Is there any point in buying protein isolate?

Author: Timko Ilya - master of the whole project and fitness trainer.
2014-12-21

Let's start by defining what an isolate is, as opinions on this matter vary widely.

A protein isolate is a protein that contains at least 85% protein.

In other words, it is a highly concentrated protein without any impurities, almost free from fats and carbohydrates.

You may also come across the term hydrolysate. This refers to protein that has been purified through hydrolysis (one of the highest quality purification methods). However, there's nothing stopping manufacturers from diluting such a protein down to 70% and labeling it as a hydrolysate. And they would be correct; it would indeed be a hydrolysate, just diluted. Therefore, I believe the term ISOLATE is more accurate. Let's move on.

Naturally, many will say it's better to choose an isolate – because it has more protein! But the fact is that such protein typically costs about 1.5 times more than a regular 70% protein.

As of the date of writing this article (2014-12-21), 1 kg of isolate will cost you around 2500 rubles, while 1 kg of regular protein will cost about 1500 to 2000 rubles. In any case, regardless of how prices fluctuate for sports nutrition, the difference is generally about 1.5 times.

If the goal is to gain mass

If this is your goal, then it is definitely unwise to overpay one and a half times for an extra 15% - 20% of protein. It’s simpler to buy ordinary 70% - 80% protein and consume 20% more. The additional 5% - 10% of fats and carbohydrates present in such proteins will only aid in mass gain.

If the goal is definition or weight loss

In this case, you need to keep a close eye on your overall intake of fats and carbohydrates. If you believe that the fats and carbohydrates present in regular proteins will be excess, then it makes sense to purchase an isolate.

For example, if you consume 100 grams of regular protein per day, you will take in an average of 7 – 10 grams of carbohydrates and fats along with the protein. If this is a concern for you, then it’s better to buy an isolate.

Examples of good isolates:

• Dobromil Fit: Egg Protein (85% protein)
• Syntrax Nectar (86% protein)
• Ultimate Nutrition Iso-Sensation 93 (93% protein)

Examples of good regular protein:

• Dobromil Fit: Whey Protein (74% protein)
• Syntrax Whey Shake (77% protein)
• Maxler: Whey Protein (73% protein)

As you can see, the difference in protein content is approximately 15% - 20%. However, the price difference is huge. Personally, I do not buy isolates but opt for regular protein.

Conclusion

1. If you are gaining mass, it is better to take regular protein.

2. If you are losing weight or working on definition, it’s better to buy an isolate if you have a fair amount of money. In other cases, it’s more economical to not consume those extra 7 – 10 grams of carbohydrates and fats through regular food. However, for losing weight or for definition, an isolate is still preferable.

3. In general, an isolate should ideally cost about 15% - 20% more than regular protein. So why is it on average 50% (sometimes even 100%) more expensive? The reason is that purifying protein to such a degree is much more expensive. Whether you want to pay for it is up to you. Good luck!