MYTHS about Pre-digested Protein

MYTHS about Pre-digested Protein Perhaps you have seen postings about "pre-digested protein". (The scientific term for this is protein hydrolysis.) One of the recent threads about Protein Drinks mentions one of them. There are two myths about pre-digested protein that need to be addressed because they can affect your protein consumption -- and as a result, your health. Myth 1: There are people who say that some brands of protein supplements are "pre-digested" (or "hydrolyzed"). This gives the impression that the protein content in the supplement is 100% pre-digested. But that is not true. Do not be misled. Almost always, these supplements are not 100% pre-digested, not even 50% pre-digested, not even 30% pre-digested. In reality, only about 10% or less of the protein in these supplements, by weight, is fully pre-digested. (more below) Myth 2: It is a myth that gastric bypass patients need pre-digested protein. Gastric bypass patients do NOT need pre-digested protein. No only do they not need pre-digested, there is no real advantage compared with the same proteins before pre-digestion (more below). About Myth 1: ------------------------------------------------------------- Question: If pre-digested proteins really are nutritionally important, why might the manufacturers put in only a tiny amount?? The supplements with pre-digested protein generally provide ONLY 2 or 3 *grams* of pre-digested protein per serving ! Answers: a) They just want to make a claim that sounds plausible and appealing - so you THINK it is better b) Hydrolyzing the protein adds cost, and again, there is no advantage for gastric bypass patients c) Hydrolyzed proteins (pre-digested proteins - amino acids and di-peptides and tri-peptides) by their very nature taste bitter. If a protein supplement truly had even 50% fully pre-digested protein, you wouldn't use it more than once because of the bitter flavor profile. About Myth 2: ------------------------------------------------------------- There are two clear answers why gastric bypass patients do NOT need pre-digested protein. Answers: a) There is just no clinical research that gastric bypass patients need pre-digested protein. Nor is there any clinical research showing there is any advantage. b) You can look at the clinical results - the lab results of the great majority of gastric bypass patients who don't consume any *pre-digested* protein. Among those who consume the recommended amount of protein, most generally have good protein status without using a supplement that claims it is "pre-digested". Here's a common sense test: if gastric bypass patients could NOT breakdown normal protein in order to absorb it into their system, what would happen to them? A gastric bypass patient consuming the recommended amount of protein from food and non-pre-digested supplements would develop severe protein deficiency. But we all know that isn't what happens. Partially for that reason, we don't know of any bariatric programs that state that pre-digested protein is better. In summary: 1) most of the products that contain pre-digested protein contain only a tiny amount 2) pre-digested protein is not better for gastric bypass patients; it offers no advantage We believe this discussion needed to be started, and we hope this helps. If you have questions, please do post them here, but if you also send a copy to [email protected] ....to be sure we will answer. Clinical references are available on request. Please note that there are other unusual medical situations, specifically some diseases states or conditions of the digestive track, where a 100% pre-digested protein might be recommended. But that is not due to the gastric bypass, but rather to an independent medical diagnosis. Thank you Kind regards Jerome Krachenfels UNJURY(TM) Protein Supplements.

Thank you for all the GREAT info. Beth