A randomized controlled trial in healthy participants to compare the insulinogenic effects of whey protein and pea protein co-ingested with glucose.

2026-01-30
PloS one 21(1)
- Pariyarath Sangeetha Thondre
- Elysia Young
- Sam Pledger
- Sarah Kefyalew
- Isabel Hatami
- Caroline Perreau
- Laetitia Guérin Deremaux
- Catherine Lefranc-Millot
- Jonathan Tammam

PubMed: 41615946
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340386

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: 30 healthy individuals
Methods: single-blind, randomised, crossover study compared the effects of co-ingesting glucose with 10 or 20 g whey protein and glucose with 10 or 20 g pea protein, with a reference product (glucose)
Blinding: Single-blind
Funding: Unclear

Increasing protein content of foods is effective in reducing postprandial hyperglycaemia, but animal protein may exacerbate insulin sensitivity. This single-blind, randomised, crossover study compared the effects of co-ingesting glucose with 10 or 20 g whey protein and glucose with 10 or 20 g pea protein, with a reference product (glucose) on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in 30 healthy individuals. Blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes after product consumption. The trial was registered with Clinical Trials.gov (NCT04871971). Glucose incremental area under the curve (mmol/l*min) at 180 minutes was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) for glucose with 20 g pea protein (89.8 ± 51.6) and glucose with 20g whey protein (98.5 ± 58.0) compared to glucose (143.2 ± 74.0). Insulin incremental area under the curve at 180 minutes (µU/ml*min) for glucose with 20 g pea protein (4304.56 ± 1896.07) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than glucose with 20g whey protein (6311.81 ± 3489.12). This study has shown a superior effect of pea protein over whey protein in reducing glycaemic response, without any excessive increase in insulinaemic response.

Research Insights

Pea Protein→Reduced Glycemic Response
Glucose incremental area under the curve (mmol/l*min) at 180 minutes was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) for glucose with 20 g pea protein (89.8 ± 51.6) ... compared to glucose (143.2 ± 74.0).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
20 g
Pea Protein→Reduced Insulin Response
Insulin incremental area under the curve at 180 minutes (µU/ml*min) for glucose with 20 g pea protein (4304.56 ± 1896.07) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than glucose with 20g whey protein (6311.81 ± 3489.12).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
20 g
Whey Protein→Increased Insulin Response
Insulin incremental area under the curve at 180 minutes (µU/ml*min) for glucose with 20 g pea protein (4304.56 ± 1896.07) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than glucose with 20g whey protein (6311.81 ± 3489.12).
Effect
Harmful
Effect size
Large
Dose
20 g
Whey Protein→Reduced Glycemic Response
Glucose incremental area under the curve (mmol/l*min) at 180 minutes was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) for glucose with 20 g pea protein (89.8 ± 51.6) ... compared to glucose (143.2 ± 74.0).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
20 g