Hydrolyzed Whey Protein vs Whey Protein Isolate
How hydrolyzed whey protein and whey protein isolate differ in potency, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Hydrolyzed Whey Protein | Whey Protein Isolate | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Further filtered to remove most fat and lactose. Digestion and amino acid delivery are similar to concentrate. |
| 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 | lactose sensitivity, lower calorie per gram of protein |
| Side effects | Bitter taste. Partial hydrolysis does not make it safe for milk allergy. | Usually tolerated by people with mild lactose intolerance. Not suitable for milk protein allergy. |
| Cost | High | Moderate |
| Also called | whey hydrolysate, WPH | WPI |
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 Isolate
Choose whey protein isolate when concentrate causes GI symptoms or you want more protein per calorie. At least 90% protein by weight.
Whey Protein Isolate
Worth the extra cost for clear lactose intolerance or when calories per gram of protein matter.
What to look for: About 90% protein by scoop weight and under 1 g of lactose or carbohydrate per serving. Third-party certified.
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.