Whey Protein Isolate Vs Whey Concentrate: What's The Difference?

par Limitless Pharma 08 mai 2020

Whey Protein is one of the most commonly used types of protein supplements. It’s made of whey and contains about 10 to 25 gm of protein per scoop, depending on the type and quality.

Whey isolate and whey concentrate are two of the basic forms of whey protein that are commonly used in supplements. The two differ from each other in terms of protein concentration and health benefits, which we are going to discuss in detail here.

But, first thing first.

What is whey protein?

Whey is a by-product of milk, which is derived in the cheese-making process. When milk is converted into cheese, the remaining liquid part is what we call whey.

Whey is rich in human-digestible proteins. While the other part of the milk contains slower-digesting proteins called casein.

Whey is one of the best sources of protein, as it contains all the essential amino acids. It’s usually the main component used in protein powders, pills, and other protein supplements. The benefits and protein quantity of different whey supplements depend on the processing technique.

Whey protein is particularly useful in the construction and re-production of muscles in the body, which is why it’s commonly consumed by bodybuilders and athletes looking to grow & repair muscles.

Whey isolate and whey concentrate are two of the most popular types of whey used in protein supplements.

Both the isolate and concentrate forms of whey protein have their pros and cons. If you’re struggling to choose the best out of the two for a complete protein-rich diet, this article tells the differences between these two types and which one is ideal for which purpose.

Whey Isolate Vs. Whey Concentrate

Whey Isolate vs Whey Concentrate

Both the isolate and concentrate forms of whey are beneficial for the body and are outstanding sources of fast-digesting proteins. However, they slightly differ from each other in terms of the following factors:

Processing Technique

The two forms of whey are produced through different processing methods, which affect their nutritional value.

Whey is difficult to digest in its natural form and must be processed through a specialized technique to produce human-digestible whey and also to increase the protein content.

The processed whey may contain about 80-90% protein by weight, while the remaining weight accounts for fat and carbs. Now, depending on the processing method, the concentration of protein may be higher or lower in the final product. This is what makes whey isolate different from whey concentrate.

Whey Isolate is produced through a longer processing technique, while the method to produce Whey Concentrate involves less processing.

Nutritional Value

The major difference between the two varieties of whey is the nutritional value.

Based on the processing technique used in the production of a whey supplement, it may contain different quantities of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and other nutrients.

Because of the difference in processing techniques, Whey Isolate contains a slightly higher content of protein and lower amounts of carbs and fats per serving than Whey Concentrate.

Let’s try to understand the nutritional difference between these two whey forms through the example of Whey Isolate and Whey Protein supplements of Limitless Pharma.

Nutritional Value per scoop	Whey Isolate (31g)	Whey Protein (35g)
Protein	27g	23g
Calories	112	130
Fat	1.5g	3g
Sodium	30mg	40mg
Potassium	125mg	120mg
Carbohydrate	1.5g	6g
Lactose/ Sugar	0g	3g

As you can see, the protein amount is slightly higher in Whey Isolate, while Whey Protein has a higher amount of carbohydrates, sugar, and calories. Both products are still an amazing source of whey protein, the quality of which is also identical.

Cost

Because the protein content in Whey Isolate is slightly more compared to Whey Concentrate, the cost of whey isolate is also generally higher, but not by a great difference.

Purpose of Use

The nutritional difference between whey isolate and whey concentrate plays an important role in deciding which one to use for which purpose.

Those who are looking to get a higher protein content and lower carbs or fats from their supplements should go for the Isolate variant. Also, the lactose content in whey isolate is lower, so it’s a better choice for lactose-intolerant people.

Similarities between Whey Isolate and Whey Concentrate

Even though the two varieties of whey are different from each other in terms of nutritional value, the underlying benefits of both the whey products are identical.

For example, both forms of whey contain almost identical types of amino acids.

A study confirms that both types of whey proteins have almost similar benefits in the strengthening of lean muscle mass.

To Sum Up,

Whey protein is said to be a wonderful source of fast-digestion proteins and can be found in almost all the modern health supplements.

The two forms of whey protein - whey isolate and whey concentrate - differ in terms of processing technique/duration, nutritional value, cost, etc. Whey isolate is generally preferred by those who are looking to consume less fat, carbs and/or sugar and a high amount of protein. Whey concentrate, on the other hand, is safe and beneficial to use for everyone.