Use of glycomacropeptide to improve women's health

Abstract

Methods for improving the health of a female human or non-human animal are disclosed. The methods include the step of administering to the animal compositions including an effective amount of glycomacropeptide (GMP) for effectuating the methods. Specifically, the methods can be used to increase the rate of fat metabolism or fat oxidation, decrease percentage of body fat, increase the rate of bone mineralization, increase bone mineral content, increase bone mineral density, and/or increase bone strength in the animal. GMP-containing compositions can be used according to the disclosed methods to treat obesity and related metabolic conditions, or to treat or prevent osteoporosis, osteopenia, and other conditions related to loss of bone mineral content or bone strength.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for improving the health of a female human or non-human animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a composition comprising glycomacropeptide (GMP), whereby the bone strength in the animal is increased 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the female animal is human. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered orally. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is a food product, a nutraceutical, or a dietary supplement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal does not have phenylketonuria (PKU). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the composition is such that from 0.15 to 1.0 g GMP per kg of body weight is administered to the animal per day. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is used to treat one or more conditions associated with bone strength. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the condition treated is osteoporosis or osteopenia.