We analyze the composition of animal feed

The dietary supplement industry does not stand still. At first, manufacturers learned to hydrolyze protein structures, producing classic whey powder, then the technology moved even further, and the first isolate appeared. Today, the food industry has reached the point of partially digesting protein so that the athlete does not bother himself with digestion - this is how protein hydrolyzate appeared.

Dehydrated animal protein

Dehydrated animal protein (poultry) is typically the first ingredient in regular pet food.
But what is it? Why not just write "bird"?

Let's find out more about this ingredient and understand whether you can trust it?‍

“Dehydrated animal protein (poultry)” is a dried processed product, a protein concentrate from unknown types of poultry, ground to a flour. The quality of this ingredient is not high, since it is unclear what organs, tissues and species of birds it is made from.

In many ways, “dehydrated animal protein (poultry)” is similar to flour or dry poultry meat, but it is much more processed - as a result of hydrolysis, it contains up to 60% protein. Of course, natural products that have not undergone deep processing are much healthier for everyone - cats, dogs, and people.

Experts from the CPT (Feed Your Pet Correctly) service rate the nutritional value of this ingredient at 3 points out of 10 and remind you that animal proteins are the basis of food for our domestic predators, without which it is impossible to maintain important body functions.

Receipt

There are 3 main methods for producing these compounds:

Acid hydrolysis using hydrochloric or sulfuric acid as a catalyst. The process occurs when heated to 100-130 °C and a pressure of 2-3 atmospheres. This method is the most common because it achieves a deep degree of digestion and eliminates the risk of bacterial contamination. The reaction time is 3-24 hours. The best effectiveness is against fibrillar proteins. The disadvantage of this method is that it destroys many valuable amino acids and vitamins and produces toxic by-products that require additional purification.
Alkaline hydrolysis. This method is used less frequently (mainly when processing valve mollusks and fish), because an undesirable transformation of amino acids occurs and lantibiotics (antimicrobial polypeptides of bacterial origin) are formed.
Enzymatic hydrolysis. It does not have the disadvantages of the two previous technologies and is highly effective. The process occurs at a low temperature (25-50 ° C), an acidity environment close to neutral, and atmospheric pressure. This allows you to preserve the largest amount of biologically active components.

The following substances are used as enzymes:

digestive pancreatin, trypsin, chymotrypsin (especially effective when processing meat and blood);
plant compounds: ficin, papain, bromelain;
bacterial enzymes: protosublitin, rapidose;
substances synthesized using fungal cultures: protoorizans, rimoprotelin, protelin and others.

Complete protein hydrolyzate contains a complete set of amino acids in an optimal ratio, which is especially important for dietary, medical and veterinary purposes. Such a composition can be obtained by deep processing of raw materials, by boiling the solution for many hours in the presence of acid catalysts.

Ash

Why is ash added to animal feed? No reason. Strictly speaking, it is not added to the feed at all, but some manufacturers indicate “ash” or “ash content” in the ingredients. Let's figure out why.

What is called ash on a food label is actually a measure of the inorganic components (minerals) in the diet. This indicator gets its name from the measurement method: a feed sample is burned to the ground at a temperature of +500°C. In this case, organic matter is completely destroyed, and inorganic substances remain in the form of ash or ash. They are measured and thus the ash content of the feed is determined.

Therefore, ash is not a harmful residue or an additive, but only a natural content of minerals in the raw materials, not only dry, but also wet food. Minerals are necessary for every living organism for normal functioning, and therefore must be consumed with food. The question is their quantity and source.

The optimal amount of minerals in a pet's diet can be determined by analyzing the diet to which it has evolved. And here we mean, first of all, foods high in animal protein. Today, this niche of “evolutionarily correct” nutrition for dogs and cats is occupied by holistic food.

Recommendations for feeding dogs with hydrolyzed protein

Treatment of dog food allergy and inflammatory bowel disease relies on finding a diet that does not cause symptoms in that patient.

Severe cases of IBD may also require immunosuppressants and other treatments. Once a dog is diagnosed, it will likely need to be on a special diet for the rest of its life.

Veterinarian prescription hydrolyzed protein dog foods are an excellent choice for both food allergies and IBD.

These diets are manufactured under strict quality control measures to ensure they are not contaminated with ingredients not listed on the label. Eating illicit foods is a major reason why food trials and treatments for food allergies and IBD fail.

Your veterinarian can help you find a dog food for allergies or inflammatory bowel disease that will control your dog's symptoms while still providing the balanced nutrition needed for good health.

