Description
Dymatize ISO 100
Hydrolysed whey protein isolate — one of the most established protein products on the market, and a genuinely premium specification.
What "hydrolysed isolate" means — two processes, not one
The name describes two separate steps, and both matter.
1. Isolate. Whey filtered to around 90% protein before flavouring, removing most of the fat and lactose. That is what makes it lean and suitable for most people with lactose sensitivity.
2. Hydrolysed. The protein is then partially broken down by enzymes into peptides — short chains of two or three amino acids — rather than left intact.
The interesting part is why hydrolysis speeds absorption, and it is not simply that digestion has less work to do.
Di- and tripeptides have their own transporter. Free amino acids are absorbed by transporters that compete with one another. Short peptides use PepT1 — a separate, higher-capacity route without that competition. So a hydrolysed protein can deliver amino acids into the bloodstream faster than either intact protein or free amino acids, because it uses a road with less traffic.
Same mechanism we explain on our hydrolysed peptide page.
Where that speed genuinely matters — and where it does not
Genuinely useful:
- Training fasted, where you are starting from an empty state
- Two-a-day training, where the gap between sessions is short
- When a normal shake sits heavily before or during a session
- Anyone with reduced digestive capacity — which is why hydrolysates are used clinically
Where it matters less than the marketing suggests:
- Post-workout. The anabolic window is measured in hours rather than minutes. If you eat protein within a couple of hours of training, absorption speed is not your limiting factor
- Total daily muscle growth, where total protein and adequate leucine matter far more than how fast any single serving arrives
Our honest read: ISO 100 is an excellent, very lean, well-made protein. Buy it for the purity and the certification rather than because faster absorption builds more muscle.
Why Informed Choice certification matters
Informed Choice means every batch is tested for banned substances by an independent laboratory, with results published. That is materially different from a brand asserting its products are clean.
Supplement contamination is a genuine, documented problem — products made in facilities handling prohibited compounds can pick up trace amounts, and a tested athlete is responsible for whatever is in their system regardless of how it got there. Strict liability is the standard in most federations.
If you are tested in any capacity — competitive sport, collegiate athletics, military, law enforcement — batch-tested certification is not optional.
⚠ Hydrolysed protein tastes slightly bitter
Worth knowing before you open the tub.
Breaking protein into peptides exposes hydrophobic amino acid side chains, and those taste bitter. That is an inherent chemical consequence of hydrolysis rather than a manufacturing fault — the more extensively hydrolysed, the more bitter.
ISO 100 is only partially hydrolysed and well flavoured, so this is subtle rather than unpleasant — but it explains why hydrolysates taste sharper than a standard whey.
Where it fits in our protein range
| Dymatize ISO 100 | Hydrolysed isolate | Fastest, leanest, certified |
| ALLMAX IsoFlex | 27g pure isolate | Highest protein per serving |
| NutraBio Whey Isolate | 25g / 120 cal | Best everyday value |
| PEScience Select | Whey + casein blend | Most versatile, best flavour |
Specs
| Protein | 25g hydrolysed whey isolate |
| Fat and carbohydrate | Very low |
| Certification | Informed Choice — every batch tested |
| ⚠ Allergen | Contains milk |
How to take it
- One scoop in 6 to 8oz of water or milk. Isolate is dense and needs less liquid than most proteins.
- Any time. Total daily protein matters far more than timing.
- Particularly suited to fasted training or between two sessions.
- Aim for 1.6 to 2.2g of protein per kg of bodyweight daily.
Who this is for
- Tested athletes — collegiate, professional, military. The clearest case
- Anyone counting calories, where protein per calorie is the priority
- People who get bloating from whey concentrate
- Anyone training fasted or twice a day
- People who find normal shakes sit heavily
Who this is not for
Anyone optimising cost per gram. Hydrolysis and certification both add cost — a standard isolate is cheaper and does the everyday job.
Anyone buying it because faster absorption builds more muscle. Total daily protein matters far more.
Anyone wanting a thick, dessert-like shake. This is lean and thin by design.
Anyone with a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance is different, and an isolate is usually well tolerated.
Not for anyone under 18 without medical advice.
Stack it with: creatine. If you are tested, choose a certified creatine as well.
Frequently asked questions
What does hydrolysed mean?
The protein has been partially broken down by enzymes into short peptide chains rather than left intact.
Why does that absorb faster?
Di- and tripeptides use the PepT1 transporter, which is separate from and higher-capacity than the routes handling free amino acids.
Does faster absorption build more muscle?
Not meaningfully. Total daily protein and adequate leucine matter far more, and the post-workout window is measured in hours rather than minutes.
What is Informed Choice?
An independent certification programme that batch-tests for banned substances and publishes results — verification rather than a brand's own claim.
Do I need certified protein?
If you are tested in any capacity, yes. Athletes are held responsible for whatever is in their system regardless of how it got there.
Why does it taste slightly sharp?
Hydrolysis exposes hydrophobic amino acid side chains, which taste bitter. It is inherent to the process rather than a fault.
Is it suitable if I'm lactose intolerant?
Generally yes — isolate has most of the lactose filtered out. A milk allergy is different.
Is it worth the extra cost over standard isolate?
For the certification, if you are tested. For the hydrolysis, only if you train fasted, train twice a day, or find shakes sit heavily.