Home Ingredients NUTRALYS® Fava Bean Protein (Vicia faba isolate — Roquette)
Muscle & Recovery

NUTRALYS® Fava Bean Protein (Vicia faba isolate — Roquette)

Vicia faba
Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
8 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

NUTRALYS® Fava Bean Protein is the fava bean protein isolate from Roquette, extracted from non-GMO fava bean crops (Vicia faba). It is gluten-free and non-GMO, and fava is not one of the major allergens named in US food labeling. That is a labeling status, not a statement that it is safe for everyone. Fava beans contain vicine and convicine, compounds that can trigger acute hemolytic anemia (favism) in people with G6PD deficiency, and anyone with that deficiency should avoid fava products including this isolate. Available as isolate and textured variants (NUTRALYS TF-C). The human evidence is thin and not encouraging: no human trial of NUTRALYS Fava itself is cited here, and the one small muscle trial of another fava protein concentrate found it did not raise muscle protein synthesis.

Studied Dose No clinically studied dose of NUTRALYS Fava; two small studies of other fava protein products gave a single 0.33 g/kg dose. Roquette's product specification and the typical 20-30 g/day used for protein fortification are manufacturing guidance, not amounts tested in a human trial.
Active Compound Fava bean protein isolate (Vicia faba)

Benefits

A Different Plant Protein Source

Fava bean protein is an option for people who want a plant protein from a source other than pea or soy. This is a sourcing choice rather than a measured health benefit. One small study in 9 men found a fava protein isolate raised blood essential amino acids less than pea or whey isolate; NUTRALYS Fava itself has not been compared in people.

Supported by Trial 1

Protein Isolate, Not a Fiber Source

Whole fava beans supply both protein and fiber. NUTRALYS Fava is a protein isolate, so most of the fiber is removed during extraction. The fiber point describes the whole bean, not this ingredient.

Supported by Trial 1

Gluten-Free and Non-GMO, But Not for G6PD Deficiency

Fava is gluten-free, non-GMO, and is not one of the major allergens named in US food labeling. That does not make it suitable for everyone. People with G6PD deficiency, one of the most common enzyme deficiencies worldwide, can develop acute hemolytic anemia after eating fava beans and should avoid fava products including this protein. See the safety section before use.

Supported by Trial 1

Supplier Positioning Alongside Pea

Roquette markets fava alongside its pea protein as a complementary option in the same product range. This describes a supplier's product line, not an effect measured in people.

Supported by Trial 1

Sustainable Cultivation

Fava is a nitrogen-fixing crop, so it needs less nitrogen fertilizer than many others. This is an agricultural and environmental point rather than a benefit to the person taking the protein.

Supported by Trial 1

Textured Variants Available

A textured version, NUTRALYS TF-C, is sold to food manufacturers making meat and fish alternatives. That is a food manufacturing capability, not a health benefit to the consumer.

Supported by Trial 1

Organic Variants

Organic textured versions made from organic yellow peas and organic fava beans are offered. Organic certification describes how the crop was grown and has not been shown to change how the protein behaves in people.

Supported by Trial 1

Muscle protein synthesis not raised by fava protein in one small trial

In a double-blind trial in 16 healthy young adults, one 0.33 g/kg dose of a fava bean protein concentrate (not identified as NUTRALYS) taken right after one-leg resistance exercise did not raise muscle protein synthesis at rest or after exercise versus a drink free of essential amino acids. In 9 men given the same dose, the blood essential amino acid rise was 57% larger after whey and 28% larger after pea than after fava isolate.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Plant Protein Amino Acid Delivery

Fava bean protein supplies all nine essential amino acids but is relatively low in the sulfur amino acids methionine and cysteine, which is why it is usually paired with other protein sources. In the rodent bioassay cited here, baked faba bean scored 66% PDCAAS and 61% DIAAS, which does not support calling the profile complete. The one human trial cited here that measured muscle protein synthesis after fava protein found no rise, and it did not test NUTRALYS Fava.

2

Pulse Protein Digestion

Pulse proteins such as pea and fava are generally expected to digest at a moderate rate, similar to other legume proteins. This is a class-level expectation and was not measured for NUTRALYS Fava.

3

Protein + Fiber Combined

Whole or minimally processed fava contains fiber that adds bulk to a meal. A protein isolate has had most of that fiber removed, and no study cited here measured satiety or digestive outcomes after fava protein in people.

4

Sustainable Nitrogen Fixation

Fava bean cultivation fixes atmospheric nitrogen, which improves soil quality and reduces the need for fertilizer.

Clinical trials

1
No Human Trials of NUTRALYS Fava; Protein Quality Measured in Rats
PubMed

None of the references is a human trial of NUTRALYS Fava. This card covers a rodent bioassay of growth and protein digestibility; two other references are reviews, and the systematic review among them is not fava-specific. The fava protein evidence base is far less developed than that for pea or whey.

Rats. The two small human studies cited elsewhere on this page tested other fava protein products, not NUTRALYS Fava.

Protein quality of faba bean was scored in a rat growth and digestibility bioassay rather than in people: baked faba bean scored 66% PDCAAS and 61% DIAAS, and processing method changed those scores. Nothing cited here measured strength, exercise performance, body composition or satiety in a person taking fava protein; the one human muscle trial cited measured muscle protein synthesis and found no rise.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Read the G6PD deficiency warning below before using this product. For everyone else, fava protein is generally well tolerated as a food protein.
Mild GI distress at high doses.
Allergic reactions appear to be uncommon, and fava is not one of the major allergens named in US food labeling. Being outside that list is a labeling status and not evidence that reactions cannot happen.
Favism: fava beans contain the glycosides vicine and convicine, which the body converts to divicine and isouramil. These are potent oxidants and can cause acute hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency. G6PD deficiency is one of the most common enzyme deficiencies worldwide, not a rare one, and many people who have it do not know. Processing such as boiling, roasting, and fermentation lowers vicine and convicine, but it has not been established that a fava protein isolate retains little enough to be safe in G6PD deficiency. Anyone with G6PD deficiency should avoid fava bean products, including this isolate, unless a doctor advises otherwise.
Tannin/saponin content possible at high amounts.

