Casein Protein Research
40 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 9/10
Effects of supplementation with milk protein on glycemic parameters: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
Mohammadi S et al. • Nutrition journal (2023)
The findings of this study suggest that supplementation with MP may improve glycemic control in adults by reducing the values of fasting insulin, FBG, and HOMA-IR.
- The findings of this study suggest that supplementation with MP may improve glycemic control in adults by reducing the values of fasting insulin, FBG, and HOMA-IR.
- Additional trials with longer durations are required to confirm these findings.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Impacts of supplementation with milk proteins on inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Mohammadi S et al. • Inflammopharmacology (2025)
This study revealed that MP supplementation may not have any considerable impacts on the levels of cytokines and adipokines.
- This study revealed that MP supplementation may not have any considerable impacts on the levels of cytokines and adipokines.
- Published in Inflammopharmacology (2025)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Pre-sleep protein ingestion to improve the skeletal muscle adaptive response to exercise training
Snijders T et al. • Nutrients (2019)
Pre-sleep casein protein ingestion augments muscle mass and strength gains during prolonged resistance training.
- Pre-sleep protein enhances training adaptations
- Increases muscle fiber size
- Optimal dose is 30-40g casein
Milk A1 β-casein and health-related outcomes in humans: a systematic review
Küllenberg de Gaudry D et al. • Nutrition reviews (2019)
Human-based evidence from clinical trials and epidemiological studies published prior to October 2017 provides moderate certainty for adverse digestive health effects of A1 β-casein compared with A2 β-casein but low or very low certainty for other health effects.
- Human-based evidence from clinical trials and epidemiological studies published prior to October 2017 provides moderate certainty for adverse digestive health effects of A1 β-casein compared with A2 β-casein but low or very low certainty for other health effects.
- These conclusions may change in the future, given the emergent nature of this topic and the ongoing research in this area.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Pre-Sleep Casein Supplementation, Metabolism, and Appetite: A Systematic Review
Dela Cruz J et al. • Nutrients (2021)
A summary of the main findings shows limited to no effects on metabolism or appetite when ingesting 24-48 g of casein 30 min before sleep, but data are limited, and future research is needed to clarify the relationships observed.
- However, it remains unclear what the effect of this nutritional strategy is on non-muscular parameters such as metabolism and appetite in both healthy and unhealthy populations.
- The purpose of this systematic review is to understand the effects of pre-sleep casein protein on energy expenditure, lipolysis, appetite, and food intake in both healthy and overweight or obese individuals.
- A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane, and SPORTDiscus during March 2021, and 11 studies met the inclusion criteria.
Hemp seed protein and its hydrolysate compared with casein protein consumption in adults with hypertension: a double-blind crossover study
Samsamikor M et al. • The American journal of clinical nutrition (2024)
These results suggest that hemp protein consumption, as well as in combination with bioactive peptides, may have a role in the dietary management of hypertension.
- These results suggest that hemp protein consumption, as well as in combination with bioactive peptides, may have a role in the dietary management of hypertension.
- This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03508895.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Pre-sleep casein ingestion with probiotic strains improves anaerobic power and lower-body-specific strength and power performance in soccer players
Sadeghi R et al. • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2025)
The simultaneous consumption of casein and probiotics significantly improved anaerobic power, isokinetic strength, and lower-body muscular endurance in male soccer players.
- The current study's findings indicated that APT-180°/s (ext) significantly increased in CAS (p = 0.008) and PRO+CAS (p = 0.003) compared to PLA.
- Additionally, the Wall-squat test demonstrated a significant increase in PRO+CAS compared to PLA (p = 0.001) and PRO (p = 0.001).
- The simultaneous consumption of casein and probiotics significantly improved anaerobic power, isokinetic strength, and lower-body muscular endurance in male soccer players.
Soy Protein Containing Isoflavones Improves Facial Signs of Photoaging and Skin Hydration in Postmenopausal Women: Results of a Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Rizzo J et al. • Nutrients (2023)
Dietary soy protein supplementation with isoflavones may improve skin photoaging, including wrinkles and dyspigmentation, and increase skin hydration in postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types I, II, and III.
- The average wrinkle severity was decreased in the SPII intervention group at week 16 and week 24 by 5.9% and 7.1%, respectively, compared to the baseline.
