the facts about collagen protein bullets/shots
Since I took 20 minutes to write this up in response in another post to someone's request that I provide sources to back up my "opinion" on the uselessness of the collagen protein shots/bullets, I decided to post it here where more people will see it.
For those who have not heard, the protein shots/bullets that are like a half-set jello consistency and contain anywhere from 20-42g of protein in about 3 ounces are made primarily from collagen (with justg a tiny bit of whey protein added in). The collagen does not have all the amino acids that your body needs in order to be able to absorb the protein, so it is basically useless to you. Evidence for this (limited to the sources that are available to everyone on the ingternet) are below.
First, however, please note that there is a newer protein bullet where they are claiming that it is not collagen protein (they call it some kind of peptide instead) and that is has all of the essential amino acids. The manufacturers refuse to respond to requests for PDCAAS or amino acid info on their product, however, so until I see it, I will not believe it. I think they are using a marketing loophole since the small amount of whey protein in it does have all of the amino acids (but that does not make up for what the much larger percentage of collagen protein does NOT have).
Ok, the facts:
First of all, Actinase is simply the registered name given to a particular blend of protein, and it is the manufacturer of the products that use it who are claiming that it is a complete protein, but by nature collagen does NOT have all 9 essential amino acids and has a pathetic PDCAAS score of 0.08 (and just because the whey forms of protein that are mixed with it have all 9 amino acids does not raise the PDCAAS score (bioavailability) of the product as a whole).
As far as "evidence" for the poor bioavailability of collagen protein:
The PDCAAS score is used by the World Health Organization (and now the US FDA) to rate the bioavailability and amino acid content of protein sources. The PDCAAS score for collagen protein bioavailability is .08 vs. 1 for whey (on a scale of 0 -1, although occasionally the numbers will be multuplied by 100 and a 0-100 scale utiulized ).
See www.o-wm.com/content/understanding-protein-digestibility-corrected-amino-acid-score-pdcaas (which has references at the bottom) and Andrea's blog (wlsvitagarten.com/2010/01/15/protein-basics/) for basic information on protein and PDCAAS scores. At one point in time, when I was researching this, I was able to get a copy of the Schaafsma article used in that first link. I will look to see if I still have it (so perhaps I can scan it).
See www.bariatricadvantage.com/page/blog for a short chart of the protein content and PDCAAS score for common protein sources.
The score of collagen protein can be verified in the book Exercise & Sport Nutrition: Principles, Promises, Science, & Recommendations byRichard Kreider (PhD, FACSM, FISSN) books.google.com/books and at various internet resources such as thsi one where they sent samples of the bullets to be independently tested when the manufacturers would not give out then information:band2gether.net/showthread.php.
Some manufacturers have, however, even admitted in e-mail correspondence that the PDCAAS score for their product is next to nothing (see www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/4390669/PDCAA-score-for-Body- Fortress-Protein-Shots/ for the email response from the Body Fortress folks).
Lora
For those who have not heard, the protein shots/bullets that are like a half-set jello consistency and contain anywhere from 20-42g of protein in about 3 ounces are made primarily from collagen (with justg a tiny bit of whey protein added in). The collagen does not have all the amino acids that your body needs in order to be able to absorb the protein, so it is basically useless to you. Evidence for this (limited to the sources that are available to everyone on the ingternet) are below.
First, however, please note that there is a newer protein bullet where they are claiming that it is not collagen protein (they call it some kind of peptide instead) and that is has all of the essential amino acids. The manufacturers refuse to respond to requests for PDCAAS or amino acid info on their product, however, so until I see it, I will not believe it. I think they are using a marketing loophole since the small amount of whey protein in it does have all of the amino acids (but that does not make up for what the much larger percentage of collagen protein does NOT have).
Ok, the facts:
First of all, Actinase is simply the registered name given to a particular blend of protein, and it is the manufacturer of the products that use it who are claiming that it is a complete protein, but by nature collagen does NOT have all 9 essential amino acids and has a pathetic PDCAAS score of 0.08 (and just because the whey forms of protein that are mixed with it have all 9 amino acids does not raise the PDCAAS score (bioavailability) of the product as a whole).