Plant protein isolate

Plant protein isolate is a product that contains more than 90% pure plant protein. It is obtained through lengthy extraction, heat treatment and centrifugation, which separates the protein from fats and other components. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

The name of this ingredient is alarming due to its streamlined nature - we do not know what plant proteins became the raw material for the isolate. But we remember that they are much less digestible by dogs and cats than proteins of animal origin. According to the CPT (Feed Your Pet Correctly) service, the nutritional value of plant protein isolate is 1 point out of 10.

If plant protein isolate is listed as one of the first five ingredients in a food, does that mean it forms the basis of the diet? And this is simply harmful! The manufacturer saved money, but be careful: the basis of a healthy diet for dogs and cats (originally predators) should be animal proteins - meat, poultry, fish, and not their substitutes!

Animal fats

When you come across such an ingredient, it means only one thing: the food contains greasy waste from the recycling of animal tissues, which are considered unsuitable for human nutrition. It is not clear what animals or birds these fats come from. There is a possibility that even from the fallen. Therefore, there is no guarantee that they will not contain harmful substances. Plus, animal fats can be preserved using dangerous chemicals. So keep your eyes peeled and read the labels! ⠀ ⚗️ In general, the production of animal fats is not cheap, so they are usually not even found in the lowest price segment feeds. All the more strictly should you treat such vague wording on a pack of expensive food. ⠀ To be fair, let's say that animal fats perform the following functions: they help form the structure of finished feed and promote the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K in the body. Partly thanks to fats, ready-made diets taste and smell attractive to dogs and cats. ⠀ But you must agree, there is much more trust in the formulations “beef fat” or “turkey fat” or “cod liver oil”. Manufacturers who work with such ingredients usually disclose the sources of their raw materials and are proud of them.

Application

Protein hydrolysates are used in industries such as:

Medical (production of medicines, therapeutic nutrition for the prevention of protein deficiency, therapy of pathologies of musculoskeletal and connective tissue, metabolic disorders).
Food (production of semi-finished meat products, gelatin, wines, edible films and coatings, canned fish, sauces, baked goods, high-calorie supplements for athletes).
Microbiological (production of diagnostic culture media).
Production of compound feed.

Cereal flour

The farther, the sadder.

And we ask the questions again: Which grain crops? Why flour? Why grain crops? And there are no answers. Because this ingredient is one of the most undesirable in dog and cat food. Roughly speaking, “grain flour” is a waste from flour milling, and grains, in principle, are not needed by predators, especially cats? In addition, the composition of this waste is not precisely known. ⠀ Any cereal flour contains a lot of carbohydrates and some share of vegetable proteins. Some of them, such as gluten, are difficult for carnivores to digest and cause food intolerance and, consequently, various diseases. Therefore, the nutritional value of the ingredient is 1 point out of 10. It’s scary what awaits us ahead. ⠀

Cons of the supplement

The cost of a high-quality additive increases significantly due to the complexity of the purification process.
It cannot saturate the body with amino acids for a long time, so it is not suitable for taking before training or before bed.
It retains fluid, like fast carbohydrates, sharply increases the production of insulin in the blood, making the supplement undesirable for losing weight or drying muscles.
Some supplements include creatine, which provokes swelling and prevents the muscles from getting “dry” relief.
It is diluted only with ordinary or distilled water so that other liquids do not reduce the rate of protein breakdown.

Hydrolyzed animal proteins

Not everyone has been scared yet?

Then let's look at another ingredient in premium cat food. Do you already understand what lies behind the streamlined formulations?

Animal protein hydrolyzate is a liquid or powder with the taste and smell of animal products. In order to obtain it, animal waste is treated with special enzymes. As a result, proteins are broken down into peptides and free amino acids. Then they are evaporated under vacuum at low temperature - this way the solution becomes more concentrated or turns into powder. ⠀ The nutritional value of this ingredient, according to the checkpoint service, is 1 point out of 10. Why is it used? The fact is that any hydrolyzed animal protein is a powerful natural flavoring agent that makes the taste of industrial feed more attractive. Typically, hydrolyzate is added to feed in small quantities for precisely this purpose. But sometimes it is used as a complete nutritional ingredient and source of animal protein in animal and fish feeds - in this case, the hydrolyzate is listed among the first five ingredients. ⠀ It is believed that animal protein hydrolyzate is well absorbed, but it is chemically processed, and it is unknown what raw materials it was obtained from. We remind you that natural meat components (with an indication of their origin) are much healthier for healthy animals. The chain of pet stores Lapa & Co has a large selection of just such food. our experts and choose the one that best suits your pet ❤️

Why is it better not to use it?