Important Drug interactions

Generally minimal drug interactions.
MAOIs: fava beans contain L-DOPA precursors, with a potential interaction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Levodopa (Parkinson's medication): fava beans contain natural L-DOPA, with theoretical additive effects; consult a clinician.
Pregnancy: fava is a common food, but concentrated fava protein isolate has not been studied in pregnancy. Ask a clinician first.
Lactation: concentrated fava protein isolate has not been studied in breastfeeding. Ask a clinician first.
G6PD deficiency: avoid fava bean products, including this protein isolate. The isolate has not been separately shown to be safe for people with this deficiency.

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Frequently asked questions about NUTRALYS® Fava Bean Protein (Vicia faba isolate — Roquette)

What is NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein?

Nutralys® Fava Bean Protein is the fava bean protein isolate from Roquette, extracted from non-GMO fava bean crops (Vicia faba). It is gluten-free and non-GMO, and fava is not one of the major allergens named in US food labeling. That is a labeling status, not a statement that it is safe for everyone.

What is NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein used for?

NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein is researched primarily for Muscle & Recovery. Fava bean protein is an option for people who want a plant protein from a source other than pea or soy. This is a sourcing choice rather than a measured health benefit.

What is the recommended dosage of NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein?

No clinically studied dose of Nutralys Fava; two small studies of other fava protein products gave a single 0.33 g/kg dose. Roquette's product specification and the typical 20-30 g/day used for protein fortification are manufacturing guidance, not amounts test… Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein include: Read the G6PD deficiency warning below before using this product. For everyone else, fava protein is generally well tolerated as a food protein. Mild GI distress at high doses. It may also interact with some medications. NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Generally minimal drug interactions. MAOIs: fava beans contain L-DOPA precursors, with a potential interaction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for NUTRALYS Fava Bean Protein as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 study summary and 5 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(5 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Martineau-Côté D, Achouri A, Karboune S, L'Hocine L Faba Bean: An Untapped Source of Quality Plant Proteins and Bioactives Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1541. doi: 10.3390/nu14081541.PubMedUsed to support: Review of faba bean protein composition and bioactive peptides. It is a review rather than a trial, and the antioxidant, blood pressure, and anti-inflammatory activity it attributes to faba bean peptides has not been demonstrated in people taking NUTRALYS Fava. It supports background statements about faba bean composition and cultivation only, and it does not support any claim that this product is safe for people with G6PD deficiency.
  2. Nosworthy MG, Medina G, Franczyk AJ, Neufeld J, Appah P, Utioh A, Frohlich P, House JD Effect of Processing on the In Vitro and In Vivo Protein Quality of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris and Vicia Faba) Nutrients. 2018;10(6):671. doi: 10.3390/nu10060671.PubMedUsed to support: Supports statements about faba bean protein quality and shows that processing method changes the digestibility score. Those scores do not establish nutritional completeness.
  3. Lonnie M, Laurie I, Myers M, Horgan G, Russell WR, Johnstone AM Exploring Health-Promoting Attributes of Plant Proteins as a Functional Ingredient for the Food Sector: A Systematic Review of Human Interventional Studies Nutrients. 2020;12(8):2291. doi: 10.3390/nu12082291.PubMedUsed to support: The review is not fava-specific and pea protein is its most-studied source, so its conclusions describe extracted plant proteins as a class rather than NUTRALYS Fava. Applying them to fava is an assumption, not a finding.
  4. Davies RW, Kozior M, Lynch AE, Bass JJ, Atherton PJ, Smith K, Jakeman PM The Effect of Fava Bean (Vicia faba L.) Protein Ingestion on Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis at Rest and after Resistance Exercise in Healthy, Young Men and Women: A Randomised Control Trial. Nutrients. 2022;14(18):3688. doi: 10.3390/nu14183688.PubMedUsed to support: Parallel, double-blind RCT in 16 healthy, recreationally active young adults. They took 0.33 g/kg of a fava bean protein concentrate (n=8) or an EAA-free control (n=8) straight after one-leg knee-extensor resistance exercise. Exercise raised myofibrillar protein synthesis, but fava protein did not raise it at rest (p=0.409) or after exercise (p=0.732) compared with control. The product is not identified as NUTRALYS. Funded by Enterprise Ireland and Marigot Ltd. Supports the null muscle-protein-synthesis benefit.
  5. Kozior M, Davies RW, Amigo-Benavent M, Fealy C, Jakeman PM An Investigation of the Protein Quality and Temporal Pattern of Peripheral Blood Aminoacidemia following Ingestion of 0.33 g·kg(-1) Body Mass Protein Isolates of Whey, Pea, and Fava Bean in Healthy, Young Adult Men. Nutrients. 2023;15(19):4211. doi: 10.3390/nu15194211.PubMedUsed to support: Study in 9 healthy young men given 0.33 g/kg of whey, pea and fava bean protein isolates. One serving of fava supplied 67% of the daily indispensable amino acid requirement, against 77% for pea and 108% for whey. The post-meal rise in blood indispensable amino acids was 57% larger for whey and 28% larger for pea than for fava. A blood amino acid outcome, not a muscle outcome. The product is not identified as NUTRALYS. Funded by Enterprise Ireland with Marigot Ltd. Supports the amino acid comparison in the new muscle benefit and in benefit 1.