If you have ever glanced at a whey protein FAQ, you have probably seen some mention of this question. The difference between whey isolate and whey concentrate, and yes there is one, has not yet been documented. Firstly, let’s assess what they have in common. Both of them go through a vigorous process of removing most of the lactose, fat, and carbs that are present in whey. Of course, isolates need to go through an additional filtering step to remove even more carbs and fat.
The end result is formulas that contain almost pure protein and nothing else. However, the difference lies in the concentration level of the protein after this process has concluded. For whey concentrate, this will be 80 percent and isolate will be 90 percent protein. Yet, the protein quality is exactly the same.
It is also worth noting that whey isolate may be safer for those with lactose intolerance. While whey proteins only contain a trace amount of lactose, it could still trigger a reaction if your stomach is ultra-sensitive. Whey isolate undergoes a process called cross-flow-micro-filtration, which separates the protein from the lactose, cholesterol, and fat. This process results in a purer product and even less lactose than the original product.