For years, we have been told by our customers that our Prime Protein is far more gut-friendly than other protein sources they have tried. Now we have the real, clinical trial data to back it up!
The study compared Equip Prime Protein head-to-head against a matched whey protein over 60 days. It was a double-blinded randomized control trial. Participants didn't know which protein they were drinking. Symptoms were tracked using PROMIS® GI — the same validated gut-symptom scales used in real medical research. The trial was prospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07477223) and reviewed by an OHRP-registered IRB before anyone enrolled.
We didn't run the study ourselves. Efforia, an independent research company, designed it, ran it, and analyzed the data.
TL;DR: In a randomized blinded clinical trial, people drinking Equip Prime Protein reported meaningfully better gut comfort than people drinking whey — including a 43% reduction in gas and bloating after 30 days and a 61% improvement to gut-comfort. Not only did Prime Protein outperform whey, it actually drove an improvement to baseline bloating, digestive discomfort and gas from trial participant baselines!
What was the trial actually measuring?
Four things, all on validated PROMIS® gut-symptom scales: gas and bloating, belly pain, constipation, and bowel function. Gas and bloating was the primary endpoint — the headline question the study was built around. Lower scores mean fewer symptoms.
Participants were randomized into two blinded groups. One drank Equip Prime Protein Chocolate. The other drank a chocolate whey protein independently formulated to match Prime in flavor, texture, and appearance.
So what happened? Prime Protein won, decisively.
61% of Prime Protein users experienced meaningful improvement in gut comfort. Only 23% of whey users did. Same trial, same scoring system, same 30-day window. That's a 2.6x difference between the two protein sources.*
Gas and bloating dropped 43% for people drinking Prime Protein over 30 days. On the matched whey control, scores barely moved.*
Belly pain dropped 39% for Prime users over the same period. Whey users on average reported no improvement.*
The gas-and-bloating result cleared the highest statistical threshold (Bonferroni correction) — research-speak for "this isn't a fluke." Belly pain cleared the same bar.
What happened when whey users switched to Prime?
After the first 30 days, participants who'd been drinking whey switched over to Prime Protein for a second month. The same people, now on Prime, reported 29% less gas and bloating and 37% less belly pain than they'd reported at the end of their whey month.*
Why would beef protein be easier on your gut?
Whey is a derivative of the cheesemaking process. It contains lactose, and an estimated 65% of adults have some level of lactose intolerance. It’s often processed with harsh chemicals like hexane. And it frequently arrives with gums, emulsifiers, and additives that don't sit well with sensitive stomach – that being said, our study compared a clean version, without that junk. We expect that the beef protein would have outperformed more materially if gums and other additives were in the whey…
Prime Protein is grass-fed beef protein isolate. It's dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. It's processed with nothing but heat, water, and time — no chemicals, no solvents. It's a complete protein with all 9 essential amino acids, and the naturally occurring collagen and gelatin support gut, skin, joint, and bone health. Notably, it also contains 5g of glycine per scoop. Glycine is one of the most important amino acids for maintaining a healthy gut barrier. Research suggests glycine may help support tissue repair and regulate inflammatory responses in the digestive tract. With approximately 5 grams of naturally occurring glycine per serving, Equip Prime Protein delivers an amount consistent with levels commonly used in clinical and preclinical research investigating its benefit to gut and connective tissue health.
In Conclusion
We make Prime Protein because we believe most protein powders are doing your gut dirty. We've said that for years. Now there's a randomized blinded trial that backs it up.
If you've been on Prime Protein, this is what your gut already knew. If you haven't — your gut is welcome to find out.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
