Whey Protein Hydrolysate

Whey Protein Hydrolysate (WPH) is whey protein concentrate or isolate that has been enzymatically pre-digested to break the protein into shorter peptide chains, producing a fast-absorbing protein for sports recovery, clinical nutrition, and infant formula.

Protein content ranges from 75 to 90 percent on a dry basis depending on starting material, with degree of hydrolysis typically reported between 5 and 25 percent for sports nutrition grades and up to 40 percent for hypoallergenic infant nutrition.

The amino acid profile inherits the leucine-rich, BCAA-rich character of intact whey while delivering significantly faster intestinal absorption. The peptide profile favors di- and tri-peptides, which are actively transported across the gut wall and produce a more rapid post-ingestion amino acid rise than intact whey.

We supply food-grade and infant-nutrition-grade Whey Protein Hydrolysate from manufacturers in China holding ISO, HACCP, Halal, Kosher, and other certifications relevant to the product and production.

Common market grades include partial hydrolysates (DH 5 to 15) for sports nutrition, extensive hydrolysates (DH 20 to 30) for clinical and elemental formulas, and highly hydrolyzed grades (DH 30+) for hypoallergenic infant formula. Bitter-taste-managed and acid-soluble formats are available. Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering protein, degree of hydrolysis, free amino acids, heavy metals, and microbiology.

Whey protein hydrolysis was first developed for hypoallergenic infant formulas in the 1980s. By the early 2000s the same enzymatic technology was applied to sports nutrition, where rapid amino acid availability became a key performance claim.

Industrial production starts from WPC or WPI as the protein source. Food-grade proteolytic enzymes (typically broad-specificity proteases of bacterial, fungal, or pancreatic origin) are added under controlled pH and temperature. Hydrolysis is monitored to a target degree of hydrolysis (DH), then the enzymes are heat-inactivated. The hydrolysate is filtered, optionally treated with activated carbon for bitterness reduction, evaporated, and spray-dried.

Regulated under the same dairy-ingredient frameworks as intact whey proteins by the U.S. FDA, EU dairy regulations, and Codex Alimentarius. Extensive hydrolysates intended for infant use are additionally subject to FSMP (Foods for Special Medical Purposes) and infant-formula-specific regulatory frameworks in major markets.

The amino acid quality positioning remains complete and high-leucine, identical to the starting whey, while the peptide structure provides functional benefits unavailable from intact proteins: faster gastric emptying, accelerated intestinal absorption via PepT1 transporters, and reduced antigenic potential.

Strategic positioning: WPH commands a meaningful price premium over WPI and WPC 80 and is reserved for applications where speed of absorption or hypoallergenicity justifies the cost, particularly elite sports nutrition and clinical or infant nutrition.

• Premium sports nutrition: post-workout recovery, intra-workout, and elite-performance powders
• Clinical and medical nutrition: elemental and semi-elemental tube feeds
• Hypoallergenic infant formula (extensive hydrolysate grades)
• Sports recovery and protein-enriched beverage powders
• Ready-to-drink protein shots and recovery drinks
• Pre- and post-surgical nutrition products
• Functional foods targeting rapid amino acid delivery
• Geriatric and sarcopenia-focused nutrition