Scitec 100% Casein Complex

🌙 Slow-release casein — 5 to 7 hours of sustained amino acid delivery

Casein forms a gel in the stomach’s acidic pH — a physical property that dramatically slows its digestion and absorption compared to whey. Where whey protein reaches peak plasma amino acid concentrations within 60 to 90 minutes and returns to baseline within 3 hours, casein maintains elevated plasma amino acid levels for 5 to 7 hours from a single serving. This sustained delivery is the defining biochemical property that makes casein the appropriate protein for overnight use — during sleep, no food is consumed and the body’s natural catabolic processes (proteolysis, gluconeogenesis from muscle amino acids) accelerate. A casein shake before sleep blunts this overnight catabolism, maintaining a positive protein balance through the recovery period.

🥛 Dual casein matrix — micellar casein + calcium caseinate

100% Casein Complex uses two complementary casein forms rather than a single source. Micellar casein concentrate is the native casein micelle as it exists in milk — extracted without chemical modification and providing the slowest, most sustained amino acid release available from any dairy protein. Calcium caseinate is produced by precipitating casein with calcium, producing a form with better solubility and slightly faster digestion — contributing to the smoothness and mixability of the shake while adding a complementary amino acid delivery curve. The combination of the two produces a more complete multi-phase slow-release profile than either alone.

🔬 Taurine 200mg + L-glutamine 200mg — beyond the protein

Each serving provides 200mg of taurine — a conditionally essential amino acid with roles in muscle osmotic regulation, cardiovascular support and antioxidant protection — and 200mg of L-glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in skeletal muscle, supporting immune function, muscle glycogen replenishment and nitrogen balance during recovery. Both are additions that most pure casein protein powders do not include, making 100% Casein Complex a more complete overnight recovery formula.

🌿 Bromelain and papain — plant digestive enzymes

The formula includes 12mg each of bromelain (from pineapple, 1200 GDU/g) and papain (from papaya, 1.5 FIP U/mg) per serving — two plant-derived proteolytic enzymes that assist protein digestion by breaking down peptide bonds in the casein matrix. For individuals who experience digestive discomfort with high-dose casein supplementation (a relatively common occurrence due to casein’s gel-forming properties), the inclusion of these enzymes supports more comfortable and complete digestion without compromising the slow-release absorption profile.

🚫 Sugar-free and gluten-free — clean casein formula

100% Casein Complex is sugar-free (less than 0.5g of sugars per 100ml of prepared shake, per EU regulation) and gluten-free per EU regulations. Sweetened with acesulfame K and sucralose — both zero-calorie sweeteners. At 106 kcal per 30g scoop and 0.9g of total sugars, it is one of the most protein-dense and calorie-efficient casein products available in the European market.

🎯 Goal guide

🌙 Mass gain (overnight): 1 scoop before sleep. Sustained amino acid release through the overnight recovery period — sustaining muscle protein synthesis during the peak growth hormone secretion window.

🔥 Weight loss / cutting: 1 scoop before sleep. 22 to 23g of slow-release protein at 106 kcal — the most satiating and anti-catabolic overnight supplement for athletes in a caloric deficit.

⚖️ Body recomposition: 1 scoop before sleep daily. Casein’s 5 to 7-hour amino acid delivery profile maximises the use of the overnight window for muscle repair and anabolic signalling.

Serving suggestion

Mix 1 scoop (30g) with 350ml of cold water. Shake well. Consume 1 serving before bedtime — Scitec Nutrition’s primary and sole recommended timing. For a thicker, pudding-like consistency: reduce water to 200ml, stir vigorously and refrigerate for 20 minutes before eating with a spoon. For additional protein and calories: mix with milk instead of water.

Best times to enjoy it

🌙 Before sleep — the definitive timing for casein

Consuming 1 scoop of 100% Casein Complex 30 to 60 minutes before sleep provides the optimal overnight amino acid supply. During sleep, the body enters its peak anabolic recovery phase — growth hormone secretion peaks in the first 90 minutes of sleep (stage 3 and 4 NREM), testosterone levels are elevated and muscle protein synthesis is active. The 5 to 7-hour sustained amino acid release from micellar casein provides the substrate for this overnight synthesis window throughout the entire sleep period rather than just the first few hours.

