Are Optimum Nutrition Just Junk? A Full Breakdown of Their Ingredients
Who is Optimum Nutrition?
Optimum Nutrition, a company established in 1986, has one of the top-selling sports protein powders in the world. Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard 100% Whey is their top-selling product. In 2008 Glanbia acquired Optimum Nutrition. Glanbia owns multiple popular brands, including BSN, Slimfast, and more. Does the world's top-selling producer use quality ingredients, junk or junkless?
Supplemental Facts Label
Supplemental facts label is a panel required by the FDA. It must list the names and the quantity of all the dietary ingredients contained per serving and their serving size. All Ingredients must be included either in the Supplemental facts panel or the ingredients list below. Herbal Extracts mentioned within the panel must be listed First by their Known name, then by Latin name (Botanical name), and then by the plant part extracted. Herbal Extracts, Amino Acids, Vitamins, Live microbial, and minerals are all considered active ingredients.
Active and Inactive Ingredients
Active ingredients are the ingredients in supplements that have a physiological effect on the body. These are the ingredients that most health claims are based around like, More Pumps or Faster Recovery. You can usually find these ingredients in the Supplemental Facts panel if you cannot distinguish between the active and inactive ingredients.
Inactive Ingredients are everything else and have multiple functions from making the supplement taste better to helping your body absorb the product better. As there are many benefits, there are also many drawbacks because this is where we find junk like artificial sweeteners, fillers, and binders.
Proprietary blends
Proprietary blends are custom blends of ingredients that make their products unique. They give these blends a Custom name and place it on the label. Companies usually do not want the secret sauce of their products to be made public. To do this they must list the blend’s ingredients in the order of greatest content to the least and declare the total weight. Blends can consist of 99% of one ingredient and 1% of ten others and call it a proprietary blend so pay close attention to the first couple of ingredients on a list.
Optimum Nutrition Website:
* All Ingredients listed in Red are JUNK
Optimum Nutrition Product List
Gold Standard 100% Whey Ingredients
Double Rich Chocolate
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 120 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Fat | fat | 1.5 | Gram(s) | 2 |
| Saturated Fat | fat | 0.5 | Gram(s) | 3 |
| Cholesterol | fat | 35 | mg | 12 |
| Sodium | mineral | 50 | mg | 2 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 3 | Gram(s) | 1 |
| Dietary Fiber | fiber | <1 | Gram(s) | 2 |
| Calcium | mineral | 130 | mg | 10 |
| Iron | mineral | 0.7 | mg | 4 |
| Potassium | mineral | 210 | mg | 4 |
Other Ingredients
Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein concentrate, Whey Peptides, Cocoa powder, Lecithin, Natural and Artificial flavor, Acesulfame Potassium, Lactase
Essential AMIN.O Energy Ingredients
Concord Grape
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 10 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 2 | Gram(s) | 1 |
| Amino Blend | blend | 5 | Gram(s) | |
| micronized Taurine | non-nutrient/non-botanical | |||
| L-Glutamine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Arginine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Leucine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| CarnoSyn | amino acid | |||
