Difference between Whey Protein & Casein 

Difference between Whey Protein & Casein

Proteins provide critical amino acids that serve as building blocks for new muscle in the body. Milk contains two major dietary proteins – whey and casein – that are completely different from each other. These  two milk proteins are excellent sources of essential amino acids, but they differ in one important aspect — whey is a fast-digesting protein and casein is a slow-digesting protein.

Whey stimulates protein synthesis – Whey is a fast-digesting protein,  resulting in a rapid and large increase in plasma amino acids. This translates into a quick, but transient increase in protein synthesis, while protein breakdown is not affected. Whey also has higher levels of leucine, a potent amino acid that stimulates protein synthesis. Whey protein is superior at augmenting protein synthesis rapidly, but this positive effect is short-lived. Consuming repeated doses of whey provide sustained high levels of blood amino acids and repeated bursts of protein synthesis that provide superior effects on muscle protein balance.

Casein offers a positive protein balance – Casein is the most abundant protein in milk. It is relatively insoluble and tends to form structures called micelles that increase solubility in water. During the processing of milk, which usually involves heat or acid, the casein peptides and micelle structure form simpler structures. As a result, a gelatinous material is formed. This is the basis for why casein has a slower rate of digestion, and results in a slow, but steady release of amino acids into circulation.

Whey and casein are better together – Since whey rapidly increases protein synthesis and casein blocks protein breakdown, a combination of both is ideal.

A recent training period of two clients  compared the effect of supplementing with either a combination of whey and casein protein, versus carbohydrate on several markers of muscle anabolism during strength training. Untrained clients participated in a ten-week resistance training programme,  and either supplemented with 40 grams of carbohydrate or 40 grams of protein containing a mixture of whey and casein. Half of the supplements were consumed one hour before and then immediately after exercise on workout days. The results were overwhelming for the combination protein group. Despite similar background diets and identical training programs, supplementation with protein resulted in greater increases in several measures of muscle anabolism, including greater increases in lean muscle mass, thigh muscle mass, muscle strength, anabolic hormones and muscle specific proteins.

A similar client trained 14 weeks performed resistance training and received either 25 grams of carbohydrate or 25 grams of a combination whey and casein protein one hour before and immediately after exercise. The combination protein group had significantly greater increases in muscle fiber size compared to the carbohydrate group. These live examples provide strong evidence that a combination protein consumed before and after workouts increases muscle size.

Practical uses of whey and casein – The science unequivocally shows that the digesting rate of protein is an important regulator of protein balance. Whey provides a quick burst of protein synthesis while casein makes an ideal protein supplement to sustain long periods of an anabolic environment for muscle growth. Based on these different characteristics, whey and casein can be used alone and in combination to exploit their unique biologic effects.

Whey protein can be very effective before and after a workout, and first thing in the morning. But since the benefits of whey after exercise are short-lived, you should consume a meal containing protein 20-60 minutes after drinking a post-workout whey protein shake. Taking 30 grams of whey protein in a sequence of 13 small meals in each 20 minutes is found to be far superior for muscle anabolism compared to a single meal of whey or casein.

Alternatively, a combination of whey and casein (20 grams) could be consumed one hour before and immediately after exercise for a sustained benefit on protein balance. Casein is a perfect protein for a shake before bed because it promotes a sustained anti-catabolic environment while you sleep.

Because whey and casein have different but complementary effects, many people keep both types on hand and use them differently throughout the day whey in the morning and after workouts and casein before bed. Or you can mix whey protein into a large glass of milk (about 80% casein) to combine the benefits of both. Research shows these proteins support greater increases in lean body mass and decreases in body fat as part of a resistance training program.

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