Major advancements in whey protein isolation technology have been made in recent years, but you’d never know it from looking at the composition of most whey protein supplements on the market today.
Lately, in fact, as the prices of dairy products, including whey proteins, have steadily risen, we’ve actually seen the use of cheaper, lower–quality whey proteins in nutritional products increase considerably. Companies tempted to save a buck or two have begun to use shockingly high levels of a cheaper ingredient known as whey protein concentrate in their products – while the amount of quality whey protein isolate in their formulas has been subsequently reduced to merely token levels at best.
Of course, those of us “in the know” realize that whey protein is very fragile, and like delicate keys that fit biological locks, fragile whey proteins must be kept intact to confer their maximum benefit. We also know that whey concentrate will always contain higher levels of lactose, fat, cholesterol and denatured proteins than a properly prepared whey isolate. But, after looking at the scientific literature on whey processing, even we were surprised to find out how significant the differences between the two types of whey proteins really are.
Whey Concentrate Exposed
At Integrated Supplements, we found it frustrating that the protein supplement consumer was basically being fed a steady stream of half–truths and lies about whey protein by the bodybuilding, and nutritional supplement industry. Over time, we noticed that this deception permeated the field of nutrition so fully, that even highly intelligent, and perfectly well–meaning fitness professionals and medical practitioners began to unknowingly recommend low quality, and even potentially harmful, whey proteins to their clients and patients.
This phenomenon is what led us to produce our CFM® Whey Protein Isolate, and it’s also what led us to try and educate the supplement buying public on the different types of whey proteins commonly used in nutritional supplements.
As a company dedicated to consumer education, as well as the production of quality nutritional supplements, we felt that it was our responsibility to help the health–conscious whey protein user see through the hype and make a fully informed decision with regard to the products they put in their bodies.
For example, we were among the first nutritional supplement companies to draw attention to the cholesterol found in many protein supplements which are produced with whey protein concentrate.
We’ve showed you research indicating that the cholesterol found in powdered products like whey protein concentrate is uniquely prone to go rancid, or oxidize in this form – and that it’s this oxidized cholesterol in particular, which is responsible for the initiation of arterial plaque build–up in heart disease – as well as many other degenerative effects of aging.
The scientific literature clearly shows that powdered cholesterol is prone to oxidize, and that oxidized cholesterol is decidedly harmful – and yet this information was conveniently being withheld from the users of whey protein concentrate–containing protein powders and nutritional supplements.
But even as clear as the research is, we still face an uphill battle. Unfortunately, many of the companies which have profited greatly by selling whey protein concentrate–containing products have done such an effective job of shaping public perception over the years that most of the information you’ll receive on whey protein in fitness magazines, online forums, and gym locker rooms will usually fail to include even a passing mention of the harmful effects of oxidized cholesterol.
And when it comes to the significant shortcomings of whey protein concentrate, oxidized cholesterol may be just the beginning.
Protein Denaturation Matters
It’s also very clear from the scientific literature, that only native, undenatured, unaltered whey proteins are able to offer the full benefits commonly associated with whey protein. Again, like delicate keys that fit biological locks, fragile whey proteins must be kept intact to confer their maximum benefit. When whey proteins are damaged, or denatured by harsh processing, they lose their ability to optimally support tissue growth, repair, recovery, and immune function – all the things that make quality whey protein such a great protein source in the first place. For all intents and purposes, when whey proteins are denatured, they become almost biologically useless (and even potentially harmful).
Of course, maintaining the delicate structure of whey protein takes a very particular type of production method. It seems that the relatively inefficient processing techniques used to produce whey protein concentrate, not only fail to remove substances like lactose and cholesterol, but they also damage, or denature, many of the fragile, and biologically active proteins in whey.
And again, this information is largely withheld from the whey protein supplement–buying public.
Note: Whey proteins are relatively unique among proteins in that their function in the body is highly dependent upon them being undenatured. Many food proteins (cooked egg whites, for example) are denatured, and this doesn’t significantly affect their biological function. This, however, is not the case for whey protein, as we shall see.
