Even though both protein shakes had the same amount of protein, the whey one made the key muscle-building amino acid (leucine) in the blood much higher than the collagen one.

Scientific Claim

In healthy older women, whey protein ingestion results in significantly higher plasma leucine concentrations and essential amino acid exposure than collagen peptides, despite both supplements being isonitrogenous and isoenergetic.

Original Statement

“Summed EAA AUC and Cmax were greater after WP ingestion than after CP ingestion (P = 0.003, P = 0.003, respectively). Plasma leucine concentrations increased above baseline in response to supplement provision in the WP group at 40 min (P = 0.001) and remained elevated above baseline at 240 min. Plasma leucine concentrations were not increased above baseline in CP (P > 0.05). Leucine AUC and Cmax were greater after WP ingestion than after CP ingestion (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively).”

From study:Whey protein but not collagen peptides stimulate acute and longer-term muscle protein synthesis with and without resistance exercise in healthy older women: a randomized controlled trial.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

definitive

Can make definitive causal claims

Assessment Explanation

Plasma amino acid levels were directly measured using validated GC-MS methods. The statistically significant differences (P < 0.001) in leucine and EAA exposure are robust and support definitive causal language.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Whey protein but not collagen peptides stimulate acute and longer-term muscle protein synthesis with and without resistance exercise in healthy older women: a randomized controlled trial.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2020 Mar 1

Whey protein made older women’s muscles grow better than collagen, even though both had the same amount of protein—this means whey likely gives more of the key building blocks (like leucine) that muscles need.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Whey protein but not collagen peptides stimulate acute and longer-term muscle protein synthesis with and without resistance exercise in healthy older women: a randomized controlled trial.

Score: 66

DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz332

Similar Assertions

One scoop of whey protein has over five times more of the key muscle-building amino acid (leucine) than one scoop of collagen protein—even though both have the same total protein.

89%

After drinking whey protein shakes every day for a week, older women’s muscles kept building up new protein even on days they didn’t exercise—collagen protein didn’t do this at all.

78%

Collagen peptide consumption results in improved nitrogen balance relative to whey protein in elderly populations.

77%

When rats ate a larger dose of regular whey protein, their blood had more leucine than when they ate the same amount of hydrolyzed whey protein an hour later.

76%

When older women drink whey protein shakes, their muscles start repairing and growing faster—especially if they also do leg exercises—while collagen protein shakes don’t do much unless they exercise, and even then, it’s much weaker.

76%