Although whey protein is the most widely used supplement of all, it is definitely not suitable for everyone. They are made from milk, which means that lactose intolerant people should avoid them. Otherwise, they could bring on unpleasant digestive problems. People with lactose intolerance are therefore usually referred to whey hydrolysates (aisolates), which contain a minimum of lactose compared to whey concentrates. However, isolates and hydrolysates are more expensive and do not have nearly as good taste characteristics.
However, the Vilgain brand has come up with a very elegant solution. Its Lactose Free Whey Protein contains only trace amounts of lactose. At the same time, it is a classic concentrate, which is cheaper and much more appealing in taste than isolates and hydrolysates. In today's review, we'll take a closer look at this protein and see if it's worth investing in and how it performs compared to the competition.
Content of the review
I don't think the Vilgain brand needs any introduction. It is currently one of the most popular Czech productssports supplements and is very popular especially among young athletes. You can read about Vilgain products for example in our review of Vilgain Protein Bar or in our review of Vilgain Whey Protein.
Pure ingredients without any artificial additives
If you are a fan of simplicity and like your supplements to contain a minimum of additives, this product is guaranteed to please. Vilgain Lactose Free Whey Protein contains no artificial colours or sweeteners. The vanilla cream flavour contains only whey concentrate, lactase enzyme, ground vanilla and natural sweetener from stevia leaves. The chocolate shake flavour contains dried cocoa and natural flavouring instead of vanilla. The whey concentrate used contains a maximum of 0.04 g of lactose per 100 g, with a maximum of 0.04 g of lactose per 100 g.whereas normal whey concentrate contains about 4-6 g of lactose per 100 g. It is also to be appreciated that the manufacturer has added the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for the digestion of lactose. Of course, the protein has been processed using the CFM method, so that all the important protein fractions have been preserved and no degradation has occurred.
The absence of artificial sweeteners is a chapter in itself. Nowadays, in almost all proteins you will find some form of additives that improve its taste and colour. Vilgain Lactose Free Whey Protein, however, stands out in this respect and contains only ground vanilla and a sweetener based on steviol glycosides. These are extracted from stevia leaves and are a 100% natural and calorie-free sweetener. Although artificial sweeteners are not actually as dangerous as they are often said to be, this is undoubtedly very good news for many people. Personally, I have to say that I like the fact that the product contains the absolute minimum of substances, because apart from the whey component and some natural sweetener, all the other ingredients are de facto unnecessary.
Sample solubility
One serving of protein represents the classic 30 g, which the manufacturer recommends dissolving in 200-250 ml of water. In this case, a one-kilogram pack will be enough for 33 standard doses. One serving of vanilla cream contains 23.7 g of protein, 2.1 g of carbohydrates (including 1.7 g of sugars) and 2 g of fat. Compared to the competition, these are quite normal values. While most other proteins can be mixed with milk in addition to watermilk, in this case we do not recommend it for lactose intolerant people for obvious reasons.
I must appreciate that the protein does not foam and dissolves well when mixed in water. If you already have some experience with Vilgain proteins, you can expect pretty much the same. We have never had any problems with this manufacturer in this regard.
You don't have to worry about digestibility
Perhaps the most important characteristic of this protein is its digestibility. I personally have never had digestive issues after any Vilgain brand protein, so my experience probably won't be surprising. However, I didn't experience any problems this time either and Vilgain Lactose Free Whey Protein was completely digestible from my perspective. Given the absence of lactose, however, there's no reason to worry that pretty much anyone would have a problem with digestion. However, if you suffer from severe lactose intolerance and are concerned about taking the protein, I would advisestart with smaller doses and increase them over time. I honestly don't think there should be any problems in that regard though.
A bland taste that won't appeal to everyone
If you're a fan of proteins with a very distinct taste, you'll have to go one step further. But if you prefer more subtle flavours that aren't super pronounced, but don't have any artificial aftertaste and don't get tired quickly, you'll be happy. Vilgain's proteins are generally more subtle in taste and not overly pronounced, which I personally always find to be an advantage. However, Lactose Free Whey Protein is quite bland even by Vilgain brand standards due to the lack of artificial sweeteners. It is therefore a question of what you personally prefer. From my experience, I have to say that when using one protein for a long time, I prefer it to be as mild as possible. Otherwise, I get tired of it after a while and sometimes I have to force myself to drink it. Fortunately, that is not the case here.
Both flavours are very subtle and natural. But I totally understand some people's objections that the proteins are under-flavored. If you prefer more pronounced flavours, this protein simply won't appeal to you. On the other hand, this is understandable given the use of all-natural sweeteners. In my opinion, Vilgain Lactose Free Whey Protein performs very well in relation to proteins relying solely on natural ingredients. Ultimately, therefore, for our part, we rate the taste of this protein as excellent, although we understand that not everyone will agree with us.
Extremely affordable price
In reviews of Vilgain supplements, we often say that they cost quite a bit of money compared to the competition. This time, however, we have to state the exact opposite. A kilo pack will cost you 599 crowns at the time of writing this review. This, by the way, is the exact same price you can buy a standard whey concentrate from the same manufacturer. But compared to competing products, this price is absolutely unprecedented. In fact, the vast majority of the products in our comparison of the best whey proteins are much more expensive. While it is true that some of them contain various digestive enzymes and other added substances, these are actually secondary. Due to the absolutely pure composition, the absence of any additives and the almost zero lactose content, the price/quality ratio of this protein is simply perfect.
Final summary
The market for lactose-free proteins in the Czech Republic is not widespread, Vilgain Lactose Free Whey Protein is therefore the obvious choice for any lactose intolerant athlete. We must highlight its absolutely pure composition, in which you will find only a few ingredients and no artificial sweeteners, colours or flavourings. This protein offers trouble-free digestibility, a mild and natural taste and a quality composition at a very competitive price that other products on the market can hardly compete with. Vilgain Lactose Free Whey Protein is therefore a great choice not only for lactose intolerant people, but basically for anyone looking for a truly quality protein at a bargain price.
Other expert reviews
- GymBeam [review]: low quality protein True Whey, Just Whey
- Biotech Iso Whey Zero [review]: the best isolate on the market?
- Scitec 100% Whey Professional [review]: one of the most popular proteins
- Nutrend Protein [review]: just another lure for money?
- Optimum Nutrition Whey Gold Standard [review]: the gold standard among whey proteins