Product Comparison
Compare the three protein routes head-to-head — the whey gold standard, the plant blend, and the collagen adjunct. The comparison runs on leucine density, completeness, and honest claims-to-purpose alignment.
At a glance
NOW Sports Whey Protein Isolate
Truvani Plant Protein (Pea + Pumpkin)
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Multi-dimensional comparison
Multi-dimensional Comparison
| Metric | 🏆NOW Sports Whey Protein Isolate NOW Sports | Truvani Plant Protein (Pea + Pumpkin) Truvani | Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Vital Proteins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Form | Powder | Powder | Powder |
| Strength | 25 g protein per scoop | 20 g protein per scoop | 20 g collagen peptides per scoop |
| Servings / Container | 32 | 30 | 28 |
| Retail Price | $34.99 | $39.99 | $43.00 |
| Cost / Serving | $1.09BEST 💰 | $1.33 | $1.54 |
| Overall Score | 87/100 | 81/100 | 77/100 |
| 3rd-Party Testing | None | None | None |
| Vegan Friendly | — No | ✓ Yes | — No |
Did you know?
The leucine threshold
The per-meal MPS trigger: roughly 2.5 g of leucine, delivered by ~25–30 g of quality protein. Check the leucine line on any powder — the number that tells you whether the serving actually triggers synthesis.
The plant completeness strategy
No single plant protein (except soy) is complete — the blend (pea + pumpkin, pea + rice) covers the amino-acid profile. Matched for leucine, blended plant proteins equal whey.
Collagen's honest position
Rich in glycine and proline (the connective-tissue aminos), low in tryptophan and the MPS-triggering essentials — a structural adjunct to the pattern, never a replacement for the complete proteins.
The kidney line
High protein is safe for healthy kidneys — the intervention trials are null. The caution line is diagnosed CKD, where the nephrologist sets the target. Both facts, always together.
The synthesis window
MPS runs ~3 hours per meal trigger, then resets — 3–4 threshold meals daily cover the waking day. The single mega-dinner leaves two-thirds of the day untriggered.
The supplement's honest size
A chicken breast, a salmon fillet, a Greek yogurt, three eggs — the threshold meals exist on the plate. The powder fills the gaps (the breakfast, the appetite-shrunken older adult, the post-training window), never replaces the pattern.