids and have nutritive, preventive, and curative properties.
However, the specific nutritional content and amino acid profile of Ma’aljobon may vary depending on its preparation method, and it can also, just like whey protein powders, be processed into a powder form through techniques like spray drying.
So, while Ma’aljobon shares similarities with whey protein powders in terms of its biological components, the exact nutritional content may differ based on how it is manufactured.
Still, it’s very similar to a whey concentrate protein powder.
“Ma’aljobon reduced diastolic blood pressure (from 93 to 80 mmHg) and systolic blood pressure (from 150 to 131 mmHg) more than the placebo (from 87 to 82 mmHg for diastolic and 148 to 139 mmHg for systolic).”
That is quite a remarkable result. Biochemically speaking, the most important factors that influence blood pressure are cardiac output (elevated heart rate or stroke volume increases blood pressure,) volume of blood (more blood equals higher blood pressure,) viscosity of blood (thicker blood equals higher blood pressure,) peripheral vascular resistance (more resistance for the blood flow in blood vessels equals higher blood pressure,) rigidity of vessel walls (stiff vessel walls equals higher blood pressure,) elasticity of vessel walls (better elasticity equals lower blood pressure,) hormones (stress hormones increase blood pressure,) and potassium levels (low potassium increase blood pressure.)
So, as we can see, a lot of the factors of elevated blood pressure can be attributed to damage of the cardiovascular system such as the heart itself and calcification of the blood vessels. These are things that the body can easily break down, heal and repair if it gets the right nutrients, which are animal fats and essential amino acids. Thus, this might indicate that the participants in the study had too little real bioavailable protein in their diets for healing of the cardiovascular system to occur.
There is also the possibility that the highly biological components of milk, as in the whey, helped in managing stress levels and improved hormone profiles.
And, of course, milk, and especially the whey portion, is an excellent source of potassium with roughly about 470 mg per 100 grams of powder. So, 50 grams of Ma’aljobon would likely provide about 235 mg of potassium or more, which can help if they had a skewed balance between potassium and sodium, as most people have.
Either way, without digging too deep and chasing rabbits, introducing highly bioavailable amino acids and other biological compounds from whey can have beneficial and healing effects on the body.
Of course, you will get the same healing effect from simply consuming red meat and animal fat (saturated fats, cholesterol, omega-3,) but there is a possibility that adding some whey, or raw milk, can help to speed up certain healing processes, which can be something to keep in mind if you have such health problems.Â
Also, the highly bioavailable potassium and other minerals within whey will help as well.
Examine.com’s take
“This trial provides preliminary evidence that Ma’aljobon may lower blood pressure in people with grade 1 hypertension, with a surprisingly large effect size. However, the notable improvement in the placebo group suggests other factors — e.g., regression to the mean or study participation effects — may have also contributed to the results.”
As you claim to be a research website, you should know that people enrolled in studies and trials tend to make better choices and take better care of themselves which can influence the progress of both groups, including the placebo group, as their improved behavior may contribute to perceived improvements in their condition. That is why you look at the difference between the control group (placebo) and the treatment group (the compound being tested.)
Since people tend to do better when being part of something, both groups will likely do some improvements in their lifestyles, so usually it does not matter. What matters is if there is a significant difference between the groups.
Of course, the best scenario is always to have controlled settings where both groups do the exact same things on a daily basis except for the thing being tested. But that is expensive and cumbersome and not that many people would like to be locked up and observed, monitored and governed for 6 weeks or more.
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