Whey has the highest protein quality
rating among protein sources.
Digestibility - Whey protein is
very easy to digest. It has a Biological Value (BV) of
104. In comparison, egg has a BV of 100, casein a BV of
77, and soy protein a BV of 74.
Utilization by the body - It is
also well-utilized by the body for fabricating protein
in the body. The Net Protein Utilization (NPU) for whey
is 94%, compared to 61% for soy, for example.
Essential Amino Acids (EAA's)* -
For those that familiar with the amino acid score, whey
protein has a score of 102.** This means that whey
protein provides amount of essential amino acids
recommended*** per each gram of protein consumed.
Another measure of EEA's in protein is the Protein
Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS). Both
whey and soy protein have a score of 1.0
*Essential amino acids are amino acids
that the body cannot produce itself, and thus must be
obtained from food.
**A amino acid score of 100 indicates a protein that is
complete, or a high-quality protein. A score less than
100 indicates a less complete protein.
***The amino acid score is based on EAA intake
recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
of the UN. |
