First off, I see glowing reviews about this product. It appears to be sold out. But the problem with it is we don’t really know the amino acid ratios because it’s a mix of whey and collagen.

Combining whey and collagen can be beneficial, but it’s nuanced. The key question is are you getting enough leucine to reach the anabolic threshold. This study compared three proteins: whey, pea, and collagen.

Both whey and pea proteins increased plasma leucine levels to a point that is known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis (MPS), whereas collagen did not. The authors concluded that both whey and pea proteins stimulated MPS whereas collagen did not.

This is relevant to this drink. Since the first ingredient after carbonated water is whey isolate, and the second collagen, we know it has more whey than collagen, but that’s all we know. It could be 70:30 whey:collagen, 60:40, or 51:49. The problem is we don’t know

It would need to be about 63% whey to have 2.5g of leucine to hit the anabolic threshold. Anything less, and signaling would be suboptimal.

The ideal ratio appears to be 5:1, as in this study. This ratio can stimulate both myofibrillar and muscle connective protein synthesis at rest, but not augment the connective tissue synthesis beyond the rest condition.

So collagen’s value is adjunctive: it’s useful only if paired with enough whey (>= 63% of blend). By itself, it’s ineffective for muscle anabolism. BUT, it must be paired with vitamin C to be effective, which the drink doesn’t have. So you’d be unlikely to get this benefit from

So in practical terms: you can’t count on this drink to give either robust muscle anabolism or connective tissue support without both (1) whey dominance and (2) vitamin C co ingestion.

To fix it, you could add 5g more whey to the drink, then you’re guaranteed to get the anabolic benefit, and take 80mg or so of vitamin C with it.

@gregmushen So if I read this right, conclusion is don’t live off just this drink. Got it.

@RegenRandy Yes, I think that’s fair to say.

@gregmushen You asked if it’s helping or inhibiting gains? It’s only going to help because it has protein. Regardless of the amino acid profile.

@CGTCFA The key question is if it’ll stimulate MPS on its own. That is an open question. The amino curves in the McKendry paper shows this with a side by side comparison.

@gregmushen Generally agree. I feel like I rarely see this kind of thing play out in practice though, and I think it's probably because most of us use supplements as supplements and not meals.

@ReallyThryve Yeah as long as people are hitting total protein targets (minus collagen), then they should be fine. This just makes it more difficult to tell if that’s happening.

@gregmushen Thanks Greg, doing the research and hard work so we dont have to. Follow this guy people.

@TronChristopher 💪

@gregmushen Another phenomenal breakdown Didn’t know about the vitamin C thing prior either 💯💪🏻

@gregmushen When there is no percentage next to the protein it gives me a no go vibe.

@gregmushen @GeniusGourmetUS

@gregmushen Extremely frustrating whey they don’t post the DV protein. Most likely means they’re obfuscating something purposefully

@gregmushen Great analysis again. But I don't get why this thing is so viral. It's just ready made protein drink. Ok handy if you don't have your powder,but that's it. I'm looking for the day where there will be bars with protein+fiber+vitamins/minerals without saturated fats 😉

@gregmushen Ya screw that. I’m about to soda stream my mike and Ike’s clear whey isolate

@gregmushen It’s pure marketing. This day that proteins in everything