I may be dating myself here and showing my age, but I remember back in 2014 when the term “amino spiking” first hit the supplement industry. At the time, I was super deep into the industry, and the news of this shook the industry to its core. Next thing I knew, lawsuits were being filed all over against brands that were amino spiking their whey protein powders.
Unfortunately, consumers felt misled, and many of them questioned the very supplements they were taking, wondering if the protein powder brand they were using was amino spiking.
Consumers lost trust, and that’s never a good thing.
As they should, brands were getting called out left and right, and it opened the door for further transparency in the supplement industry. Clearer labels. Fewer proprietary blends. Many brands made the necessary changes in order to regain the trust of their customers. For some, it was too little, too late. But for others, they opened up about it, took accountability, and made it right.
But if this is all news to you, let’s dive a little deeper into the topic of amino spiking. In this article, we will talk about what amino acid spiking is, why you should care, how to spot it on a whey protein label, and why you’ll never see it from NutraBio or EndurElite.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, making changes to your nutrition plan, or adding any new supplements to your current regimen.
What Is Amino Spiking and Why Should You Care?
I shouldn’t even need to say this to you, but you need to read the labels carefully. While the majority of the brands out there have righted their wrongs when it comes to amino spiking, understanding what you’re putting in your body is important, and, therefore, you need to be able to read and understand your whey protein labels.
So, what exactly is amino spiking?
Amino spiking (also referred to as protein spiking) is where cheap amino acids such as glycine or taurine are added to whey protein powders. What this does is inflate the nitrogen content, essentially “allowing” (in a deceptive way) a brand to label it as protein on the label.
The increased nitrogen content does not build muscle. L-taurine and L-glycine do not promote muscle protein synthesis, and they cannot replace essential amino acids that your body needs for improved muscle growth.
You need complete proteins to get the best results possible from your time in the gym and recovery through a whey protein supplement.
Amino acid spiking weakens your protein supplement’s quality. You may end up with a formula that floods your system with glycine and taurine instead of complete proteins. Your muscle growth potential struggles when you consume fillers that do not support lean mass gains.
RELATED: The Top 3 Protein Powder Scams
A sad reality is that amino spiking gives you a false total protein count. Cheap amino acids can also create health concerns from an imbalance in your diet.
Testing methods measure nitrogen levels, not the quality of proteins. As a result, consumers may end up with nonessential amino acids (protein spiking) rather than high-quality protein content that builds lean muscle.
The solution to all of this? Choose transparency and quality for real muscle benefits.
You need a supplement that works. That’s why NutraBio and EndurElite stand apart and avoid amino acid spiking. The whey protein supplements from both brands contain full protein profiles that support muscle growth and are fully transparent. Tools such as infrared (IR) spectroscopy and SDS-PAGE confirm the quality of ingredients.
How to Spot Amino Spiking on a Protein Label
So, now you’re probably running to look at all your tubs of protein, right? Now, don’t be paranoid, as amino spiking and protein spiking have seemed to disappear. But it’s not a bad idea to look at your whey protein label and ingredient list to see if you can spot amino spiking.
What you’re going to want to do is check your supplement facts for separate listings of non-protein amino acids such as glutamine, arginine, glycine, taurine, and creatine.
Inspect the ingredient list closely. Notice if the label separates these amino acids from complete proteins.
Transparency reinforces confidence. When it comes to your whey protein powder, NutraBio and EndurElite provide you with full disclosure and avoid hidden fillers and deception, setting a clear standard for transparency in the supplement industry.
Taking things a step further, there are some things that you want to watch for that may raise a few eyebrows and questions.
RELATED: How to Choose the Right Protein Powder for Your Fitness Goals
A low price can hide added cheap amino acids that boost the total protein number. I have seen products that use extra L-lysine and BCAAs to inflate protein counts. These extra ingredients rarely help build muscle and may lack essential amino acids.
If you were to use infrared spectroscopic tests and gel electrophoresis to look at such whey protein powders, you might find that the tests show fewer complete proteins and a higher total protein value.
Inspect for clues that prove quality. Some labels list bovine serum albumin, L-leucine, or fish oil in their nutritional supplements. Certain tests use titrant and NaOH, ester and amide I methods, or even infrared light and sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to show the primary protein structure.
A clear label may include values for the amino group or carboxyl group and note details like melamine, cyanurate, or cyanuric acid. You can determine fixed data by checking standard deviation, p-value, or sample size through tests such as the ANOVA test.
Some labels separate total protein from complete protein. Complete protein gives all nine essential amino acids, while total protein may hide extra amino acids like glycine or taurine.
You should always choose protein powders that have undergone thorough testing. Tests such as HPLC, mass spectrometry, and IR spectrum analysis are used to verify the correct amino acid sequence and quality by measuring amide bonds and amino acid side chains.