| Citrulline, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Isoleucine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Valine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Tyrosine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Histidine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Lysine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Phenylalanine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Threonine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| L-Methionine, Micronized | amino acid | |||
| Energy Blend | blend | 160 | mg | |
| Caffeine | non-nutrient/non-botanical | |||
| Green Tea extract | botanical | |||
| Green Coffee extract | botanical | |||
Other Ingredients:
Malic Acid, Natural & Artificial flavors, Tartaric Acid, Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), Calcium Silicate, Citric Acid, Sucralose, Gum Blend (Carrageenan; Cellulose Gum; Xanthan Gum), Lecithin, FD&C Blue #2, FD&C Red #40, Inulin
Serious Mass Weight Gainer Ingredients
Chocolate
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 1250 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Fat | fat | 4.5 | Gram(s) | 6 |
| Saturated Fat | fat | 2.5 | Gram(s) | 13 |
| Cholesterol | fat | 110 | mg | 37 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 252 | Gram(s) | 92 |
| Dietary Fiber | fiber | 4 | Gram(s) | 14 |
| Total Sugars | sugar | 20 | Gram(s) | |
| Added Sugars | sugar | 9 | Gram(s) | 18 |
| Protein | protein | 50 | Gram(s) | 100 |
| Vitamin A | vitamin | 750 | mcg | 83 |
| Vitamin C | vitamin | 60 | mg | 67 |
| Vitamin D | vitamin | 5 | mcg | 25 |
| Vitamin E | vitamin | 20 | mg | 133 |
| Thiamine | vitamin | 4.8 | mg | 400 |
| Riboflavin | vitamin | 4 | mg | 308 |
| Niacin | vitamin | 50 | mg | 313 |
| Vitamin B6 | vitamin | 5 | mg | 294 |
| Folate | vitamin | 680 | mcg DFE | 170 |
| Folic Acid | vitamin | 400 | mcg | |
| Vitamin B12 | vitamin | 10 | mcg | 417 |
| Biotin | vitamin | 300 | mcg | 1000 |
| Pantothenic Acid | vitamin | 25 | mg | 500 |
| Choline | vitamin | 250 | mg | 45 |
| Calcium | mineral | 600 | mg | 46 |
| Iron | mineral | 8 | mg | 44 |
| Phosphorus | mineral | 590 | mg | 47 |
| Iodine | mineral | 53 | mcg | 35 |
| Magnesium | mineral | 140 | mg | 33 |
| Zinc | mineral | 15 | mg | 136 |
| Selenium | mineral | 70 | mcg | 127 |
| Copper | mineral | 1 | mg | 111 |
| Manganese | mineral | 2 | mg | 87 |
| Chromium | mineral | 120 | mcg | 343 |
| Molybdenum | mineral | 75 | mcg | 167 |
| Sodium | mineral | 570 | mg | 25 |
| Potassium | mineral | 1430 | mg | 30 |
| Creatine Monohydrate | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 3 | Gram(s) | |
| L-Glutamine | amino acid | 500 | mg | |
| Inositol | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 250 | mg | |
| PABA | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 5 | mg | |
Other Ingredients:
Maltodextrin, Protein Blend (Calcium Caseinate; Egg Whites; Sweet Whey; Whey Protein concentrate), Cocoa, Natural and Artificial flavor, Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT), Lecithin, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose
Gold Standard 100% Casein Ingredients
Chocolate Supreme
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 120 | {Calories} | |
| Calories from Fat | other | 10 | {Calories} | |
| Total Fat | fat | 1 | g | 2 |
| Saturated Fat | fat | 0.5 | g | 3 |
| Trans Fat | fat | g | ||
| Cholesterol | fat | 10 | mg | 3 |
| Sodium | mineral | 260 | mg | 11 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 3 | g | 1 |
| Dietary Fiber | fiber | 1 | g | 4 |
| Sugar | sugar | g | ||
| Protein | protein | 24 | g | |
| Vitamin A | vitamin | % | ||
| Vitamin C | vitamin | % | ||
| Calcium | mineral | 60 | % | |
| Iron | mineral | 4 | % | |
Other Ingredients:
Micellar Casein, Cocoa, Natural and Artificial flavors, Salt, Lecithin, Gum Blend (Carrageenan; Cellulose Gum; Xanthan Gum), Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Aminogen
Gold Standard 100% Isolate Ingredients
Chocolate Bliss