☀️ Between meals — as a slow-release inter-meal protein

Casein’s slow digestion makes it effective as a protein source between meals when the next food intake is 3 to 4+ hours away — maintaining plasma amino acid levels and satiety during long gaps in eating. For office workers, athletes with demanding schedules or individuals on intermittent fasting protocols, a casein shake at the start of an extended eating gap provides sustained amino acid availability throughout the gap.

🏋️ Post-workout (secondary — combined with whey)

While casein is not the primary post-workout protein (whey’s faster absorption is preferred for the acute anabolic window), combining a fast whey shake with casein post-workout — or replacing the post-workout shake with casein in the evening after a late training session — captures both the immediate whey-driven amino acid spike and the sustained casein-driven slow release for recovery through the following hours.

Casein vs whey — when to use each

Full ingredient list by flavour

🍫 Belgian Chocolate:

Micellar casein concentrate (milk) 51%, calcium caseinate (milk) [calcium caseinate (milk), emulsifier (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids)] 34%, fat-reduced cocoa powder, flavouring, salt, creamer [partly hydrogenated coconut fat, skimmed milk powder, emulsifiers (E471, E472a), glucose syrup, sucrose, milk protein, stabiliser (potassium phosphates)], taurine 0.7%, L-glutamine 0.7%, sweeteners (acesulfame K, sucralose), thickener (xanthan gum), bromelain from pineapple (1200 GDU/g) 0.07%, papain from papaya (1.5 FIP U/mg) 0.07%.

🍦 Vanilla:

Micellar casein concentrate (milk) 53%, calcium caseinate (milk) [calcium caseinate (milk), emulsifier (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids)] 38%, flavourings, creamer [partly hydrogenated coconut fat, skimmed milk powder, emulsifiers (E471, E472a), glucose syrup, sucrose, milk protein, stabiliser (potassium phosphates)], salt, yogurt powder (milk), taurine 0.7%, L-glutamine 0.7%, sweeteners (acesulfame K, sucralose), thickener (xanthan gum), bromelain from pineapple (1200 GDU/g) 0.07%, papain from papaya (1.5 FIP U/mg) 0.07%, colour: tartrazine (E102).

Key ingredient breakdown

Allergens

Contains: milk (all protein sources and creamer). Belgian Chocolate: contains milk only — no other major declared allergens. Vanilla: contains milk + tartrazine (E102 colour). Both variants produced in a facility that processes egg, soy, peanuts, nuts, celery, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and sulphur dioxide — cross-contamination risk. Not suitable for vegans. Suitable for vegetarians. Always refer to the current product label for the most up-to-date allergen information.

Product characteristics:

• Micellar casein concentrate-dominant formula
• Dual casein source: micellar casein + calcium caseinate
• Sugar-free (<0.5g/100ml ready-to-drink per EU regulation)
• Gluten-free per EU regulations
• With added taurine, L-glutamine, bromelain and papain
• Recommended for evening/bedtime consumption

Nutritional values per serving (30g scoop)

Active supplement profile per 30g serving

Formats disponibles

Q1 — Why is casein protein specifically recommended before sleep rather than after training?

Timing protein around training is primarily about matching absorption speed to the post-workout anabolic window. Whey protein — absorbed within 1 to 3 hours — is the appropriate choice immediately after training because it rapidly elevates plasma amino acids during the period of maximum muscle insulin sensitivity. Casein forms a gel in the stomach and absorbs over 5 to 7 hours — making it suboptimal as a post-workout protein (the amino acid peak arrives too slowly for the acute anabolic window) but ideally suited for overnight use. During sleep, no protein is consumed for 7 to 9 hours — an extended period during which the body’s catabolic processes (particularly muscle protein breakdown for gluconeogenesis) accelerate. A casein shake before sleep blunts this overnight catabolism by maintaining plasma amino acid availability throughout the entire sleep period.

Q2 — What is the difference between micellar casein and calcium caseinate?

Both are forms of casein protein, but they differ in structure, processing and absorption rate. Micellar casein is the native form — extracted from milk while preserving the natural casein micelle structure through microfiltration rather than chemical treatment. It is the slowest-digesting form of casein, with the most sustained amino acid release (5 to 7 hours). Calcium caseinate is produced by treating casein with calcium ions, disrupting the micelle structure to produce a more soluble, faster-mixing powder. It digests slightly faster than micellar casein and produces a smoother shake with better mixability. By combining both in 100% Casein Complex — micellar casein as the dominant source (51 to 53%) and calcium caseinate as the complementary source (34 to 38%) — Scitec achieves both the maximum slow-release profile of micellar casein and the improved texture and solubility of calcium caseinate.