Hydrolyzate is primarily already partially digested food. And this psychological factor already reduces his effectiveness in sports. But seriously, there are a number of factors that almost completely neutralize its advantages:

The absorption rate is only 10% higher than that of plain whey protein. At the same time, the cost of such protein milk raw materials exceeds the cost of the cheapest WSC by almost 10 times.
Hydrolyzate should be consumed exclusively in its pure form. The only thing it can be diluted in is distilled water. In all other cases, the rate of its absorption drops to the level of a simple whey concentrate.
The insulin reaction, which occurs almost instantly, creates a deficiency of sugar in the blood, which means it reduces the energy of the athlete who took the hydrolyzate before training.
Due to the specifics of the formula, it is not suitable for complete nutrition and absorption.
An incomplete amino acid profile is another problem with hydrolysates in general.
Short shelf life. After opening the sealed package, the hydrolyzate must be consumed within two weeks. Modern packaging involves packaging 3-5 kg in a jar. After the expiration date, the digested amino acids take on the complete form of the original proteins, turning the hydrolyzate into essentially a regular whey protein concentrate.

And most importantly: in fact, hydrolyzate is not completely broken down BCAA. Moreover, its cost is comparable to the cost of mid-category BCAA. This means that it is much more profitable from the point of view of investment to use regular whey concentrate, and at peak times to additionally use BCAA.

Wheat

Why is wheat added to feed? Good question. ⠀ Imagine a wolf who is hungry and roams through the forest in search of wheat? Or an African black-footed cat chewing on ears of corn. If you succeed, congratulations: you have a wonderful imagination! But nature decreed otherwise. The ancestors and closest relatives of our pets are carnivores, and we must remember this when preparing our diet. ⠀ Unfortunately, not all manufacturers of ready-made food are on our side. Wheat, a cheap source of carbohydrates and plant protein, is often used as a filler that gives animals a false sense of fullness. The share of this ingredient in the finished feed can reach 50%. ⠀ Of course, wheat provides energy and increases the overall percentage of protein in the feed, but the body of carnivores is designed in such a way that it must receive most of its energy not from carbohydrates, but from amino acids (components of protein) and fatty acids (components of fats). ⠀ And here we come across the recently popular word “gluten”. This is the name of wheat protein, and in itself it is not dangerous. The problem is that our pets most often lack the enzyme that can break down gluten. This is the norm for carnivores. Remember? The wolf does not chew spikelets. Does a domestic dog chew? Hence, digestive problems and allergies. And an excess of carbohydrates, which wheat is rich in, threatens domestic carnivores with obesity, diabetes and chronic inflammation. ⠀ The nutritional value of this ingredient is rated 1 point out of 10. Not least because of the generalized name, which means that it is not whole grain wheat that has been added to the food, but its low-quality derivative. ⠀ Experts from the Lapa & Co pet store chain remind us that the basis of food for domestic predators should not be wheat, but one or more high-quality sources of animal protein. And such food exists. We are working to help you choose the right one!

How to use

Unlike classic protein, hydrolyzate is not used as the main source of protein. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation regimens are used for it.

You need to use protein hydrolyzate wisely. First, calculate your main meals. Next, select your appointment time.

In the morning after waking up, 10-20 minutes before the main meal. This will allow you to abruptly end the catabolic processes that have developed overnight and begin the synthesis of restorative protein.
Immediately after training - to close the amino acid window.
20-30 minutes before bedtime to reduce the negative effects of nocturnal catabolism.

Its application profile is very limited. If you use it as the main source of protein, then the intake is based on the classic calculation of body weight deficiency, subcutaneous fat, with the only amendment - no more than 15 g of protein substrate in one serving.

On a training day:

In the morning after waking up, 20 minutes after the main meal.
Immediately after training to close the protein window.
20-30 minutes before the evening meal.

On a non-training day:

In the morning after waking up, 20 minutes after the main meal.
20-30 minutes before the evening meal.

Barley

Do you eat barley yourself? Domestic dogs and cats - yes! And they advise you too.

⠀The fact is that barley is one of the best grains in ready-made food. It is superior to corn, wheat, rye and even oats because: ▪️does not cause allergies ▪️has a low glycemic index ▪️contains many calories.

High-quality barley grain contains about 55% starch, 14% protein and 5% fiber. Whole grains contain many important macro- and microelements, but during deep processing most of them are lost, so in ready-made food for dogs and cats, barley acts only as a source of carbohydrates and partly vegetable protein.

