Researchers develop a super whey protein for older people

A research team is developing a formulation it describes as a “super whey protein” for people undergoing the ageing process. The work is being conducted in Europe, with testing taking place in the United Kingdom.

The product is intended to contain three types of vitamin and mineral blends: plant-based, dairy-based, and hybrid. The formulation also includes hemp seeds, lion’s mane mushrooms, and cocoa, which were selected for their potential contribution to muscle preservation.

Its protein component will combine animal and plant sources. Whey protein and casein provide the dairy elements, while protein extracted from hemp seeds supplies the plant-based component. The supplement is planned in coffee and cocoa flavours.

Researchers are examining the combinations using an artificial stomach developed at Aberystwyth University in Wales. The equipment reproduces the human digestive process and is being used to assess how the individual ingredients behave before the formulation proceeds to later development stages.

Whey protein is extracted from milk serum and is already widely used in dietary supplements. In the new formulation, it remains the main reference protein even as the researchers expand the use of plant-derived ingredients.

Casein, which also comes from milk, remains part of the protein mixture alongside whey and hemp protein. The work was reported on August 9, 2026, in the United Kingdom, with information published by O Globo and produced by eDairyNews.