Q3 — Why does the Vanilla flavour contain tartrazine (E102) and what does this mean?

Tartrazine (E102) is a synthetic yellow food colouring used in the Vanilla variant to achieve the characteristic warm, creamy-white colour associated with vanilla products. The Belgian Chocolate variant does not require artificial colouring as the fat-reduced cocoa powder provides natural brown colouration. The EU requires mandatory declaration of tartrazine with the warning “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” — this is a regulatory statement for all products containing tartrazine, based on a 2007 Southampton University study on artificial colourings and hyperactivity in children. For adults and athletes, the trace quantity of tartrazine in a 30g serving presents no established health concern. The warning is specifically relevant for children — the product is not recommended for children regardless of this warning.

Q4 — Can 100% Casein Complex be made into a pudding?

Yes — this is one of the most popular preparation methods for casein protein and is specifically suited to casein’s gel-forming properties. Mix 1 scoop (30g) with 150 to 200ml of cold water (significantly less than the standard 350ml shake preparation). Stir vigorously with a spoon or fork rather than shaking, until a thick, smooth paste forms. Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes — the mixture will set into a thick, creamy pudding-like consistency due to casein’s gel-forming behaviour at low pH and during cooling. Eat with a spoon as a high-protein dessert at the same 106 to 110 kcal and 22 to 23g of protein as the shake.

Q5 — Which format should I choose — 920g or 2350g?

The formula and flavour are identical in both formats. The 920g format (30 servings at 1 scoop/day) provides a full month of supply — appropriate for first-time casein users, athletes who want to trial a flavour or those who rotate between different protein supplements. The 2350g format (78 servings) provides nearly 2.5 months of daily supply and is significantly more economical per serving — the appropriate choice for athletes who have established overnight casein supplementation as a permanent daily habit.

🍫 Recipe 1 — Belgian Chocolate casein pudding

Time: 3 minutes + 30 minutes chilling

Ingredients (1 serving):

• 1 scoop (30g) Scitec 100% Casein Complex — Belgian Chocolate
• 150ml cold water
• Optional toppings: a few raspberries, 1 tsp PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter

Instructions:

1. Add 150ml of cold water to a bowl or ramekin.
2. Add 1 scoop of Belgian Chocolate Casein Complex. Stir vigorously with a fork for 30 seconds until a smooth, thick paste forms.
3. Place in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Remove and top with fresh raspberries and a teaspoon of PB2 for a peanut-chocolate combination.
5. The casein gel-forming property produces a genuine protein pudding at 106 kcal and 22g of protein — indistinguishable from a commercial chocolate mousse.

Approximate macros: ~115 kcal | ~3g carbs | ~1g fat | ~23g protein

🍦 Recipe 2 — Vanilla casein overnight protein bowl

Time: 3 minutes + overnight chilling

Ingredients (1 serving):

• 1 scoop (30g) Scitec 100% Casein Complex — Vanilla
• 200ml cold oat milk
• 1 tsp Rabeko Light Jam — Strawberry or Blueberries
• Fresh berries (topping)

Instructions:

1. Combine oat milk and 1 scoop of Vanilla Casein Complex in a bowl. Stir until smooth.
2. Place in the refrigerator overnight — the oat milk’s natural sugars and the casein gel together to create a thick, creamy vanilla base.
3. In the morning, add 1 teaspoon of Rabeko Light Jam and fresh berries on top.
4. Consume as a high-protein, low-sugar breakfast dessert — or as a pre-sleep protein preparation made the previous evening and eaten in the morning.

Approximate macros: ~165 kcal | ~14g carbs | ~2g fat | ~26g protein

🥛 Recipe 3 — Belgian Chocolate bedtime protein shake

Time: 2 minutes

Ingredients (1 serving):

• 1 scoop (30g) Scitec 100% Casein Complex — Belgian Chocolate
• 350ml cold water or cold low-fat milk
• Ice cubes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add cold water and ice cubes to a shaker.
2. Add 1 scoop of Belgian Chocolate Casein Complex.
3. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
4. Consume 30 to 60 minutes before sleep.
5. With low-fat milk instead of water: adds approximately 50 kcal and 4g of additional protein — pushing the total to approximately 155 kcal and 26g of protein for the pre-sleep serving.

Approximate macros (with water): ~106 kcal | ~2g carbs | ~0.8g fat | ~22g protein