Furthermore, there’s nothing wrong with comparing brands by reading the supplement facts. NutraBio and EndurElite show you every ingredient. They even break down the grams of protein from what’s in each scoop and the amount you’ll yield.
Why NutraBio/EndurElite Doesn’t Amino Spike… and Never Will
When it comes down to it, NutraBio has been the pioneer in the industry, leading the charge against proprietary blends and hidden ingredients on labels. We were sick and tired of brands not being accurate on their labels and getting away with it.
What we vowed to do is ensure every single product that comes from our manufacturing line is not only tested several times throughout the manufacturing process, but it has a 100% fully transparent label to go along with it. There is no doubt or question when it comes to the potency and quality of our products. We will never compromise when it comes to providing you with the best supplements.
Let’s unpack a few of the reasons why you will never see us amino spiking or protein spiking our products.
1. Full label disclosure policy with exact amounts of every ingredient
Our products show every ingredient with its exact amount. It seems silly to even have to say that, right?
We use 100% transparent, third-party tested, pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. This quality means the product contains no inferior proteins or protein spiking. And, as mentioned earlier, you can go online and see the lab results for the product you’re actually holding in your hands (which I don’t know of any other brands that are willing to do that).
2. 100% transparent, third-party tested, and pharmaceutical-grade ingredients
We have nothing to hide and are proud to put precise dosages and amounts on all of our labels. After all, you deserve to know what you’re putting in your body.
Again, it may sound like a broken record, but we use only the highest-quality ingredients. Every single ingredient is tested upon acceptance into our facility and then several times during and after the manufacturing process. This approach ensures that every compound meets strict standards for quality and potency.
Our brands safeguard your results and performance with honest practices. Full disclosure helps you compare products reliably. Testing confirms that no harsh chemicals, metals, or any other harmful materials compromise our protein integrity.
3. No proprietary blends and no fillers
Some brands swear by proprietary blends because they don’t want competitors stealing their formulas. While we respect their decision, we also respect the fact that YOU want to know exactly what’s in your whey protein powder. Therefore, we are proud to provide you with the information necessary to make you feel comfortable with the purchase of our products.
Let’s look at one of our products as an example. NutraBio Whey Protein Isolate offers clear labeling, no proprietary blends, and no fillers. This product contains only premium whey protein isolate with no whey concentrate or inferior proteins.
What you see on the label is exactly what you get.
You see every ingredient listed in exact amounts. The protein gets metabolized effectively, and you avoid hidden tricks that use cheap amino acids. You’ll never see us protein spiking, and that’s a promise.
The formula utilizes pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that have passed third-party testing.
If you look at the label, it takes you a step further than most protein powder labels. Our Dutch Chocolate flavor shows that for each 30.41-gram scoop of our Whey Protein Isolate (WPI90), you’re getting 28.74 grams of protein. If you look further down on the label, you’ll see a section that reads “Full-Disclosure Protein” and explains that you’ll yield 25 grams of complete protein.
Do you know any other brand that will show that to you?
With NutraBio and EndurElite, you get the highest quality products built for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who demand clarity and results. Period.
4. Built for results you can trust and without cutting corners
Consumers trust our brands because we prove the quality with clear labels and lab tests. The products clearly list every ingredient and utilize top-grade components.
The formulas are some of the most solid you’ll find and without cutting corners or being deceptive. Each of our whey protein powders supports muscle growth and recovery. You want results? We have the results. And our third-party tests back up the quality of every tub.
Conclusion
This article on amino spiking and protein spiking may have come as a complete shock to you if this is the first time you've heard of it. That said, don’t be alarmed. The supplement industry has been doing a great job of policing itself and outing anyone who it finds engaging in these deceptive practices.
But with the information in this article that I shared, you now have the necessary tools to easily spot amino spiking on a whey protein label.
Your ability to read and understand protein content, what a label shows you, and how to scan an ingredient list helps you feel more confident in your buying decision.
At NutraBio and EndurElite, we never want you to feel confused. That’s why we show everything on our labels, are 100% transparent, disclose everything, and even provide you with the ability to go online and look at the lab results of the product you are holding in your hand.
When it comes to trust and product confidence, we refuse to settle or compromise. Feel free to check out the NutraBio protein collection as well as the EndurElite protein that is formulated specifically for endurance athletes.
Whether you’re an elite athlete or someone who strives to stay active, NutraBio and EndurElite have your needs covered with confidence.
Amino Spiking Resources
- https://biofitperformance.com/how-to-choose-the-right-protein-powder-for-you/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8151012/
- https://www.supplementlabtest.com/articles/what-amino-spiking-your-protein-shake
Author:
Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN, is the owner of Weik Fitness. He is a globally recognized and prolific writer. With a passion for creating health and fitness content, Matt’s work has been featured on thousands of websites, over 100 magazines, and he has authored over a dozen published books.