As far as "evidence" for the poor bioavailability of collagen protein:
The PDCAAS score is used by the World Health Organization (and now the US FDA) to rate the bioavailability and amino acid content of protein sources. The PDCAAS score for collagen protein bioavailability is .08 vs. 1 for whey (on a scale of 0 -1, although occasionally the numbers will be multuplied by 100 and a 0-100 scale utiulized ).
See www.o-wm.com/content/understanding-protein-digestibility-corrected-amino-acid-score-pdcaas (which has references at the bottom) and Andrea's blog (wlsvitagarten.com/2010/01/15/protein-basics/) for basic information on protein and PDCAAS scores. At one point in time, when I was researching this, I was able to get a copy of the Schaafsma article used in that first link. I will look to see if I still have it (so perhaps I can scan it).
See www.bariatricadvantage.com/page/blog for a short chart of the protein content and PDCAAS score for common protein sources.
The score of collagen protein can be verified in the book Exercise & Sport Nutrition: Principles, Promises, Science, & Recommendations byRichard Kreider (PhD, FACSM, FISSN) books.google.com/books and at various internet resources such as thsi one where they sent samples of the bullets to be independently tested when the manufacturers would not give out then information:band2gether.net/showthread.php.
Some manufacturers have, however, even admitted in e-mail correspondence that the PDCAAS score for their product is next to nothing (see www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/4390669/PDCAA-score-for-Body- Fortress-Protein-Shots/ for the email response from the Body Fortress folks).
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
They are gross 'cause they are made from boiling the skin and hooves of horses, cows and pigs. Really.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
As a proud member of PETA
People
Eating
Tastey
Animals
I much prefer the muscle tissue that their toe nails.
Sorry couldn't resist
People
Eating
Tastey
Animals
I much prefer the muscle tissue that their toe nails.
Sorry couldn't resist
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Lora thanks for posting this. I always cringe when i see people saying that they are using those things...
oh and collegen comes from boiling animal skin and bones...YUM
oh and collegen comes from boiling animal skin and bones...YUM
Come visit me on my blog: http://apeekintomytreehouse.com/
Start weight 282, Surgery weight 265, Current weight 131, Goal weight 140
Start weight 282, Surgery weight 265, Current weight 131, Goal weight 140
A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt
Thanks for posting this!
I was actually getting ready to find that thread and write a response because I actually sat up last night looking for studies related to Actinase and all I found were advertisement articles that were all written by the same person (Jim Duffy I believe) that quoted a bunch of "studies" but then didn't include a bibliography so that you could actually FIND and READ these studies. The few articles I DID find by Mr Duffy that included references included some dismal articles on WebMD and from various lobbing groups (The Vegetarian Resource Group) or the studies couldn't be found period...including this Ohiohealth study the poster mentioned.
As a scientist, it always burns by biscuits when companies try to use pseudo-science to make their product "sound" better than it really is.
I was actually getting ready to find that thread and write a response because I actually sat up last night looking for studies related to Actinase and all I found were advertisement articles that were all written by the same person (Jim Duffy I believe) that quoted a bunch of "studies" but then didn't include a bibliography so that you could actually FIND and READ these studies. The few articles I DID find by Mr Duffy that included references included some dismal articles on WebMD and from various lobbing groups (The Vegetarian Resource Group) or the studies couldn't be found period...including this Ohiohealth study the poster mentioned.
As a scientist, it always burns by biscuits when companies try to use pseudo-science to make their product "sound" better than it really is.
HW & SW: 363 Surgery date: 8/22/11 
Miss Lora, thank you for taking the time to post the hard facts so that the doubters out there can indeed see that those collagen shots are not worth the money spent on them.
I think it's sad that some say their programs recommended those shots... while I can understand someone wanting to trust their bariatric program, these facts don't lie. Just more reason to take everything with a grain of salt and be your own best advocate.
Happy Holidays!
tori
I think it's sad that some say their programs recommended those shots... while I can understand someone wanting to trust their bariatric program, these facts don't lie. Just more reason to take everything with a grain of salt and be your own best advocate.
Happy Holidays!
tori
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