Whey Protein, is it Just the Aminos?
16/02/09
By Mark Gilbert
Whey protein has been known as a “special” protein for over 15 years amongst bodybuilders and sportsmen and new research keeps coming out all the time that supports its unique status as the most anabolic protein source. Usually, it is the exceptionally high levels of essential amino acids (EAAs) in whey that get the credit for its effectiveness but whey also contains high levels of sulfur-containing amino acids and branched chain amino acids, which likely have additional effects.
To try to determine if it is the high level of EAAs in whey which are primarily responsible for its muscle-building effects, researchers from Arizona State University gave elderly subjects a meal of either 15 grams of whey protein, about 7 grams of EAAs (the amount found in 15 grams of whey) or about 8 grams of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs). The researchers then measured how well each meal was able to increase protein synthesis (a measure of muscle building) over the next 3 ˝ hours.
The results showed that only the whey protein was able to significantly increase protein synthesis (although the EAAs increased it somewhat also). The insulin response was also 5 to 20 times higher in the whey group compared to the other two. So according to the results of this study, whey protein had much better muscle-building potential and increased insulin to a far greater degree. This last bit is important because insulin has a potent effect on increasing protein synthesis and decreasing protein breakdown. Other studies have also shown that EAAs can increase protein synthesis at the same levels as those used in this study but it looks like head-to-head, whey is still the king. For the best advice and information on protein and amino acids, click on the “Protein & Amino Acids” link below.
Click on the link below to read the reference(s) for this article…
Whey protein has been known as a “special” protein for over 15 years amongst bodybuilders and sportsmen and new research keeps coming out all the time that supports its unique status as the most anabolic protein source. Usually, it is the exceptionally high levels of essential amino acids (EAAs) in whey that get the credit for its effectiveness but whey also contains high levels of sulfur-containing amino acids and branched chain amino acids, which likely have additional effects. To try to determine if it is the high level of EAAs in whey which are primarily responsible for its muscle-building effects, researchers from Arizona State University gave elderly subjects a meal of either 15 grams of whey protein, about 7 grams of EAAs (the amount found in 15 grams of whey) or about 8 grams of non-essential amino acids (NEAAs). The researchers then measured how well each meal was able to increase protein synthesis (a measure of muscle building) over the next 3 ˝ hours.
The results showed that only the whey protein was able to significantly increase protein synthesis (although the EAAs increased it somewhat also). The insulin response was also 5 to 20 times higher in the whey group compared to the other two. So according to the results of this study, whey protein had much better muscle-building potential and increased insulin to a far greater degree. This last bit is important because insulin has a potent effect on increasing protein synthesis and decreasing protein breakdown. Other studies have also shown that EAAs can increase protein synthesis at the same levels as those used in this study but it looks like head-to-head, whey is still the king. For the best advice and information on protein and amino acids, click on the “Protein & Amino Acids” link below.
Click on the link below to read the reference(s) for this article…
Relevant links:
> Reference Link
> Also read . . . Protein & Amino Acids
> Click here to view our range of Proteins
> Click here to view our range of Amino Acids / BCAA