Whey protein and probiotic supplementation ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice

The impact of combined supplementation with whey protein (0.2 g kg−1 body weight) and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (8 log CFU/day) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice (n = 10 per group) was assessed in this study. Animals were assigned to four groups: C, healthy control; CL, colitic without supplementation; CS, colitic with whey protein; and CSP, colitic with whey protein and probiotic. Daily intake of whey protein, alone or in combination with the probiotic, reduced weight loss, preserved the colon weight-to-length ratio, and alleviated colitis symptoms, as assessed by the disease activity index (DAI). Histological analysis showed that the combination of whey protein and probiotic (CSP) significantly reduced inflammatory infiltration. Assuming this mouse model is representative of human conditions, these findings suggest that whey protein, either alone or in combination with the probiotic, may offer an effective non-pharmacological approach for managing colitis by modulating immune responses and inflammation.