- Compared to the casein group, average wrinkle severity was significantly decreased at week 16 (p < 0.05) and week 24 (p < 0.0001).
- Facial pigment intensity was decreased by -2.5% (p < 0.05) at week 24, whereas there was no significant change in the casein group.
Milk Containing A2 β-Casein ONLY, as a Single Meal, Causes Fewer Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance than Milk Containing A1 and A2 β-Caseins in Subjects with Lactose Maldigestion and Intolerance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Trial
Ramakrishnan M et al. • Nutrients (2020)
Consumption of milk containing A2 β-casein only is associated with fewer GI symptoms than consumption of conventional milk in lactose maldigesters.
- In an analysis of the 25 LI subjects, total symptom score for abdominal pain was lower following consumption of milk containing A2 β-casein only, compared with conventional milk (p = 0.004).
- Post hoc analysis with lactose maldigesters revealed statistically significantly improved symptom scores (p = 0.04) and lower hydrogen production (p = 0.04) following consumption of milk containing A2 β-casein only compared with conventional milk.
- Symptoms of GI intolerance and breath hydrogen concentrations were analyzed for 6 h after ingestion of each type of milk.
Pre-sleep Protein Ingestion Increases Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis Rates During Overnight Recovery from Endurance Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Trommelen J et al. • Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) (2023)
Protein ingestion prior to sleep increases both mitochondrial and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during overnight recovery from exercise.
- Protein ingestion prior to sleep increases both mitochondrial and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates during overnight recovery from exercise.
- The overnight muscle protein synthetic response to whey and casein protein does not differ.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
A novel oral nutritional supplement improves gait speed and mitochondrial functioning compared to standard care in older adults with (or at risk of) undernutrition: results from a randomized controlled trial
Grootswagers P et al. • Aging (2021)
We conclude that a 12-week intervention with the novel supplement improved walking performance both during short and long distance as compared to a standard supplement, which can largely be explained by increased mitochondrial functioning in the group receiving the novel supplement.
- Both groups showed significant increases in body mass.
- Fat mass increased significantly more in the standard than the novel supplement group (time*treatment effect P=0.045).
- The novel supplement group showed a larger improvement in walking performance on distances of 4m (treatment x time interaction P=0.048) and 400m (treatment x time interaction P=0.038) than the standard treatment group.
Randomised Controlled Trial: Partial Hydrolysation of Casein Protein in Milk Decreases Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Subjects with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Laatikainen R et al. • Nutrients (2020)
The mechanism remains to be resolved.
- Both the IBS-SSS score (p = 0.001) and total symptom score reported daily (p = 0.002) were significantly reduced when participants consumed the hydrolysed product.
- Flatulence (p = 0.01) and heartburn (p = 0.03) decreased when consuming the hydrolysed product but not when drinking the control product.
- No significant differences in the levels of inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α and interleukin 6, IL-6), intestinal permeability (fatty acid binding protein 2, FABP2) or immune activation (1-methylhistamine) were detected between the treatment periods.
The effects of pre-sleep consumption of casein protein on next-morning measures of RMR and appetite compared between sedentary pre- and postmenopausal women
Schattinger CM et al. • The British journal of nutrition (2021)
In addition, these data demonstrate that menopause may not alter next-morning RMR, RER or appetite after pre-sleep consumption of CP.
- RMR was significantly lower in postmenopausal compared with premenopausal women under both conditions (P = 0·003).
- When consumed pre-sleep CP did not alter RMR, RER or appetite compared with PL when assessed next morning in pre- and postmenopausal women.
- These data contribute to growing evidence that pre-sleep consumption of protein is not harmful to next-morning metabolism or appetite.
Casein Protein Processing Strongly Modulates Post-Prandial Plasma Amino Acid Responses In Vivo in Humans
Trommelen J et al. • Nutrients (2020)
Protein processing can strongly modulate the post-prandial rise in plasma amino acid bioavailability in vivo in humans.
- Plasma total amino acids iAUC were higher following the ingestion of XL-CAS when compared to Ca-CAS (294 ± 63 vs. 260 ± 75 mmol·L-1, p = 0.006), with intermediate values following Mi-CAS ingestion (270 ± 63 mmol·L-1, p > 0.05).
