Whey Protein Hydrolysates
What is a whey protein hydrolysate?
It is whey protein that has been hydrolyzed---which means it is sliced into smaller
pieces by enzymes.
What is hydrolysis?
It is the process of enzymatic breakdown of protein, normally conducted in the GI
tract (stomach and small intestine). Enzymatic hydrolysis can also be performed
outside the human body, and this is how whey protein hydrolysates are processed.
Food-grade enzymes are introduced to whey protein concentrate or isolate thus
reducing the size of the protein molecules, called peptides.
Is hydrolysis necessary?
Yes. It is critical to absorption. All dietary protein must be reduced (hydrolyzed) to
the smallest peptides called di and tripeptides, or free form aminos in order to be
absorbed by the body (muscles, organs, etc). If you consume protein that is not
hydrolyzed, like isolates, concentrates, blends, caseins, soy and caseinates, it must
be hydrolyzed in your GI tract (stomach and small intestine). Whatever protein is not
hydrolyzed down to di and tripeptides or free form aminos will not be transported into
the blood for distribution to your muscles and other tissues and will travel on into the
colon where it is not absorbed and becomes food for bacteria to metabolize which
results in gas, bloating and other generally unpleasant side effects.
Are other hydrolysates the same as Proto Whey?
Not at all! What is important is the DH or degree of hydrolysis. A high degree of
hydrolysis (high-DH) will produce more di and tripeptides and significantly lower
AMW (average molecular weight) whereas lower DH powders, often used due to their
lower cost and ease of flavoring may have little to no concentrations of di and
tripeptides or micro-peptides, a higher AMW, and may be relatively biologically
unchanged from their prior unhydrolyzed state. Proto Whey is currently the only
100% high-DH hydrolysate in the market.
How can I tell if a product has an effective level (High-DH) of hydrolysis?
The best test is to find out the percent of di and tripeptides. A high-DH will have over
30% to 40% di & tripeptides. Proto Whey, by far the best in the market, has 50% or
more di and tripeptides, which produces an AMW of less than 1,000-1,200 daltons.
Just as important, a top quality high-DH, biologically-efficient protein product like
Proto Whey contains low concentrations of amino acids; levels under 3-5% free form
aminos. Some products attempt to deceive the consumer by reducing their average
molecular weight tests by adding large amounts of free form aminos. This is not what
a true high-DH hydrolysate protein is. Adding amino acids to a true high-DH product
is a waste and undesirable as it could easily cause osmotic diarrhea and gas. Also,
check the ingredient listing to see if free form aminos are added, and for the
inclusion of whey protein hydrolysates in the number one spot (although this will not
tell you the DH of the hydrolysate).
What is the value of Proto Whey versus concentrate or isolate forms or other
whole proteins like casein, egg, collagen or soy?
Because Proto Whey is an extremely high-DH hydrolysate, the protein is absorbed
much faster and more efficiently than whole proteins. This means that your digestive
tract is able to absorb all of the protein you have consumed. In addition, the highly
increased levels of di & tripeptides that enter your system ready for immediate
absorption allows your body to retain more than would be possible if you were
consuming dietary protein that required complete digestion. Recent science has
shown that nitrogen retention and protein utilization is higher with hydrolysates
because they are handled differently by the liver as well as other tissues, including
brain, lung, and kidney.
Would adding free form aminos (BCAAs) or enzymes to a high-DH hydrolyzed
whey protein supplement increase the absorption or nutritional value?
No. The whole point of a true hydrolysate is to supply di and tripeptides (not free
form amino acids) ready for immediate absorption by speeding up and/or avoiding
the normally lengthy breakdown process and to insure delivery of di and tripeptides
(not free form amino acids) directly into the blood. Adding free form amino acids,
especially BCAAs, would actually decrease the nutritional value and entire purpose
behind consuming a high-DH whey hydrolysate. In addition, a quality high-DH
protein supplement would gain nothing as far as absorption by adding enzymes as it
should already be ready for immediate absorption. Though it might seem like it
makes sense, the reality is that enzymes, which are also proteins, may not survive
intact long enough to increase enzyme activity in the small intestine. In addition,
lack of enzyme activity is not really the barrier to full absorption of whole proteins. It
is more the time factor necessary to fully hydrolyze all the protein in a meal or
supplement before it passes out of the small intestine into the colon that is the
challenge.
Who benefits from using Proto Whey?
Virtually any person wishing to maximize their protein nutrition. This would include
bodybuilders, athletes of any kind, people on a diet or weight loss program or anyone
looking to derive maximum protein nutrition for the best price.
What about persons with allergies to milk products?
Proto Whey has virtually no allergenic response since the peptides are reduced to
micro peptides, which have no capacity to produce allergic response.
What about other persons with health issues such as diabetes and bariatric
surgery?
Persons with prior bariatric surgery report thriving on Proto Whey. They have
reported little to no “dumping syndrome” and appreciate the high level of absorption
in very little time. Diabetics also do very well with Proto Whey as it has low
carbohydrate and sugar and contains medium chain triglycerides and quality soluble
fiber.
Why are di and tripeptides a better form of protein nutrition than free form
aminos?
The liver does not metabolize protein absorbed as di and tripeptides in the same way
circulating amino acids are metabolized, particularly large doses of free form amino
acids (other than BCAAs, which normally by-pass first pass hepatic metabolism)
directly absorbed from the gut. The di and tripeptides absorbed into the blood are
utilized for protein synthesis at a higher rate. Once absorbed, the di and tripeptides
are not transaminated or deaminated by the liver to the same extent as circulating
amino acids. The liver limits the amount of free aminos that can be in the blood at
any one time, so large spikes in amino acids being absorbed from the gut increases
amino acid oxidation, which converts precious amino acids into energy rather than
protein.
In addition, levels of free form aminos greater than a few grams can cause osmotic
diarrhea, gas pains and other intestinal discomfort. Di and tripeptides do not have
this limitation because they have their own high-throughput transporter (PEPT-1), so
protein absorption is not limited in this way – a huge value to any athlete attempting
to absorb large amounts of protein necessary for peak recuperation and muscle
building. In addition di and tripeptides utilize PEPT1 and PEPT2 transporters
exclusively whereas free form aminos do not. Free amino acids use many low-
throughput high-specificity amino acid transporters. Recent studies that measure the
effects of di & tripeptides on their transporter systems (PEPT-1 particularly) have
shown that higher concentrations of di & tripeptides in the upper small intestines up-
regulates the intestine’s ability to consume more protein by increasing the density of
PEPT-1 transporters in the upper intestine. Recent studies have shown that the high
utilization of these transporters may up-regulate virtually all metabolic functions that
rely on protein such as muscular repair, immune response and neurological function.
I have heard that some proteins are fast and some are slow such as whey
concentrate and isolate, casein, and blends, which claim to have both. Why would
you want a specialized fast absorbing source protein like a high-DH whey protein
hydrolysate?
Because di & tripeptides are absorbed by a high-throughput low specificity
transporter (PEPT-1), high-DH whey hydrolysates are fundamentally different than
their whole protein cousins, WPC/WPI or whole casein or blends of both. Proto
Whey can stand alone or be added to either fast or slow whole proteins and still
maintain its unique affect on protein metabolism. So fundamentally, in addition to the
highest absorption value when consumed alone, Proto Whey hydrolysates added to
other protein blends make them better than they would otherwise be on their own.
I have heard and read that pure hydrolysates do not taste good. Is this true?
Generally speaking this is the biggest reason there aren’t many pure hydrolysate
powders on the market, and only one 100% high-DH product. Proto Whey by BNRG
has completely overcome this with proprietary processing of the hydrolysates and
newly engineered flavoring technology.
Are there other advantages to high-DH hydrolyzed whey?
Generally athletes know they can’t consume protein meals or supplements before
training or competing due to the time involved in digestion and the energy it steals
from muscles. With Proto Whey, you can load up with energy producing and
sustaining protein immediately prior to your athletic activities without worrying about
nausea, gas or other issues that may negatively affect your performance.
If I am consuming large amounts (over 20 grams) of protein per serving,
would Proto Whey have any effect?
As mentioned above, Proto Whey, when added to traditional slow and/or fast
proteins improve the performance of these other products. But in addition to
improving the performance of any whole protein supplement, Proto Whey has a
positive impact on efficient protein absorption, digestion, and utilization when
consumed alone. With whole proteins, the more that is consumed at one time,
as in a single shake, bar or meal, the less efficient digestion and ultimately absorption.
As the amount of protein in the gut increases, digestive processes, which are also
influenced by factors that increase motility (movement through the intestines) like
emotional stress and the stress associated with intense training, can become
overloaded and therefore less efficient. Conversely, since there is relatively little work
for the gut to do in terms of breakdown, large protein meals utilizing Proto Whey
continue to be virtually completely absorbed. With whole protein products, the amount
of wasted protein increases as the amount of protein consumed increases. With Proto
Whey this does not happen.