Whey And Glutathione
In reading the marketing hype behind many whey proteins, you may be led to believe that whey protein’s amino acid profile, or its high biological value are responsible for the remarkable effects seen in numerous scientific studies – but this isn’t the full truth. Yes, it’s true that all whey proteins contain excellent amino acid profiles, including high amounts of branched–chain amino acids and such; and it’s also true that all whey proteins have high biological values, but what you don’t often hear from companies selling you cheap tubs of whey concentrate, is that the relevant research indicates that only undenatured whey protein will possess the ability to increase the cellular antioxidant known as glutathione.
Whey’s glutathione–boosting activity has been the focus of truly cutting–edge research in the fields of medicine and nutrition in recent years, but not surprisingly, the mention of glutathione is often conspicuously absent from the pseudo–scientific gibberish found in most sports nutrition advertising – it seems that most sports nutrition companies want to divert their customer’s attention away from the fact that only undenatured whey protein is able to increase its production optimally.
But we’ve seen in previous blog posts that whey’s ability to boost glutathione efficiently and safely is the major factor responsible for whey’s tissue–building, immune–boosting, and health–promoting effects. If you take a whey protein which is largely denatured, and which doesn’t boost glutathione optimally, it’s clear that you are not reaping anywhere near the full benefits that properly prepared whey protein has to offer (this however, doesn’t stop companies selling cheap, denatured whey protein from “pirating” the research performed on undenatured proteins, and using it to make unsubstantiated claims in their advertising campaigns).
And of course, when you look at the label of a whey protein supplement, you’ll usually have no way of knowing just how much of the whey protein in the product is denatured – all protein in the product (denatured or not) will simply be listed as “protein.”
And as you could probably guess, most companies selling whey protein concentrate–containing products make absolutely no mention of how much denatured protein is in their products. Obviously, companies using whey concentrate in their products have got a vested financial interest in keeping their customers in the dark with regard to this important information.
But according to the scientific studies which have been done on whey protein, the level of denatured protein in whey concentrate may be much higher than is often suspected.
What Do The Studies Say?
The following study looked at how various processing techniques used in the production of whey concentrate affected the tendency of whey proteins to denature.
The researchers who conducted the above study found that the denaturation level of whey protein concentrate ranged from 10% to a whopping 53%, depending upon how the protein was processed.
Other studies show that the type of processing used to produce nutritional products (especially products like ready–to-drink protein shakes – the “worst of the worst” as far as protein supplements go) causes massive damage to whey proteins:
Study Link - Effects of Various Heat Treatments on Structure and Solubility of Whey Proteins
Note that even a 10% denaturation level may be significant enough to almost completely nullify the beneficial effects which would be noticed with a quality, undenatured whey protein. The reason for this is that some of the most powerfully bioactive proteins and peptides in whey are also the most fragile. These include valuable proteins like lactoferrin and immunoglobulins, and the peptide glutamylcysteine which, as we’ve seen, is so important for glutathione synthesis. These particular proteins in whey are active in such small amounts, that its likely they are almost completely destroyed in any whey protein concentrate which contains even 10% denatured proteins. So obviously, which whey proteins are denatured is equally as important as how many whey proteins are denatured. If the most valuable proteins in whey are completely destroyed, the protein simply cannot impart the benefits of undenatured whey at any dose. This fact does not speak well of the functional benefits of whey protein concentrate.
Which Whey Protein Is Best?
It’s important to note that at Integrated Supplements, we could have used any type of protein we wanted in our formulations; but we specifically sought out the patented CFM® Whey Protein Isolate precisely because it contains the highest level of active undenatured proteins possible, along with the zero milligrams of cholesterol per serving. We don’t “cut” our protein with any cheaper protein sources and pass it off as a “precision blend,” and we don’t “sneak” whey concentrate into the ingredients list like so many other companies do. We use only the patented CFM® Whey Protein Isolate in our formula. And unlike other whey proteins, you can be sure that the patented CFM® Whey Isolate offers you over 99% undenatured protein and the full spectrum of whey’s bioactive proteins each and every time.
Can the sellers of cheap tubs of “economy” whey protein concentrate say the same thing? Not even close.
Keep it tuned here. We’re just getting warmed up.
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Posted by: Bodybuilding Supplements India | December 17, 2009 at 04:34 AM