Gelatine and growth hormone release after a protein drink
What it found
In eight healthy women, a gelatine protein drink raised growth hormone levels more than soy, alpha-lactalbumin or milk protein.
All four proteins raised it more than a placebo drink.
What they found
Studies in people
Growth hormone rise
Growth hormone responses were higher after gelatine (8.2+/-1.1 microg/l) than after soy, alpha-lactalbumin and milk (5.0+/-0.8, 4.5+/-0.6 and 6.4+/-1.0 microg/l).
Compared with placebo
After each of the four proteins, growth hormone responses were higher than after the placebo drink.
Arginine levels
Gelatine produced the highest blood arginine levels of all the proteins tested.
Insulin and glucose
Insulin and glucose levels did not differ after the different proteins.
What the authors conclude
“The GH-promoting activity of protein depends on the protein source, in that, gelatin protein is the most potent GH stimulator.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that the growth hormone promoting activity of a protein depends on its source, and that gelatine protein is the most potent growth hormone stimulator.
- They suggest that arginine may be the amino acid responsible for the growth hormone promoting effect of gelatine, although each protein may have its own specific amino acid spectrum involved in stimulating the somatotropic axis.
How it was done
Growth hormone helps control growth and body composition. The authors already knew that soy protein taken by mouth can boost growth hormone release, but they did not know how other proteins compare.
Eight healthy women aged 19 to 26, with a body mass index of 19 to 26, took part in a randomised, single blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Each woman swallowed 0.6 g of protein per kg of bodyweight of soy, gelatine, alpha-lactalbumin or milk protein, and blood was sampled every 20 minutes for 5 hours to measure growth hormone, amino acids, insulin and glucose.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study of eight young healthy women, so the results may not apply to other people.
- The study lasted only 5 hours after each protein drink, so it does not show what happens with longer term use.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
The paper
- Title
- The effects of dietary protein on the somatotropic axis: a comparison of soy, gelatin, alpha-lactalbumin and milk
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- van Vught AJ, Nieuwenhuizen AG, Veldhorst MA, Brummer RJ, Westerterp-Plantenga MS (2010). The effects of dietary protein on the somatotropic axis: a comparison of soy, gelatin, alpha-lactalbumin and milk. European journal of clinical nutrition. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.21PubMed 20216569DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error