Unfortunately, from the general name of this ingredient one cannot understand the quality and degree of purification of barley grains, so it is impossible to rate it highly.

So, barley gave us a reason to say: small quantities of grains can be useful for the metabolic processes and physical activity of dogs and cats ❤️ But in no case can they serve as the basis of their diet. ⠀ People have a different story. We have too many different concepts of proper nutrition. Some people idolize “good” grains, while others reject them. Therefore, let us just remind you that in stores and restaurants we find barley in the form of pearl barley and barley groats and something else? Then you'll figure it out for yourself!

Weight loss

Unfortunately, protein hydrolyzate has a negative effect on weight loss. Several factors contribute to this:

During its further fermentation in the stomach, the hydrolyzate binds up to 70 g of water per 1 g of raw material. This causes fluid retention and makes it impossible to control the effectiveness of weight loss.
Hydrolyzate reduces catabolic processes in the short term and is not able to nourish muscles for a long time.
Even the slightest excess of hydrolyzate leads to a sharp increase in blood sugar.

How blood sugar affects weight loss can be read in the article “Carbohydrate Metabolism”, and calorie deficit for weight loss. It details the insulin and glucagon reactions that contribute to weight gain and slower weight loss/cutting for the athlete.

Yeast

As often happens, we throw up our hands. Because streamlined formulations often hide the unsightly essence.

Now, if the food contained “brewer’s yeast”, we would say: “Oh yes!” 50 percent easily digestible protein, B vitamins and many beneficial vitamins and minerals are definitely useful, 6 points out of 10! Or "nutritional yeast". Up to 70 percent protein, which is similar in composition to animal protein, B vitamins, as well as prebiotics-mannanooligosaccharides, useful for intestinal microflora - 10 points out of 10. Definitely useful! ⠀ But the wording “yeast and fermentation by-products” does not even allow us to determine the type of yeast??‍? What if there are bakeries there, which is not very good? Although something can be said: these are yeast fungi, dried while maintaining the fermentation activity of the yeast. An ingredient of feed grade quality, one of the cheapest yeast components, which does not deserve trust 3 points out of 10. Although compared to other feed ingredients (see previous entries in the section) this is already a lot. ⠀ ☝ Finally, we note that food, beer and baker's yeast in animal diets can be called useful only if they are small-volume additives, and not one of the predominant components.

Kinds

Classification of protein hydrolysates is made according to 2 main criteria. Namely:

By type of raw material - fish, soy, dairy, casein, whey, soy, meat, egg. Hydrolysis of protein waste from various industries is one of the effective ways of their disposal.
According to the processing method - deep, medium (5-6 days) and low (5-72 hours) degree of breakdown (amino acid content of at least 50, 25 and 15%, respectively).

Cow's milk-based compounds (whole protein, curdled milk or whey) obtained by enzymatic digestion are most often used for the production of medicinal foods and therapeutic agents. Animal protein hydrolysates are used in microbiology, virology, and veterinary medicine. Soy products also have hypoallergenic and hypocholesterolemic properties.

Whey protein hydrolysates have an amino acid composition close to that of human muscle tissue, and in terms of the amount of essential amino acids they exceed all other types of raw materials of animal and plant origin.

Minerals

Are minerals needed in food? Yes! But which ones?

⠀❗️This is the main question. Minerals are inorganic compounds, but they are essential to every form of organic life. ? Like a strong mortar, minerals, through chemical reactions, “glue” together the elements that make up any protein: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur. ⠀ For this purpose, 18 minerals are needed, and not all of them are synthesized in the body. Some can only be obtained through food. And this is our area of responsibility if we are talking about pets.

Minerals are involved in many processes that occur every second in the body, for example, ☑️ in maintaining the structure of the skeleton, ☑️ in maintaining acid-base and water balance, ☑️ in conducting nerve impulses and muscle contraction, ☑️ in maintaining healthy skin, coat and joints ☑️ in the implementation of cell activity. ⠀ And this is only a small part of the work! Perhaps there is not a single process in the body in which minerals do not participate. Therefore, it is critical that they are in balance. If there is too much or too little of one mineral or another, serious bodily dysfunction can occur? ⠀ By law, any food must contain a certain minimum of minerals. And if the package says “minerals,” most likely the food contains some kind of complex mineral premix ❗️ However, this ingredient is considered controversial, since it is impossible to determine its exact composition. It is preferable when the manufacturer indicates specific chemical compounds - the sources of each mineral. ⠀ We at Lapas & Co carefully read everything that is written on food packages and are happy to share this information with you - here and in each of the four chain stores. Come, write - ask your questions! We are responsible for those we have tamed ❤️

Amino acids

Do you know which sports nutrition product is leading in consumer demand ratings among those involved in bodybuilding? Protein. But another product, amino acids, is almost not far behind it.

