{"id":438360,"date":"2026-02-21T18:36:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T18:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/438360\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T18:36:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T18:36:17","slug":"an-expert-explains-the-difference-between-whey-protein-isolate-and-concentrate-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/438360\/","title":{"rendered":"An expert explains the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best protein powders<\/a> can be a handy way to up your intake, but the sheer number of choices on the market makes picking one tricky. It doesn\u2019t make the decision any easier when tubs are splashed with lofty promises, from building lean muscle and accelerating recovery to supporting joints and even sharpening focus.<\/p>\n

One way to cut through the noise? Get comfortable with the terminology. A quick scroll through any protein powder line-up will throw up two phrases time and again: \u201cwhey protein concentrate\u201d and \u201cwhey protein isolate\u201d. If the labels sound to you like a lab report, don\u2019t be deterred.<\/p>\n

To separate marketing spin from meaningful differences, I asked an expert to break it down. Professor Javier Gonzalez<\/a>, a professor of nutrition and metabolism at the University of Bath\u2019s Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism<\/a>, unpacks what sets whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate apart, how they\u2019re processed and, crucially, whether the distinction should influence what ends up in your shaker.<\/p>\n

As The Independent\u2019s fitness writer, I\u2019ve tried and tested plenty of protein powders, and I\u2019ve highlighted the ones that impressed me the most. For more guidance and my full list of tried-and-tested picks (including vegan, flavoured, and organic options) you can check out my full review of the best protein powders.<\/a><\/p>\n

Read more: This is how much protein you need each day, according to a nutritionist<\/a><\/p>\n

What is the difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate? \"WheyWhey protein isolate has a slightly higher protein content and a lower carbohydrate content than whey protein concentrate (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n

Whey is the watery portion of milk that splits from curds during the cheese-making process. This is then processed to create the whey protein powder we see on shelves. <\/p>\n

The terms \u201cwhey protein concentrate\u201d and \u201cwhey protein isolate\u201d refer to the level of processing the whey is subjected to. Whey protein isolate is more filtered than whey protein concentrate, delivering greater \u201cpurity\u201d, according to Professor Javier Gonzalez<\/a>, a professor of nutrition and metabolism at the University of Bath\u2019s Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhey protein isolate is approximately 90 per cent protein and whey protein concentrate is approximately 80 per cent protein,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

As a result, whey protein concentrate contains slightly more carbohydrates and fat per serving, while whey protein isolate tends to be the pricier option. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes essentially no functional difference as long as the total amount of protein is met,\u201d says Professor Gonzalez. \u201cHowever, to meet the same amount of protein, concentrate does provide a few more calories.\u201d<\/p>\n

To use products from one of the UK\u2019s leading protein brands, Myprotein, as an example, the whey protein concentrate contains 1.8g of fat, 2.7g of carbohydrates, 22g of protein and 114 calories per 30g serving. The whey protein isolate contains zero fat, 1.3g of carbohydrates, 25g of protein and 108 calories. At the time of writing, the former cost \u00a321.99 per kilogramme, while the latter cost \u00a328.49 per kilogramme. <\/p>\n

Beyond elite athletes or those looking to dial in their diet, the nutritional differences will be negligible enough to overlook for the sake of saving a few pounds.<\/p>\n

However, a bonus perk of whey protein isolate is that it contains less lactose courtesy of the filtration process, making it a solid option for people who are lactose intolerant. <\/p>\n

Read more: Experts say including more of this in your diet can help you live a longer, healthier life – and it\u2019s not protein or fibre<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ProteinProtein works clear diet whey protein<\/p>\n

Most clear protein powders are made with whey protein isolate. This is my pick of the bunch, delivering 20g of protein per serving alongside just 85 calories and negligible amounts of carbs, fats and sugars. It takes a bit more shaking than standard protein powders to get a smooth consistency, but what you\u2019re left with is a refreshing juice-like drink that sits a lot lighter in the stomach.<\/p>\n

\"Myprotein impact whey<\/p>\n

In our roundup of the best protein powders<\/a>, this Myprotein option is our top-rated whey protein concentrate. I enjoyed the wealth of flavour options on offer, as well as how well the shake mixed. It is also more affordable than most other protein powders on the market, making it an attractive option for those looking to build muscle on a budget.<\/p>\n

Do you need protein powder? <\/p>\n

Before you choose whether to buy whey protein concentrate or whey protein isolate, it\u2019s first important to establish whether you need high protein products<\/a> at all. <\/p>\n

Protein powders are supplements, and should be treated as such \u2013 supplementing shortcomings in a balanced, nutritious diet, rather than replacing food. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe recommended nutrient intake for protein in the UK is 0.75 grams per kilogram of body weight,\u201d says Professor Gonzalez.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some good arguments that a little higher than this \u2013 up to 1.2g\/kg \u2013 may have additional benefits for muscle health and weight control. The requirements of athletes can be even higher than this \u2013 up to around 1.8g\/kg.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are already hitting these figures through your diet, chances are you do not need to use protein powder. <\/p>\n

Older generations tend to require slightly more protein per day to support muscle maintenance and tissue repair. Fitness fans will also need higher intakes to fuel their exercise efforts \u2013 this is particularly true if you do strength training, with protein providing amino acids, which provide the building blocks to maintain and grow muscle, among other bodily tissues. <\/p>\n

Looking for more recommendations? Here are the best creatine supplements for muscle strength, bone and brain health<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The best protein powders can be a handy way to up your intake, but the sheer number of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":419817,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-438360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-nutrition","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/419817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}