Insect protein has the same benefits as milk

Insect protein is as beneficial as the ‘gold standard’ milk protein, revealed a new study. Findings unveiled by Maastricht University in The Netherlands show that both proteins have the same performance on digestion, absorption and the ability to stimulate muscle production.
"We used a unique isotope labeling approach to prove rapid digestion and effective stimulation of muscle protein synthesis following the ingestion of Buffalo mealworm," explained Professor Dr Luc van Loon, lead researcher for the study. He added that the observed response did not differ from the ingestion of a similar amount of milk protein.
Milk protein (80% casein, 20% whey) is considered the gold standard. Data shows that the mealworm also contains all nine essential amino acids and is efficiently digested in the human body. In contrast, plant-based proteins often show an incomplete amino acid profile with low levels of essential amino acids, the study revealed. The outcome of the study was published last month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Dutch agri-tech company Protifarm provided the Buffalo mealworm protein used in the research. (Image from Pixabay)