Do you know why? Because both are building materials for what Bodybuilding is primarily intended for - the growth of muscle mass.

Of course, this is not the only task of Bodybuilding, building a body is a much more multifaceted process, for example, getting rid of fat and giving muscles relief, but without developed muscles no one will call you a bodybuilder. However, even the “drying” stage involves taking increased doses of protein and especially amino acids.

Why do people involved in bodybuilding not limit their choice to purchasing one protein, but also buy more expensive amino acids? Firstly, amino acids practically do not require digestion and are passively absorbed, passing through the stomach and intestines.

This is an indispensable product for athletes with digestive problems. Reduced acidity of gastric juice, for example, can serve as an obstacle to the complete breakdown of protein. An athlete with this disease absorbs less than half of the proteins, which serves as an insurmountable obstacle to gaining muscle mass.

Dorian Yates ate more than 7,500 kcal per day in the off-season. This is 7 kg of food at least. It is the ability to digest and assimilate such volumes of food that distinguishes the elite of modern Bodybuilding. With diseases of the digestive system or with its insufficient digestive function, it is possible to gain large (but, alas, not outstanding) muscle volumes only with the help of amino acids.

Secondly, a large portion of amino acids, taken at one time on an empty stomach, stimulates the release of growth hormone, which is useful for both muscle growth and fat burning. Since amino acids are not retained in the stomach and are absorbed very quickly, their concentration in the blood increases sharply above the normal physiological level, causing the so-called. hyperaminocidemia. Nutritional hyperaminocidemia, as studies have shown, stimulates protein synthesis in tissues, significantly increasing the level of anabolism.

However, all this does not apply to all sports nutrition products classified as amino acids. You should immediately separate the flies from the cutlets. A fairly large part of these products, called “complex amino acids,” is a compressed protein isolate or even a protein concentrate.

Manufacturers do not particularly hide this fact and honestly indicate the composition on the packaging: whey protein isolate. Yes, any protein is converted into amino acids during the digestion process, but it is the long stage of digestion that deprives them of their main advantage - a high absorption rate. Since in such products the integrity of the protein molecule is not compromised, they have no right to be called amino acids, since they are only isolated whole proteins. Complex amino acids can rightfully be called only a protein hydrolyzate or a mixture of crystalline amino acids in free form.

Protein hydrolysate.

Hydrolysis is a process in which, under the action of solutions of mineral acids or enzymes, the primary structure of the protein is destroyed and a mixture of amino acids is formed. In the production of food additives, enzymatic hydrolysis is usually used, that is, a liquid protein solution is exposed to proteolytic (breaking the bond between amino acids) enzymes, thus imitating the process of digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, then filtered and dried.

This is how a powder is obtained, which is no longer a protein, but is a mixture of individual amino acids and larger chains consisting of two, three or more interconnected amino acids. Such chains are called peptides. The deeper the hydrolysis, the more individual amino acids and fewer peptides are obtained.

In the finished product, the total amount of free amino acids, which are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract almost instantly, can be 23–80%, the rest is peptides, and they, in turn, must first be completely digested and only then begin to be absorbed.

Unfortunately, sports nutrition manufacturers rarely resort to deep hydrolysis of proteins, reducing the technological process and thereby reducing the objectively high cost of the product. On the packaging of “amines”, consisting of protein hydrolysate, you can only rarely find an indication of the degree (depth) of hydrolysis.

As an example of an exception, “AminoMax 8000” from GASPSRI NUTRITION, the description of which states that this product contains 91% hydrolyzed lactalbumin. However, it is possible to distinguish hydrolyzate from compressed protein. Bitter taste and characteristic pungent odor are its calling card. Amino acids are always bitter.

Those who consumed powdered BCAAs or arginine experienced this. The big disadvantage of hydrolyzate, as already noted, is its high cost. The hydrolysis process is much more expensive than the microfiltration and ion exchange process, which results in an isolate, and 2.5-3 times more expensive than the ultrafiltration process, which results in a concentrate.

It is possible to make protein hydrolyzate cheaply only from very cheap raw materials. What is the cheapest animal product? Waste! Cow horns and hooves cost much less than beef tenderloin, and fish skin with scales is cheaper than sturgeon fillet.

