Dosing for Whey Protein
When testing the effectiveness of supplements, researchers use specific doses to gauge whether or not an ingredient is effective or ineffective. The Supplement Database includes 17 studies on whey protein dosing. These studies indicate an effective dose ranges from 10 to 56 grams per day, the average dose being 41.82 grams per day.
A single study typically tests a specific dose of a supplement against a number of claims. Studies generally come to one of three conclusions: 1) the supplement was extremely effective, 2) the supplement was moderately effective, 3) the supplement was ineffective. The only doses listed on this page are ones which studies found either moderately or extremely effective. Ineffective doses are not shown.
Table of Contents
Simple Dosing Report
The table below lists the effective dose ranges for the claim listed. Click on the claim for more information on how well the supplement works for the specific activity. The detailed report, at the bottom of this page, includes more in-depth dosing data.
| Claim | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Overall Dose Range (all claims) | 10 - 56 grams per day |
| decrease body fat | 28 - 48 grams per day |
| improve agility | 48 grams per day |
| increase muscle mass | 28 - 48 grams per day |
| increase protein synthesis | 10 - 40 grams per day |
| increase strength | 28 - 48 grams per day |
| maintaining muscle mass during weight loss | 56 grams per day |
Products Containing Whey Protein
The following table lists a few of the supplement products from the database which contain whey protein. For a complete listing, follow the link at the bottom of the table.
| Product Name | Amount of Whey Protein |
|---|---|
| P10 Post-Workout | 20g |
| AminoMax 8000 | Amount not listed. |
| X-LR8 | Amount not listed. |
| Hella Goodnight | 6g |
| Fully Loaded | 10g |
See the full list of products containing whey protein.
Detailed Dosing Report
The detailed dosing report breaks down how each study rated a specific dose. Additionally, this report also provides daily frequency of a dose.
Note: sometimes, studies may find smaller doses are more effective than larger ones. Rather than focusing on specific numbers, look at the range of effective doses when evaluating how much of a supplement you should take.
The first column (dosage) is the amount of the supplement taken per sitting. The next column (frequency) is the number of times the dosage was taken each day. The third column (daily total) is dosage multiplied by frequency. The final column (effectiveness) is how well that dose worked for the specific claim. Click the icon in the reference column to read the study.
Click the icon in the first column to read the reference study of the dosing information.
This icon is shown next to a dose based on bodyweight. The default bodyweight is 150 pounds. Use the form below to base these doses on a new bodyweight.
Decrease Body Fat
| Dosage | Frequency | Daily Total | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25.5g | 4x per day | 102g | |
| 24g | twice daily | 48g | |
| 48g | once daily | 48g | |
| 28g | once daily | 28g |
Improve Agility
| Dosage | Frequency | Daily Total | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24g | twice daily | 48g |
Increase Muscle Mass
Increase Protein Synthesis
| Dosage | Frequency | Daily Total | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20g | once daily | 20g | |
| 21.4g | once daily | 21.4g | |
| 40g | once daily | 40g | |
| 10g | once daily | 10g | |
| 20g | once daily | 20g |
Increase Strength
| Dosage | Frequency | Daily Total | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40g | once daily | 40g | |
| 21g | 4x per day | 84g | |
| 27g | 3x per day | 81g | |
| 25.5g | 4x per day | 102g | |
| 24g | twice daily | 48g | |
| 48g | once daily | 48g | |
| 28g | once daily | 28g |
Maintaining Muscle Mass During Weight Loss
| Dosage | Frequency | Daily Total | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28g | twice daily | 56g |