Side Effects of Muscle Milk

Muscle Milk uses several types of proteins across its line of products.

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This brand of protein products are popular in the fitness community, but you should consider the potential Muscle Milk side effects before incorporating it into your diet. While these high-protein shakes and bars work well for many people, they can cause mild to severe side effects in others.

Muscle Milk is a brand with a full range of products that includes ready-to-drink shakes, protein powders and high-protein bars. Each product has its own benefits, risks and ingredients. However, all Muscle Milk products share two features: dairy-derived ingredients and lots of protein. It's important to evaluate the risks of these two factors when assessing the dangers of Muscle Milk.

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Lactose Intolerance and Muscle Milk

Muscle Milk uses several types of proteins across its line of products, including:

Milk protein isolate
Calcium caseinate
Sodium caseinate
Whey protein concentrate

Each of these types of protein come from animal milk. While each milk-derived protein contains lactose at different levels, no Muscle Milk products are entirely lactose-free. Though the Muscle Milk website states that some of their products are suitable for people with lactose intolerance, it is possible to experience adverse Muscle Milk side effects due to lactose sensitivity.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine estimates that about 65 percent of people have some reduced capacity to digest lactose fully. In some populations, this number is as high as 90 percent, such as in people with Jewish, Italian, West African, Greek and Arab ancestry. However, only about 5 percent of people with Northern European descent are lactose intolerant.

Lactose intolerance can cause people to feel several uncomfortable symptoms in the digestive system, starting about 30 minutes to two hours after consuming products with lactose. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, gas and bloating. If you experience these Muscle Milk side effects, you should talk to your doctor about lactose intolerance and consider switching to a lactose-free protein supplement.

Muscle Milk and Kidney Disorders

According to the National Kidney Foundation, people with kidney disease in stages one through four should pay special attention to their diet, including how much protein they consume. When people consume more protein than they need, their kidneys must filter out the overage. If you have healthy kidneys, this process does not cause problems. In fact, a 2014 study in the scientific journal Nutrition found that high-protein diets did not cause decreased kidney function in older adults.

However, if you have a kidney disorder and are not on dialysis, high-protein diets can be dangerous. The excess protein causes your kidneys to have to work harder, which can cause wear and tear on already damaged kidneys. Medical professionals often recommend that these patients adhere to low-protein diets that include plenty of plant-based foods. Due to the high concentration of animal-based protein, patients with kidney disease may need to avoid Muscle Milk products. It's important for patients with kidney disease to work closely with their medical teams to design nutrition plans.

Muscle Milk Benefits

While these protein products are not right for some people, there are plenty of Muscle Milk benefits for those who tolerate lactose and have healthy kidneys. Protein shakes, including Muscle Milk, can provide such benefits as:

Aiding in weight loss efforts
Helping build muscle
Curbing hunger
Promoting bone health

A 2017 review of evidence in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that whey protein supplements can help people lose weight and reduce the risks associated with having obesity. The review showed that not only did people reduce their weight with whey protein, but they also noticed improvements in blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels. While not all of the brand's products use whey, many Muscle Milk product may provide this benefit.

Even if you do not have overweight, you may find Muscle Milk benefits. A 2018 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that protein supplementation can help athletes increase the size and strength of their muscles. If your goal is to build better muscles, protein supplements like Muscle Milk can help.