Collagen hydrolyzate is very common in the sports nutrition market and is presented mainly in liquid form. It is made from waste: bones, animal skins and fish skins. However, this does not mean that this is some kind of consumer deception and corporate conspiracy. Everything is fair, it is written directly on the packages: “gelatin hydrolyzate” or “collagen hydrolyzate”. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissues, and our ligaments, tendons, joints, and skin need it, but our muscles do not need it at all.

The amino acid composition of muscle tissue differs significantly from connective tissue; in particular, in muscles, BCAAs account for up to 30%, and in collagen only 6%. But collagen contains 30% of the total amino acid glycine, and it contains the amino acid hydroxyproline, which is not found in other proteins.

Glycine and hydroxyproline are very useful for our joint and ligamentous apparatus. Therefore, collagen hydrolyzate has the right to exist in sports, but its purpose is not to grow muscle mass, but to support joints and ligaments with the necessary amino acids. Fish collagen differs from bovine collagen in that it is more similar to human collagen; it is often used for cosmetic purposes.

One of the first proteins to be hydrolyzed to produce free amino acids was casein. Its main area of application is parenteral nutrition. Deeply hydrolyzed casein was purified and, in the form of a specially prepared solution, was introduced directly into the bloodstream using a dropper.

In the late 80s, bodybuilders were already making attempts to use such solutions of casein hydrolysates as a dietary supplement, simply by drinking them. However, the taste of these solutions was unbearable: hydrolyzed casein is especially bitter, and the price was not encouraging.

Currently, the No. 1 protein in the sports nutrition industry is whey. Therefore, it is most often subjected to hydrolysis for the production of amino acid complexes. Of course, whey has the most valuable amino acid composition, and therefore it is the best raw material for the production of hydrolysates, while casein is somewhat inferior to whey in this regard.

Much less common are egg and meat protein hydrolysates, which have a good amino acid profile, but are inferior in this regard to whey. Plant proteins are also hydrolyzed. They are not often used in sports nutrition products, but it is possible to find hydrolyzed soy and wheat proteins; their value for building muscle mass is low.

The disadvantage of hydrolysates as sports nutrition products is that the amount of free amino acids in them is not precisely known and is only probabilistic for the consumer.

Crystalline amino acids.

Protein hydrolyzate is a mixture of amino acids with peptides, but there are also mixtures consisting exclusively of free amino acids. How are free amino acids obtained? They can be obtained by isolation from protein hydrolysates, using microbiological or chemical synthesis.

The first two methods produce L-amino acids, and chemical synthesis produces DL-compounds, which must also be divided into optical antipodes (D and L). Only L-amino acids can be part of human proteins, which is why this form is used in the manufacture of food supplements, which can be seen on product packaging. The scope of application of D-forms is very limited, but they are sometimes used in sports, for example, D-aspartic acid.

Isolation of amino acids from protein hydrolysates.

When obtaining amino acids, proteins are first broken down using acid or enzymatic hydrolysis. Acid hydrolysis results in the loss of some amino acids and is a relatively complex process requiring the use of high temperatures. Enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins occurs much easier and more sparingly, which is why it has become more widespread.

To achieve complete hydrolysis, it is necessary to use a combination of several enzymes. In practice, enzymes of animal and bacterial origin are used, such as trypsin, pepsin and papain in combination with specific amino- and carboxypeptidases.

Often good results are obtained using a crude enzyme, such as pancreatin, which contains all the digestive enzymes of the pancreas. Individual amino acids or groups of amino acids are easily isolated from a solution of completely hydrolyzed protein, but this additional operation increases their cost. The isolated “amines” are dried and they are obtained in the form of a crystalline powder.

Microbiological synthesis.

The ability of bacteria to synthesize various substances has long attracted the attention of scientists. Japanese researcher S. Kinoshita, who first discovered and proved the promise of microbial synthesis in the 50s, already admitted in 1963: “There is little doubt that the time is not far when it will be possible to produce all known amino acids with the help of microorganisms.”

This time had already arrived in the 70s. At the moment, with the help of various bacterial cultures, it is possible to obtain almost all proteinogenic (components of proteins) amino acids. The most studied type of bacteria is Escherichia coli, which was described by the German pediatrician and bacteriologist Theodor Escherich back in 1885. In addition, other bacterial cultures are used, for example Cornynebacterium glutamicum, Brevibacterium flavum, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis, as well as mutants of these cultures that are capable of producing specific amino acids.

Microbiological synthesis consists of growing certain microorganisms in nutrient solutions containing a carbon source (most often these are sugars contained, for example, in molasses), in fermentation apparatuses, where bacteria actively multiply and, under the influence of specific enzymes, release a particular amino acid into the solution in large quantities , which is then separated from the solution and dried.

