Hydrolyzed Whey Protein vs Whey Protein Concentrate
How hydrolyzed whey protein and whey protein concentrate differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Hydrolyzed Whey Protein | Whey Protein Concentrate | |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | High | High |
| How it is absorbed | Pre-digested by enzymes into peptides, which appear in blood slightly faster. Faster appearance has not translated into meaningfully greater muscle gain over intact whey. | Intact milk whey proteins digested to amino acids and small peptides. Rapidly digested and rich in leucine, which drives muscle protein synthesis. |
| Typical dose | 20-40 g protein per serving | 20-40 g protein per serving |
| Common uses | hypoallergenic infant and medical formulas, GI intolerance of intact protein | meeting daily protein targets, post-exercise protein |
| Side effects | Bitter taste. Partial hydrolysis does not make it safe for milk allergy. | Contains some lactose; can cause bloating in lactose intolerance. |
| Cost | High | Low |
| Also called | whey hydrolysate, WPH | WPC, WPC80 |
When to Choose Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
Choose hydrolyzed whey protein when you need pre-digested protein for a medical or GI reason. Extensively hydrolyzed whey is used in hypoallergenic formulas under medical direction.
Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
Faster absorption, worse taste, higher price, and no proven long-term advantage.
What to look for: Reserve for specific GI tolerance problems; isolate does the same job for less.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Whey Protein Concentrate
Choose whey protein concentrate when you tolerate lactose and want the lowest cost per gram of protein. Protein content varies widely by grade; WPC80 (about 80% protein by weight) is the usual supplement grade.
Whey Protein Concentrate
The value choice. Its lactose content is low enough for most people with mild intolerance.
What to look for: At least 75% protein by scoop weight, a published amino acid profile, and no free amino acids in the ingredient list.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
The Protein Powder category in Titrate's index holds 5,888 labels from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database, 3,475 of them currently on market, out of 214,745 labels indexed in total.
Supplement Search loads one category at a time. Choose the Protein Powder tab, then type a form such as "hydrolyzed" under Must contain, or a form to avoid under Must not contain.
Related
References
Institute of Medicine. National Academies Press, 2005. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids.
Moore DR, et al. Ingested protein dose response of muscle and albumin protein synthesis after resistance exercise in young men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(1):161-168.
Tang JE, et al. Ingestion of whey hydrolysate, casein, or soy protein isolate: effects on mixed muscle protein synthesis at rest and following resistance exercise in young men. J Appl Physiol. 2009;107(3):987-992.
Schoenfeld BJ, Aragon AA, Krieger JW. The effect of protein timing on muscle strength and hypertrophy: a meta-analysis. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):53.
Macnaughton LS, et al. The response of muscle protein synthesis following whole-body resistance exercise is greater following 40 g than 20 g of ingested whey protein. Physiol Rep. 2016;4(15):e12893.
Jäger R, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:20.
Morton RW, et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(6):376-384.