Insect Protein (Cricket, Mealworm): Human Trials
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Insect Protein: half-life, strengths and approval status

Amounts studied · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is insect protein?

Insect protein is protein from edible insects such as crickets and mealworms, usually sold as a powder or flour. It is eaten as a food and has been studied as an alternative to animal proteins.

Also known as: cricket protein, mealworm protein, cricket powder, edible insects.

Amounts studied

Trials used a single 30 g dose of lesser mealworm protein (Hermans 2021) or 25 g of cricket protein (Dai 2022). These are study protocols, not a recommendation.

Approval status and how it is used

Insect protein is eaten as a food. We did not find a US dietary supplement label for it.

What studies show: in 24 healthy young men, 30 g of lesser mealworm protein after exercise was digested and raised muscle protein building about as well as milk protein (Hermans 2021). In 20 young men, 25 g of cricket protein gave higher blood amino acid levels than beef protein, while appetite hormones and how much people ate at the next meal did not differ (Dai 2022). These were single-dose studies; we found no long training trials.

Safety: the abstracts do not report side effects. The sources here do not describe drug interactions.

Insect protein half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

A half-life does not apply to insect protein: it is digested into amino acids like any food protein, so we do not list one. About 73% of the mealworm protein's phenylalanine reached the blood within 5 hours, similar to milk protein (Hermans 2021).

How to track insect protein in Dose Track

  1. Add insect protein as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each serving when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of insect protein?+
A half-life does not apply to insect protein: it is digested into amino acids like any food protein, so we do not list one. About 73% of the mealworm protein's phenylalanine reached the blood within 5 hours, similar to milk protein (Hermans 2021).
Does cricket protein build muscle?+
There are no long training trials. In single-dose studies, mealworm protein raised muscle protein building about as well as milk protein, and cricket protein raised blood amino acids more than beef protein.
Can I track insect protein in Dose Track?+
Yes. Insect protein is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each serving next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Hermans WJH, et al. Insects are a viable protein source for human consumption: from insect protein digestion to postprandial muscle protein synthesis in vivo in humans: a double-blind randomized trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(3):934-944.
  2. Dai J, et al. The acute effects of insect vs. beef-derived protein on postprandial plasma aminoacidemia, appetite hormones, appetite sensations, and energy intake in healthy young men. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2022;76(11):1548-1556.

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