BSN's Syntha-6 Timed Release Protein Review:

Considering a purchase of BSN's Syntha-6 protein powder? Good idea... I can't think of a single bodybuilder who doesn't use some kind of protein supplement. Needless to state, there are a lot of products to choose from. In addition to the usual basics, such as whey and egg (or soy or casein for that matter), various specialty blends are now available. These claim to offer advantages beyond what a single-source protein powder can supply.

BSN's Syntha-6 is one such supplement. As the name implies, it's supposed to be a blend of 6 different proteins, which offer "varying digestive rates and distinct amino acid profiles." As BSN describes it:

"This combination ensures that your muscles are fed for up to 8 hours with the highest quality combination of proteins available in the world. To enhance this ultra-premium blend, SYNTHA-6™ has also been fortified with BCAA's, muscle sparing glutamine peptides, Aminogen® for greater digestion, heart-healthy meduim chain triglycerides (MCTs) and essential fatty acids, along with 5 grams of fiber for improved digestion and increased nutrient uptake. Not only does SYNTHA-6 produce 'ridiculously' delicious protein shakes, it provides you with a healthy meal, perfect for your busy lifestyle."

Let's take a look at what makes this protein so "ridiculously delicious."

So the 6 proteins in Syntha-6 are from WPC (whey protein concentrate), WPI (whey protein isolate), micellar casein, calcium caseinate (casein salt), milk protein isolate and egg.

Hmmmm, hold on a moment. These aren't "6 individually complete proteins"—there's some duplication here. After all, the proteins found in both WPC (whey protein concentrate) and WPI (whey protein isolate) are the same.

This is also true for both micellar casein and caseinates—the only thing that's different is the way they're processed. And milk protein isolate is a natural blend of casein (approx. 80%) and whey protein (approx. 20%). In other words, Syntha-6 is really just a whey-casein blend, with some added egg albumen.

It may even be less varied than this. One label detail that caught my eye was the calcium content: a mere 90 mg per serving. This struck me as odd, as micellar casein and calcium caseinate are both excellent sources of calcium. To compare, Optimum Nutrition's 100% Casein—which is not fortified with added calcium—nonetheless provides 450 mg per similar serving of protein (23 g vs. 22 g).

Other casein blends, such as CytoSport's Muscle Milk also provide a substantial amount of calcium per serving. 90 mg of calcium is closer to what most 100% whey protein powders contain.The relatively low amount of calcium in Syntha-6 leads me to suspect that the casein component isn't very large at all.

If this is true, then the claim that Syntha-6 "ensures that your muscles are fed for up to 8 hours" doesn't hold up. As discussed in an earlier review, whey proteins digest rapidly, while casein can take up to 7 hours. In one study, the slow, steady release of amino acids from casein reduced whole body protein breakdown by 34%.

However, a comparatively large dose of 30 grams was used to achieve this. A few grams of casein will still digest slowly, of course, but won't make very much impact on the rate of protein breakdown. This won't matter much during the day, as other food proteins take up the slack. It may matter if Syntha-6 is used as a "bedtime" protein though, since the idea is to limit catabolism during sleep.

It's a question mark, to be sure—which is the drawback to proprietary blends.

I don't think the additives—glutamine peptides, soluble fiber (polydextrose) and digestive enzymes—add much value to the product, either. As noted in Paul's glutamine review, it takes more glutamine than Syntha-6 likely supplies to really be of much use. Likewise, activity is everything when it comes to digestive enzymes—since this information isn't given, it's reasonable to suspect the Aminogen and papain are simply label decoration. The polydextrose is probably the most useful of the lot, as it adds "mouthfeel" and is probably responsible for the satiety that many reviewers note.

Syntha-6 is also fortified with essential fatty acids (EFAs)and MCTs, although I'm not impressed by these ingredients, either. The only EFA is linoleic acid (from the sunflower oil)—which is over-supplied in most diets already.

Conversely, the MCT component is too small to be of much use. The nutrition info makes it clear that we're talking about approx. a teaspoon's worth of the fat combined. Beyond adding a few superfluous calories, the only function the added oils might serve is to enhance the flavor...which is the true selling point of Syntha-6. It's tasty stuff.

I received a couple of sample packets in my last supplement order, so I decided to check it out. It was pretty yummy, I thought...and it was the banana flavor too, which is one I don't usually care for. I used milk, instead of water: after eyeing the ingredients, I figured some extra casein might be needed. It blended well, and made for a smooth, satisfying drink.

Personally, I think the Syntha-6 formula could be improved on. Nonetheless, it still "works" as a basic, good-tasting protein supplement, and could be worth a try. Anyone using it as a nighttime protein, however, should probably consider adding a spoonful or two of casein...just in case.

Syntha-6 is available at BodyBuilding.com,
our recommended online retailer!

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