Fractions of whey permeate, preferably made, of sweet whey permeate and more preferably of hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyze sweet whey permeate are provided, particularly for use in the production of pharmaceutical compositions, or of food, for the treatment, prophylaxis, or alleviation of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, and thus of symptoms of the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and complications in humans.