Chemical synthesis.

Chemical synthesis is more universal than microbiological synthesis and allows one to obtain compounds of any possible structure. Here, non-food mineral raw materials are used, in which any concentration of amino acids is achieved using chemical reactions, however, as a rule, the process is multi-stage and requires more complex equipment. Let me remind you that as a result of chemical synthesis, a mixture of equal amounts of L and D isomers of amino acids is usually obtained, while proteins contain exclusively L-isomers. D-isomers, as a rule, are not absorbed by the body and are ballast. Therefore, it is necessary to separate them, which inevitably has a negative impact on manufacturing costs.

Both methods ensure the production of natural amino acids of the required degree of chemical and optical purity. Ultimately, when it comes to industrial production, economics has the last word: according to foreign experts, on a larger scale, chemical methods become more profitable.

Amino acids obtained by microbiological and chemical synthesis are cheaper than hydrolysates, since they are made not from protein concentrates, which have become significantly more expensive in recent years, but from cheaper raw materials, the resources of which are not limited. The production of amino acids (including hydrolysates) is carried out by large chemical and pharmaceutical enterprises in Europe and Asia, but the market leaders are China and Japan.

Amino acids obtained by one of the above methods are used in the food industry as taste improvers, in agriculture - for the enrichment of plant feed, in medicine - in the manufacture of solutions for parenteral nutrition, and, of course, for the manufacture of various sports nutrition products.

Both individual amino acids, such as L-arginine, L-glutamine, L-tyrosine, L-leucine, L-ornithine, L-lysine, and mixtures of several amino acids, among which the most common are BCAA (L-leucine), have found their use , L-isoleucine, L-valine). However, there are other mixtures, for example, consisting of a full set of crystalline amino acids, such as “Amino forte” from “Dynamic Development” or mixtures of only essential amino acids – “Aminobolik” from “Ultimate Nutrition”, “Intra fuel” from S.A. .N., “Super natural” from Skytech Nutrition. The list of products is far from exhaustive.

Many companies offer products based on crystalline amino acids, but the leader in the number of offerings on the Russian market is still the more expensive protein hydrolysates. The reason for this is the difficulty of certifying products consisting only of crystalline amino acids.

Certifying a hydrolyzate is much easier. There is practically no microbiological industry in Russia, and Russian sports nutrition manufacturers buy amino acids abroad. Therefore, on the one hand, the quality of domestic “aminos” is beyond doubt, but their price turns out to be “not Russian”. To be fair, it is worth noting that several free form amino acids are still produced in Russia, but they are not among those in demand in sports.

Hydrolyzate or crystalline amino acids.

Free crystalline amino acids, once in the stomach, enter the bloodstream as quickly as possible and immediately enter into metabolic processes, in particular, into the processes of protein synthesis. Compared to hydrolysates, the percentage of nitrogen digestibility of free amino acids is higher, and sometimes significantly.

In addition to free amino acids, hydrolysates also contain peptides, and some of them, consisting of two or three amino acids (di- and tripeptides), can be even more effective than individual amino acids. For example, in medicine, a dipeptide consisting of L-glutamine and L-alanine linked together is widely used for intravenous administration (the name of the drug is “Dipeptivine”).

This drug is, first of all, a source of glutamine, and alanine is added to it in order to prevent the breakdown of glutamine, since the latter in its free form decomposes when it enters a liquid. However, not a single manufacturer will tell you exactly which and what length of amino acid chains are included in its hydrolyzate.

The content of these in the product, as well as the amount of free amino acids, is probabilistic in nature, and this, along with the lower absorption rate, is the main disadvantage of hydrolysates. In addition, protein synthesis in the human body is specific and therefore cannot be carried out by including peptides with any length of amino acid chain into its processes, but occurs only by adding INDIVIDUAL amino acids to a new polypeptide chain.

Fish fat

Typically, fish oil is obtained from marine fatty cold-water fish such as menhaden, anchovies, herring and mackerel. And some manufacturers directly indicate the source of the ingredient - for example, “cod liver oil” (nutritional value according to the checkpoint service - 6 points out of 10) or “fresh salmon oil” (7 points out of 10). ⠀ The wording “fish oil” only indicates that a mixture of fats from different types of fish was probably added to the food. And this is a controversial point: it is unclear what products and preservatives were used in its production. The quality of fish oil and the degree of its purification directly affect its cost and, consequently, the cost of feed. ⠀ ❤️ However, regardless of the type of fish and production technology, fish oil is a source of energy and Omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). That’s why we give it to our animals and, if desired, take it ourselves!