- In conclusion, cross-linked sodium caseinate is more rapidly digested when compared to micellar casein and calcium caseinate.
- Protein processing can strongly modulate the post-prandial rise in plasma amino acid bioavailability in vivo in humans.
Pre-Sleep Casein Protein Ingestion Does Not Impact Next-Day Appetite, Energy Intake and Metabolism in Older Individuals
Morehen S et al. • Nutrients (2019)
Pre-sleep protein intake does not affect next-morning appetite and energy intake and is therefore a viable strategy to increase daily protein intake in an older population.
- Next-morning appetite, energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), respiratory exchange rate (RER), and plasma acylated ghrelin, leptin, glucose, and insulin concentrations were assessed.
- No between-group differences were observed for appetite and energy intake at breakfast.
- Furthermore, RMR, RER, and assessed blood markers were not significantly different between any of the treatment groups.
Protein Supplementation Does Not Augment Adaptations to Endurance Exercise Training
Jonvik KL et al. • Medicine and science in sports and exercise (2019)
Protein supplementation after exercise and before sleep does not further augment the gains in whole-body oxidative capacity and endurance exercise performance after chronic endurance exercise training in recreationally active, healthy young males.
- Endurance exercise training induced an 11% ± 6% increase in V˙O2max (time effect, P < 0.0001), with no differences between groups (PRO, 48 ± 6 to 53 ± 7 mL·min·kg; PLA, 46 ± 5 to 51 ± 6 mL·min·kg; time-treatment interaction, P = 0.50).
- Time to complete the time trial was reduced by 14% ± 7% (time effect, P < 0.0001), with no differences between groups (time-treatment interaction, P = 0.15).
- Muscular endurance increased by 6% ± 7% (time effect, P < 0.0001), with no differences between groups (time-treatment interaction, P = 0.84).
Rate of appearance of amino acids after a meal regulates insulin and glucagon secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial
Markova M et al. • The American journal of clinical nutrition (2018)
PP elicits greater postprandial increases in glucagon than does CP and consequently requires higher insulin to control glucose metabolism, which appears to be related to the rate of amino acid appearance.
- Total areas under the curve after CP were significantly lower than after the PP lunch by 40% for insulin and 23% for glucagon.
- Indexes of insulin sensitivity and secretion were significantly improved for the second CP MTT.
- The ingestion of PP resulted in significant increases in amino acids after both meals, with a decline between meals.
Daytime and nighttime casein supplements similarly increase muscle size and strength in response to resistance training earlier in the day: a preliminary investigation
Joy JM et al. • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2018)
Both NT and DT protein consumption as part of a 24-h nutrition approach are effective for increasing strength and hypertrophy.
- Both NT and DT protein consumption as part of a 24-h nutrition approach are effective for increasing strength and hypertrophy.
- The results support the strategy of achieving specific daily protein levels versus specific timing of protein ingestion for increasing muscle mass and performance.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Pre-Sleep Consumption of Casein and Whey Protein: Effects on Morning Metabolism and Resistance Exercise Performance in Active Women
Madzima TA et al. • Nutrients (2018)
In conclusion, 48 g CP elicited favorable changes in morning RMR, with only trivial changes in RE performance.
- RE was performed on six machines for 2 sets of 10 repetitions, and a 3rd set to failure at 60% of one-repetition maximum to calculate RE volume (weight lifted × sets × repetitions).
- Compared to the PLA, 48 g CP had a likely increase in RMR (4.0 ± 4.8%) and possibly trivial (1.1 ± 7.0%) effect on RE volume.
- Magnitude based inferences were used.
Lipolysis and Fat Oxidation Are Not Altered with Presleep Compared with Daytime Casein Protein Intake in Resistance-Trained Women
Allman BR et al. • The Journal of nutrition (2020)
There was no difference between the effects of daytime and presleep PRO supplementation on SCAAT lipolysis or whole-body substrate utilization in resistance-trained women.
- There was no difference between the effects of daytime and presleep PRO supplementation on SCAAT lipolysis or whole-body substrate utilization in resistance-trained women.
- Presleep PRO is a viable option for increasing PRO consumption in resistance-trained women because it does not blunt overnight lipolysis, and will therefore likely not lead to increases in subcutaneous abdominal fat.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03573687.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings