Protein Spiking Is Back! Does Your Protein Powder Pass The Test?

Nitrogen spiking is simply a way to manipulate the test used to measure the protein content of protein powders. The current method used to measure the amount of protein in a protein powder involves measuring the nitrogen content, which is then converted into protein amount. Nitrogen is used because protein is made up of amino acids that are strung together in a chain, much like a pearl necklace. Every amino acid contains nitrogen, so measuring nitrogen content of a protein powder can indicate the amount of protein it contains per serving. But that's assuming that the protein powder contains just complete proteins, such as whey, casein and/or egg protein. Unfortunately, many protein powders not only include these complete proteins, but they also have "extra" amino acids added to them.

Most people think that having extra amino acids added to their protein powder is a good thing. After all, I recommend taking extra branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) before and after workouts in addition to protein powder. However, the major problem with protein powders that have added amino acids is that the aminos aren't added to provide any benefit to the product. Instead, they're only added for their nitrogen. Most amino acids, such as taurine and glycine, are much cheaper than whey protein, casein protein, milk protein or egg protein. Even highly beneficial amino acids, such as BCAAs and glutamine, are cheaper than protein powders. So by adding a bunch of cheaper amino acids to their protein powders, supplement companies can boost their nitrogen content, which technically means they boosted the amount of protein per serving – at least according to the nitrogen test.

Because the added amino acids are not complete proteins, though, the protein content of a protein powder with added aminos is not what the test claims it to be. For example, a whey protein powder may claim to contain 20 grams of protein per one scoop serving. If they added 5 grams of glycine per serving, then you are only getting 15 grams of actual whey protein and 5 grams of glycine, which would read as 20 grams of protein per serving in the nitrogen test. At least glycine is one of the 20 amino acids used as the building blocks for protein. However, having an extra 5 grams of this non-essential amino acid is not going to do you any real benefit when it comes to muscle growth. So that serving of whey protein is really only 15 grams of actual whey protein per serving.

A bigger problem arises when amino acids are used that aren't proteogenic aminos. Proteogenic amino acids are the 20 amino acids used as building blocks to form proteins in the body, such as muscle protein. Conversely, non-proteogenic amino acids are ones that aren't used as protein building blocks. When companies add non-proteogenic aminos to a protein powder, those aminos aren't providing any direct muscle-building benefits at all they're just boosting the nitrogen ("protein") content of the protein powder. Taurine is a popular non-proteogenic amino that's added to protein powders for its nitrogen. You may think that having taurine added to a protein powder is a great bonus because taurine helps with energy production. And that's exactly what shady supplement companies want you to think! However, if 5 grams of taurine has been added to your protein powder that claims to contain 20 grams of protein per serving, then you're only getting 15 grams of real protein and 5 grams of taurine. The taurine is at the expense of total protein!

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[SHIVAMSHARMA]

My ultimate nutrition protein failed miserably 🧐

[jjenson]

Sounds to me like they're saying there is a total of 25g of protein, 5 of those grams are BCAA's and 5 are Glutamine (since they are both proteins); which would make sense because there are 4g of Carbs and 3g of Fat (33-4-3 = 26g), so one gram is made up of the binders, etc. and the rest is protein.

Yup, I just checked my protein powder and that is what they do. They tell you the total and how much of it is Glutamine and how much is BCAA's. I use Cytosport 100% Whey which has 27g of protein, 6g of BCAA and 5g of Glutamine. They tell you exactly how many milligrams of each particular protein there is in a serving and I added it all up with a calculator and it comes to 27g.

[TURTLEORIGINAL]

Thanks doctor! How can companies get away will this? Isn’t this the same, as going to a gas station and the pump digital read out display shows 20 US gallons, but you only got 16 gallons, because their pump meter was dispensing.80 gallon not 1 full gallon. So, if you’re paying $3.79 per gallon at the pump, you just got charged an extra $15.16 for those 20 gallons of gas!! Imagine the money a gas station could be making from this occurrence.

[coach.dave.lingner]

Now wait a second. Are they saying that those BC AAs are added or are they part of the protein mix that’s already there. Same with glutamine.

[TheAgacevedo]

Jym! What about your fillers? Like creamer, sugar, and flour. What about your artificial colors? It’s that necessary on your so pure protein? What about when you divide your protein content and serving? 65% of protein per serving on your cookies and cream flavor. Come on! even the body building protein brand contains 74% of protein per serving.

[yokris]

Jim, will there be a vegan option of pre and -post jym in the future?

[honey_nandifitness]

It's almost in every brand now don't know which one to buy now

[LunisRa]

you know optimum nutrition produces gnc protein right???

[MrPlecemanvpd]

Just play it safe buy Jym protein, MTS nutrition, optimum nutrition, dymatize and Isopure in my opinion you can’t go wrong with any of these.

[VibhorVerma]

I purchased a protein after 4 5 months i opened it and when i fill the scoop then found that powder is forming some spikes at the outer area of scoop and that spike is detaching automatically like bullets firing. Can you please suggest the reason for this. I am afraid to take it now.

[jonathankarakas]

used to use jym when i got back into lifting, I think Jim is great but I prefer kaged muscle supps now, much better quality ingredients. i do prefer Jims programs to gethins tho.

[freddieriboni]

Thank you. So sad that our government is more interested in taxing and passing laws then doing what they are paid to do protect and serve

[uncouthLIyouth]

Jim's protein is a proprietary blend, additionally it used to contain high amounts of non dairy creamer until Mark Glazeir in response to Jim saying nutrabios protein totals were suspect. Mark in his defense then took jim to task and it turns out the doctor doesn't even know how to calculate protein yeilds. Jim then made a video where he was clearly shaken up and flustered. His ego will not allow him to see that at a subconscious level he will skew the science in such a way to coincide with a narrative that best suits the growth of his bank account. Do not let this man shill supps to you for the rest of your life that are useless.

[shaunlambertii]

Jim you're wrong man. 25g of whey protein breaks down into 2500mg Lucine, 1540mg isolucine, 1420 Valine. Add those together and you've got 5.5g BCAA. List a brand that claims to have ADDED BCAA.

Many canisters in the industry do list 5.5BCAA on the front, as well as 4g glutamine, but not ONE of them claims to have ADDED BCAA.

SMH poor reading compression for someone who owns their own brand and is educating others.

[thornuhh]

Greetings Earthlings and Happy Friday!
👋👽 I bring you pizza 🍕 and I bring a controller 🎮in case anyone wants to game. 😄 Have a nice weekend everyone. 😉