Agriculture

As a feed additive, protein hydrolysates from meat, fish, blood and milk are used in the following cases:

to increase nonspecific immunity in weakened, sick animals;
in order to gain more weight;
as an adaptogen in stressful situations and in the presence of risk factors (high morbidity and mortality among birds and animals);
with metabolic disorders and developmental delays.

In addition, enriched feed can improve the quality of fur in fur-bearing animals.

Soybean oil

Soya oil / Soybean oil is obtained from the seeds of soybeans, a herbaceous plant of the legume family. It contains 3% lecithin and is considered a good source of fatty acids: it contains more than 50% linoleic acid (Omega-6) and 23 - 29% oleic acid (Omega-9). ⠀ Soybean oil does not contain soybean protein, so talk about the increased allergenicity of soybean oil is groundless. However, it contains more saturated vegetable fats than most other vegetable oils (for example, sunflower oil or coconut oil) and, as a rule, is regarded as a cheaper alternative. ⠀ ❗️This is the rub. Soy is an extremely popular product, and the production of soybean oil occupies a leading place in the world production of vegetable oils? The market dictates its own rules, so growing soybeans is often associated with the use of chemicals and genetic modification. But we can be absolutely calm if the ingredient is called “organic soybean oil.” ⠀ In any case, this is the 13th of 14 ingredients in the food in question, which means its share is very small.

Top 5: ranking of whey protein hydroisolate manufacturers

Optimum Nutrition. The sports nutrition manufacturer has released two protein hydrolysates that are not inferior to each other in quality: Platinum Hydrowhey and Platinum Hydrobuilder. The products are highly purified from impurities and can be quickly absorbed. Hydrobuilder also contains digestive enzymes, betaine and creatine. The cost of products is about 4380 rubles per 1590 grams.
Dymatize. Fast-digesting protein ISO-100 does not contain lactose, other carbohydrates and fats. The purest product on the sports nutrition market, which has been a top seller for many years. The approximate cost is 3439 rubles per 1362 grams.
Inner Armor Whey Protein LMS. The whey protein hydrolyzate of this brand is of high quality and has a high absorption rate without disrupting the digestion process. Suitable for mass gain among professional bodybuilders and beginners. The cost for 2270 grams is about 2450 rubles.
Scitec Nutrition 100% Hydro Whey is a high quality pure hydrolyzed whey protein. Instantly stimulates the production of insulin, an anabolic hormone. The composition contains the lactase enzyme, so the protein is approved for persons sensitive to lactose . The cost for 910 g is about 2790 rubles.
BioTech Hydro Whey Zero. One of the purest proteins on the sports nutrition market, as it contains a minimal amount of fat and carbohydrates in percentage terms, while one 25 gram serving contains as much as 23.5 g of protein. Instead of sugar, it contains a natural substitute - stevia. The disadvantage is the high cost, approximately 4380 rubles per 1816 grams.

Fructooligosaccharides

Interesting, ironic and a little sad? ⠀ Here we are at the last of the 14 premium cat food ingredients. And the last place in the list of ingredients means the smallest share in the product. Ironically, this ingredient has maximum nutritional value - 6 points out of 10. We have never seen such high indicators in this premium food ❗️ Well... ⠀ Fructooligosaccharides are a type of healthy prebiotics, fermentable fibers that are not digested in the intestines, but quickly fermented by colon microflora. They: improve the growth and reproduction of beneficial microflora, improve digestion and strengthen the immunity of animals. ⠀ Due to what? Fructooligosaccharides release volatile fatty acids, an ideal environment for the maintenance and renewal of epithelial cells of the colon wall. Thus, they help the pet’s body maintain balance in the intestines. ⠀ And yet let’s grumble a little. If the manufacturer does not indicate the exact amount of this ingredient, we have no reason to expect that the supplement will actually affect the health of the animal. Therefore... let's look together for those packages that contain all the necessary information.

Admission rules

From all of the above, it is clear that whey protein hydrolyzate is best taken immediately after exercise.

To “close” the so-called post-workout anabolic window, it should be taken within 15-20 minutes of completing a strength training session.

“Ultra-fast” protein is instantly absorbed, and within a few minutes after taking the cocktail, amino acids begin to flow into muscle cells.

Another option, when the hydrolyzate shows its qualities to the maximum, is to take it in the morning immediately after waking up to quickly stop night catabolism (breakdown of muscle tissue).

To speed up absorption, the powder is diluted in water.

If the cocktail is mixed with milk, digestion will slow down and all the benefits will disappear.