Casein Hydrolysate and What It Does
Lifters and athletes need protein, but this specialized form does what other proteins can't.
Back in the early 1900s, scientists accidentally created a super protein, an anabolic juggernaut that stimulated muscle protein synthesis (muscle growth) better and faster than other proteins. But the scientists back then didn't know that. They weren't trying to invent a "super soldier" of proteins.
Instead, they wanted to create easily digestible protein sources for medical purposes and research. Perhaps, they thought, it could be used in infant formulas, or maybe it could be used by patients with digestive disorders or protein allergies.
Over the next 100 years or so, the process of creating this protein was perfected: Milk is acidified to extract casein. The casein is subjected to controlled enzymatic hydrolysis – treated with specific enzymes that break the protein into smaller peptides. The mixture is then neutralized, microfiltered, concentrated, and dried into a fine powder rich in short-chain peptides and free amino acids, which easily dissolve in water.
The result is an expensive, highly anabolic, special-use protein called casein hydrolysate. You know it as the main ingredient of Mag-10 Elite Recovery.
The Modern Science
Here's what we know today about casein hydrolysate, based on dozens of studies:
- It's estimated that 20 grams of casein hydrolysate triggers more muscle growth than 30 or 40 grams of conventional protein.
- Casein hydrolysate increases muscle gains by 70% over whey hydrolysate and doubles fat loss over whey hydrolysate.
- Casein hydrolysate significantly enhances post-exercise muscle protein synthesis compared to intact casein.
- Due to its rapid absorption, casein hydrolysate provides greater muscle recovery benefits compared to intact proteins, making it perfect for post-workout nutrition.
- Pre-sleep ingestion improves overnight muscle protein synthesis, aiding muscle recovery and boosting adaptation to exercise (muscle growth, when paired with lifting). Studies highlight that the timing of casein hydrolysate ingestion, such as pre-bed, further enhances muscle mass and strength gains.
- In high-protein/low-carb diets, casein hydrolysate supports muscle protein anabolism effectively, even when insulin levels are low.
- Consuming casein hydrolysate extends time to exhaustion during exercise, improving athletic performance.
- Casein hydrolysate enhances intracellular anabolic signaling when combined with carbohydrates post-exercise, leading to greater muscle gains.
- Casein hydrolysate supplementation reduced muscle fatigue and enhanced recovery during resistance training programs.
- With its high-quality, rapidly absorbed amino acids, casein hydrolysate preserves lean muscle mass during fat-loss diets, thus preserving resting metabolic rate.
Three Ways to Use Casein Hydrolysate
- Use it for post-workout recovery to boost muscle gains.
- Use it for "protein pulses" between meals or in place of meals during fat-loss phases to retain muscle mass, or during muscle-gain phases to further trigger anabolism.
- Use it before bed to increase overnight muscle protein synthesis and repair.
Where to Get Casein Hydrolysate
Each serving of MAG-10 contains 20 grams of PeptoPro casein hydrolysate highly structured peptides. Peptopro is a specific form of casein hydrolysate optimized for sports performance.
Additionally, MAG-10 is packed with highly branched cyclic dextrin (HBCD), malic acid, isomaltulose, and other performance-enhancing ingredients.
References
- Demling et al. "Effect of a hypocaloric diet, increased protein intake and resistance training on lean mass gains and fat mass loss in overweight police officers." Ann Nutr Metab. 2000;44(1):21-9.
- Morgan et al. "The role of protein hydrolysates for exercise-induced skeletal muscle recovery and adaptation: a current perspective." Nutrition & Metabolism volume 18, Article number: 44 (2021).
- Manninen et al. "Protein hydrolysates in sports nutrition." Nutrition & Metabolism volume 6, Article number: 38 (2009) .
- Trommelen et al. "Pre-Sleep Protein Ingestion to Improve the Skeletal Muscle Adaptive Response to Exercise Training." Nutrients, 28 November 2016.