nutritionWhat is the difference between Isolate and Hydrolyzed protein? And which one is better?!
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What is the difference between Isolate and Hydrolyzed protein? And which one is better?!
By Andrew Power – almost 2 years ago
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So basically whey protein (which is what we are talking about here) comes in 3 forms:
1. Concentrate - Contains fat, cholesterol and carbohydrate (lactose). The compounds are more bioactive.
2. Isolate - Whey that has been processed to remove fat and lactose, and is less bioactive. Typically has a higher protein content by weight compared to concentrate.
3. Hydrosylates - Pre-digested/partially hydrolysed whey protein which is very easily absorbed.
So hydrolysed protein is the perfect post-training protein due to its speed of absorption which is exactly what you want after a work out. I also use a hydrolysed protein first thing in the morning as my body is craving protein having fasted all night.
Isolate is a good snack based protein. If you for example have a protein shake between breakfast and lunch, I would perhaps go for isolate as it absorbs a bit slower and gives you a more sustained protein release.
If I was only going to buy one, I would go for hydrolysed protein, for example:
http://tiny.cc/0ceyx (Link takes you too TropicanaFitness and Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey)
Hope this helps!
Health and Fitness Doctor
"Concentrate" simply means that the whey is processed to remove enough fat, carbohydrate (from the sugar lactose) and "ash" (minerals and other material) to result in a powder with 80 percent protein content (protein content is expressed as the processed whey before flavouring, etc is added to create the finished product).
"Isolates" go through processing which removes a further 10% of these unwanted nutrients (so they are 90% protein) and other constituents and some isolates even go up to 97% protein content.
Hydrolysates undergo processing that is much like the enzymatic process in your gut that breaks down long protein chains into peptides of as little as two or three amino acids and these "partially digested" whey peptides are absorbed extremely quickly from the gut into the blood. This is quite significant because the speed of absorption of protein results in high levels of amino acids in the blood and this has been shown to be one of the strongest sitmulators of the process of muscle growth called "protein synthesis".
Some hydrolysates are mostly hydrolysed and some are only partially hydrolysed and there is everything in between. Very few manufacturers actually state the degree of hydrolysis of their whey protein.
So if you are willing to spend the extra money, a hydrolysed Isolate or concentrate is best before and after training but probably doesn't have that much of an advantage at other times over regular whey.
If you are lactose intolerant or on a very strict diet, go with an isolate as it has less calories, fat and carbs (the carbs being from lactose)...but not that much less considering the price difference. Also, even most lactose intolerant people can handle a gram or two of lactose (far less than in a small glass of milk) and that's the amount in a typical whey protein concentrate.
Nutritionist and Supplement Specialist