Whey - Isolate vs. Concentrate
 

Whey Isolate
Pros
90-98% protein
Less milk sugars
Less fat

Cons
Price
Loses some nutrients during filtration

Whey Concentrate
Pros
Price
Cons
70-85% protein
More milk sugars
More fat


Types of isolates:
Ion exchange - is typically the cheapest form of isolate. It is made using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide. It will have less fat and sugar than the other isolates, but a larger portion of the amino acids will become denatured.

Microfiltration - the protein travels through ceramic filters. Fats and sugars are filtered out based on molecular size. This protein is not as concentrated as the ion exchange, but it does not become denatured in the process.

Hydrolyzed - is a whey isolate that has been "pre-digested". Some of the amino acid peptide bonds are broken into shorter chains and allow for better digestion. This makes the protein taste bitter, and although many companies claim to include hydrolyzed whey in their products, they likely don't use much because of cost and taste.

Summary
The main benefits of isolates seem to be the lack of milk sugars and fats. Per gram, isolates will contain more protein. If sugar and fat content are not an issue, then concentrates are the best source of whey for the money. Because of the filtration, more nutrients remain intact than in an isolate. A slightly larger quantity might be needed in order to meet protein requirements, but the cost will offset this for most people.

Sources:
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/pr...oncentrate.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Muscle-Bui...rate&id=594527
http://www.extremenutrition.co.uk/ne...icles/whey.php
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/pr...processing.htm
http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/pr...ocessing-2.htm

good post Ross

I agree with most of that. Good info.

What you have to get away with is the "gurus" telling you that whey is all about the highest protein percentage. Protein percentage is NOT what makes the protein what it is. And it is not the same as "quality". Ion exchange, for instance, is always being touted as a good choice based on protein amount and it's probably the worst choice there is.

Hydrolyzed whey is a big source of bullshit from people who derive their choices from "info" by supplement vendors. Hydrolized whey may be absorbed a tiny bit faster because it is predigested. But there is no proof whatsoever that this is an advantage to US. Absorption rates in particular have become nothing more than a marketing tool. It's really out of hand. IMO, you don't have a very bad digestion problem or you are not laying up in a hospital on the critical list you're pretty dumb to pay all that extra money for it. When it comes to whey it's pretty much as fast as it needs to be, I'll bet.

A favorite trick is to tell you that a certain whey is better becasue it contains a gram more of one or two amino acids, lol. Glutamine is always high on that list. Or like a couple extra grams of bcaa perserving. Course you have to look at the "serving size" cuz a 34 gram serving is a little different than a 30 gram one :biglaugh:

If you wanted more glutamine, not that it would mean much, go with soy. You'll get more glutamine and arginine. Yippy.

I'm glad you covered that Eric. It's the one thing that I kind of missed when I was trying to get my point across. The different digestion rates and kinds of filtration, etc don't make much, if any, difference. And that's one of the biggest marketing points for all of these companies. I know whey isolates are touted as the best, most pure, blah blah blah proteins out there. They're not though..they fill a niche. And nothing more. I think that from now on, I'm not going to worry about buying isolates. I don't have any digestion problems or any reason not to go with concentrates. I will probably keep some for my pre workout shakes because it sits better, but other than that...I can't think of a good reason to sacrifice the extra money.

I am going to do start a similar thread on protein profiles later today or sometime this week. It's something that gets asked so frequently that I think it should have its own thread.

Will Brink has some good info on this. Look for "The Whey It Is". Also Lyle Mcdonalds Protein articles.

Now I have, of course noticed some difference with really cheap econo whey concnetrates, as I'm sure everyone has. But I'm talking just making me a little burpy :biglaugh:. I usually like to have at least a mix for post because around the workout you are a little more sensitive to stuff....that's up the the individual of course. In the long run it's about comfort. If it hurts your stomach then that's a problem so you want something a little more filtered.

But through the years I've done it all and to be honest I've just never really noticed a difference except for the above mentioned.

When it comes to absorption rates if you compare whey to any other protein it is like comparing a Ferrari to a Ford Pinto. I mean, it's a Ferrari. You need a faster Ferrari?

If I use a really good micro filtered isolate around a workout for instance, I do feel like, wow, that's really clean and light. But that is about as far as it goes. It's not like a week later or a month later I've packed on even 2 extra pounds of muslce or I've gained more strength that I had with a mix or anything else.

I know many will say the opposite. Course you may want to look at their supplement list and ask how they can differentiate the effects of the 20,000+ things they take :biglaugh: