Not all protein is created equal. Digestibility and bioavailability significantly impact protein quality and effectiveness.
Protein Quality Metrics
PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score) - Range: 0-1.0 (1.0 = perfect protein) - Measures: Amino acid profile + digestibility - Limitation: Maxes out at 1.0, doesn't differentiate between excellent proteins
PDCAAS Scores:
- Whey Protein: 1.0
- Casein: 1.0
- Soy Protein Isolate: 1.0
- Pea Protein: 0.89
- Rice Protein: 0.47
- Wheat Protein: 0.25
DIAAS (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score) - Newer Standard: More accurate than PDCAAS - Range: Can exceed 1.0 (better differentiation) - Measures: Ileal digestibility of individual amino acids - WHO Recommendation: Replacing PDCAAS
DIAAS Scores:
- Whey Protein: 1.09-1.18
- Milk Protein: 1.14
- Egg Protein: 1.13
- Pea Protein: 0.82
- Rice Protein: 0.59
Factors Affecting Protein Digestibility
Processing Methods:
- Heat treatment (improves digestibility up to a point)
- Hydrolysis (breaks proteins into smaller peptides)
- Fermentation (pre-digests proteins)
Food Matrix:
- Fiber content (slows digestion)
- Fat content (delays gastric emptying)
- Anti-nutritional factors (phytates, trypsin inhibitors)
Individual Factors:
- Age (elderly have reduced gastric acid)
- Health status (GI diseases affect absorption)
- Gut microbiome composition
Optimizing Protein Formulations
For Maximum Absorption: - Use protein isolates (higher digestibility) - Consider hydrolyzed proteins for clinical applications - Minimize anti-nutritional factors - Optimize processing conditions
For Specific Applications:
Fast Absorption (Post-Workout):
- Whey protein isolate (DIAAS 1.18)
- Hydrolyzed whey (even faster)
- Minimal added fiber or fat
Slow Release (Overnight):
- Micellar casein (DIAAS 1.14)
- Combined with healthy fats for slower digestion
Clinical/Elderly:
- Partially hydrolyzed proteins
- High DIAAS scores
- Easy to digest formulations
Protein Quality Manufacturing
UNO Nutrition's formulation expertise includes:
- Selecting optimal protein sources for application
- Balancing PDCAAS/DIAAS scores with cost
- Processing optimization for digestibility
- Quality testing and verification
Our protein sourcing includes premium whey isolates, micellar casein, and plant-based proteins with verified quality metrics.