Difference between Soy Protein and Whey?

[Khadaji]

Because of a wound that is healing on my belly (what is the phrase, Secondary Intention?) I have been instructed to take protein supplements. This supposedly promotes more rapid healing.

The soy protein tastes better.

I have been buying it at GNC, but it is rather expensive there and so I did a quick google for some. One of the sites made a claim that whey protein is better than soy (for muscle growth.)

Since I am working out too, and I see no reason not to make my protein do double duty, I'm wondering if one of our resident docs would be willing to offer an opinion: Is one type of protein better than another?

[ultrafilter]

I know that I have seen a study comparing soy and whey proteins, and that whey did come out looking better, but I don't have a reference handy. Go to the women's health section of your local supplement store and you'll see quite a few products touting the estrogen-like effects of soy--is that really something you want to try to build muscle with?

[Duck Duck Goose]

He's not trying to build muscle, he's trying to heal a wound.

I hadda rummage around for a bit to find a cite that wasn't from a website selling whey protein.

A. http://www.surgery.adelaide.edu.au/research/wound_healing.html
The Wound Healing and Injury Research Centre (WHIRC) comprises a Wound Healing Clinic and research laboratories. The Wound Healing Clinic treats patients with chronic, non-healing ulcers and is involved in a number of clinical research trials assessing new treatments for chronic wounds. The clinic also provides clinical research samples for studies investigating why non-healing wounds are different to wounds that heal normally. Research performed by WHIRC has resulted in the clinical development of a whey-derived growth factor extract for the treatment of chronic ulcers which is now in phase II clinical trial Australia wide.[bolding mine]

B. Mitogenic whey extract stimulates wound repair activity in vitro and promotes healing of rat incisional wounds. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10848535&dopt=Abstract
)

I'd definitely go with whey protein.

[Duck Duck Goose]

Oh, okay, he is trying to build muscle, but to my mind, the wound-healing is more important, so IMO he oughta go with what's going to heal his wound first.

[Chairman Pow]

Go to the women's health section of your local supplement store and you'll see quite a few products touting the estrogen-like effects of soy--is that really something you want to try to build muscle with?

Hell, see the scientific studies discussing soy as an estrogenic!

[Translucent Daydream]

As far as working out goes, I have been told that soy protein is rather counter-productive because of plant-estrogens and whatnot that it contains. Or at least that is what my college coach used to tell us.

You know what I would try to make it taste better? Try mixing up a scoop of the whey protein of the chocolate variety with chocolate slim fast. That makes it taste less like bad milk, or at least to me.

[Khadaji]

After the response here, I decided to email my doc and get his take. Here the gist of his response (sorry I can't link to him. :) )

Soy protein may not be as good for lifting as whey or egg. But it does have benefit for lifters and other good benefits. He says that some important amino acids are now added to quality soy protein making it a viable body mass building product. He says that it also may help reduce cholesterol.

He says that it may be a viable supplent for women with estrogen difficiency, but for men it will have no adverse affects. In short, he said that plant estrogen may be able to be used by women, but men will not absorb it or use it as estrogen.

His recommendation: Use a scoop of whey and a scoop of soy. I tried it - the whey protein's suckiness still comes shining through. But after the why is finished I'll try some egg protein and see if it is any better.

Thanks for all the replies.

[astro]

Vanilla flavored whey protein at Walmart is quite inexpensive and it's the same stuff (and in the same container) they charge twice as much for in the health food stores.

My favorite way to take whey is to use 8 oz of Silk Soy milk and a scoop or two of the whey protein. It's tastier than with milk or water, in fact it's absolutely delicious! The two tastes complement each other.