Aug 10 2010 --- Cancer patients going through chemotherapy or radiotherapy often experience severe damage of the mucus layer lining the gastrointestinal tract. This side effect is called mucositis with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, heartburn, ulceration, bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. These side effects may result in reduced appetite and consequently a severe reduction of nutritional status, which delay recovery.

Arla Foods Ingredients is focused on providing cancer patients with ingredients to help relieve these undesirable side effects during chemotherapy. We are therefore investing in development of new tailor made whey based solutions.

Whey protein is an excellent protein choice for cancer patients since it is easy digestible and quickly absorbed compared to other protein sources. Furthermore, whey protein has the highest concentration of essential amino acids combined with a better bioavailability compared to other protein sources.

Besides this, whey protein contains specific amino acids, which may have beneficial effects to the cancer patient. Arla Foods Ingredients LACPRODAN products contains large amounts of the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine is normally a nonessential amino acid, but it may become conditionally essential in patients with cancer who experience glutamine depletion due to increased catabolic stress. Glutamine is a major substrate to intestinal mucus producing cells, which supports the formation of a protective gut barrier against infections and toxins.

A specific peptide found in whey, LACPRODAN CGMP-10, which is a caseino glyco-macropeptide contains a high proportion of the amino acid threonine. Threonine is an important component of the mucins that are a part of the protective mucus layer.

Thus, whey proteins are promising candidates to help improve the nutritional status of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Arla Foods Ingredients aim to deliver specifically developed new ingredients for cancer patients within the near future.