Many weight loss regimens result in loss of fat at an expense of lean muscle loss.   But a supplement known as Prolibra available soon in the United States and Europe can help reduce fat without the loss of lean body mass that often accompanies traditional diets, nutraingredients.com reported.

The supplement, a hydrolyzed whey protein isolate or whey peptide, manufactured by Glandia Nutritionals shows in a 12-week double blind, placebo controlled U.S. study that adults consuming Prolibra lost 82 percent more fat than the placebo group and retained twice as much lean muscle mass.

In a 2004 study, the company asked 42 people to reduce caloric intake, but most of them failed to follow the direction. Still those who took Prolibra lost 6 percent of fat over a period of 16 weeks. 

Glandia is waiting for a patent from the Europe on the new whey peptide.  It has not yet confirmed exactly when Prolibra, which can be potentially used in beverages, powered beverage mixes and snack bars as the company suggests, will be put on the market.