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 110 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Fat | fat | 0.5 | Gram(s) | 1 |
| Cholesterol | fat | <5 | mg | 2 |
| Sodium | mineral | 190 | mg | 8 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 1 | Gram(s) | |
| Protein | protein | 25 | Gram(s) | 50 |
| partially hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate | protein | |||
| Whey Protein Isolate | protein | |||
| Calcium | mineral | 150 | mg | 10 |
| Iron | mineral | 0.5 | mg | 2 |
| Potassium | mineral | 240 | mg | 6 |
Other Ingredients:
Cocoa, Natural and Artificial flavor, Lecithin, Salt, Sucralose
Gold Standard Pro Gainer Ingredients
Strawberry Cream
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 650 | {Calories} | |
| Calories from Fat | other | 70 | {Calories} | |
| Total Fat | fat | 8 | Gram(s) | 12 |
| Saturated Fat | fat | 3.5 | Gram(s) | 18 |
| Trans Fat | fat | Gram(s) | ||
| Cholesterol | fat | 60 | mg | 20 |
| Sodium | mineral | 360 | mg | 15 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 85 | Gram(s) | 28 |
| Dietary Fiber | fiber | 4 | Gram(s) | 16 |
| Sugar | sugar | 5 | Gram(s) | |
| Protein | protein | 60 | Gram(s) | 120 |
| Vitamin A | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Calcium | mineral | 50 | ||
| Vitamin E | vitamin | 35 | ||
| Riboflavin | vitamin | 35 | ||
| Vitamin B6 | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Vitamin B12 | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Pantothenic Acid | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Iodine | mineral | 45 | ||
| Zinc | mineral | 20 | ||
| Copper | mineral | 20 | ||
| Chromium | mineral | 30 | ||
| Chloride | mineral | 4 | ||
| Vitamin C | vitamin | 35 | ||
| Iron | mineral | 25 | ||
| Thiamine | vitamin | 15 | ||
| Niacin | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Folic Acid | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Biotin | vitamin | 20 | ||
| Phosphorus | mineral | 35 | ||
| Magnesium | mineral | 30 | ||
| Selenium | mineral | 10 | ||
| Manganese | mineral | 35 | ||
| Molybdenum | mineral | 25 | ||
Other Ingredients:
Maltodextrin, Protein Blend (Calcium Caseinate; Egg Albumen; Glutamine Peptides; hydrolyzed Whey Peptides; Whey Protein concentrate; Whey Protein Isolate), Lipid Blend (high Oleic Sunflower Oil; Medium Chain Triglycerides), partially hydrolyzed Guar Gum, Natural and Artificial flavors, Lecithin, Vitamin/Mineral Blend (Ascorbic Acid; Beta-Carotene; Biotin; Boron AA Chelate; Calcium Carbonate; Calcium D-Pantothenate; Chromium Polynicotinate; Cupric Oxide; Cyanocobalamin; D-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate; Dimagnesium Phosphate; Ferric Orthophosphate; Folic Acid; Maltodextrin; Manganese Sulfate; Molybdenum AA Chelate; Niacinamide; Potassium Iodide; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Riboflavin; Selenomethionine; Thiamine Hydrochloride; Tricalcium Phosphate; Vitamin A Palmitate; Zinc Oxide), Malic Acid, Salt, FD&C Red #40, Carbogen, Aminogen, Sucralose, Titanium Dioxide, Acesulfame Potassium, Lactase
Gold Standard 100% Plant Ingredients
Rich Chocolate Fudge
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 150 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Fat | fat | 3 | Gram(s) | 4 |
| Saturated Fat | fat | 0.5 | Gram(s) | 3 |
| Sodium | mineral | 210 | mg | 9 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 7 | Gram(s) | 3 |
| Dietary Fiber | fiber | 2 | Gram(s) | 7 |
| Total Sugars | sugar | 1 | Gram(s) | |
| Protein | protein | 24 | Gram(s) | 48 |
| Plant Protein Blend | blend | |||
| Calcium | mineral | 100 | mg | 8 |
| Iron | mineral | 4.6 | mg | 25 |
| Potassium | mineral | 2220 | mg | 4 |
| Vitamin C | vitamin | 90 | mg | 100 |
| Vitamin B12 | vitamin | 0.6 | mcg | 25 |
Other Ingredients:
organic Cocoa powder, Natural flavor, organic Natural flavor, organic Stevia leaf extract, AncienTrim Organic Grain Blend (organic Amaranth; organic Buckwheat; organic Chia; organic Millet; organic Quinoa), organic Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, organic Gum Arabic, Salt, organic Pomegranate powder, Cyanocobalamin
Gold Standard Pre Advance Ingredients
Berry Blast
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 5 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 1 | Gram(s) | <1 |
| Vitamin C | vitamin | 200 | mg | 222 |
| Vitamin D | vitamin | 10 | mcg | 50 |
| Calcium | mineral | 30 | mg | 2 |
| Magnesium | mineral | 100 | mg | 24 |
| Sodium | mineral | 100 | mg | 4 |
| L-Citrulline, Micronized | amino acid | 6 | Gram(s) | |
| Creatine Monohydrate | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 5 | Gram(s) | |
| CarnoSyn | amino acid | 3.2 | Gram(s) | |
| Creatine Nitrate | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 1.2 | Gram(s) | |
| Electrolyte Blend | blend | 650 | mg | |
| Sodium Citrate | mineral | |||
| Magnesium Oxide | mineral | |||
| Potassium Chloride | mineral | |||
| Caffeine | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 300 | mg | |
Other Ingredients:
Natural & Artificial Flavors, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Caffeine (Coffee; Tea), Calcium Silicate (Ca Silicate), Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), Sucralose, FD&C Blue #2, FD&C Red #40
Opti-Men Ingredients
Capsule
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Vitamin A | vitamin | 3000 | mcg | 333 |
| Vitamin C | vitamin | 300 | mg | 333 |
| Vitamin D | vitamin | 37.5 | mcg | 188 |
| Vitamin E | vitamin | 134 | mg | 893 |
| Vitamin K | vitamin | 75 | mcg | 63 |
| Thiamine | vitamin | 75 | mg | 6250 |
| Riboflavin | vitamin | 75 | mg | 5769 |
| Niacin | vitamin | 75 | mg | 469 |
| Vitamin B6 | vitamin | 50 | mg | 2941 |
| Folate | vitamin | 1020 | mcg DFE | 255 |
| Folic Acid | vitamin | 600 | mcg | |
| Vitamin B12 | vitamin | 100 | mcg | 4167 |
| Biotin | vitamin | 300 | mcg | 1000 |
| Pantothenic Acid | vitamin | 75 | mg | 1500 |
| Choline | vitamin | 10 | mg | 2 |
| Calcium | mineral | 50 | mg | 4 |
| Iodine | mineral | 150 | mcg | 100 |
| Magnesium | mineral | 80 | mg | 19 |
| Zinc | mineral | 15 | mg | 136 |
| Selenium | mineral | 200 | mcg | 364 |
| Copper | mineral | 2 | mg | 222 |
| Manganese | mineral | 2 | mg | 87 |
| Chromium | mineral | 120 | mcg | 343 |
| Molybdenum | mineral | 80 | mcg | 178 |
| Sodium | mineral | 10 | mg | <1 |
| Amino Men Blend | blend | 1 | Gram(s) | |
| L-Arginine | amino acid | |||
| L-Glutamine | amino acid | |||
| L-Valine | amino acid | |||
| L-Leucine | amino acid | |||
| L-Isoleucine | amino acid | |||
| L-Cystine | amino acid | |||
| L-Lysine Hydrochloride | amino acid | |||
| L-Threonine | amino acid | |||
| Phyto Men Blend | blend | 100 | mg | |
| Green Tea, Powder | botanical | |||
| Hesperidin Complex | blend | |||
| deodorized Garlic powder | botanical | |||
| Grape Seed Extract | botanical | |||
| Fruit Blend | blend | |||
| Orange, Powder | botanical | |||
| Pineapple, Powder | botanical | |||
| Apple, Powder | botanical | |||
| Grape, Powder | botanical | |||
| Blueberry, Powder | botanical | |||
| Cranberry, Powder | botanical | |||
| Papaya, Powder | botanical | |||
| Elderberry, Powder | botanical | |||
| Bilberry, Powder | botanical | |||
| Black Currant, Powder | botanical | |||
| Kiwi, Powder | botanical | |||
| Vegetable Blend | blend | |||
| Wild Yam, Powder | botanical | |||
| Carrot, Powder | botanical | |||
| Spinach, Powder | botanical | |||
| Cauliflower, Powder | botanical | |||
| Kale, Powder | botanical | |||
| Brussels Sprout, Powder | botanical | |||
| Broccoli, Powder | botanical | |||
| Viri Men Blend | blend | 50 | mg | |
| Saw Palmetto Berry Extract | botanical | |||
| Damiana leaf extract | botanical | |||
| Panax ginseng Root Extract | botanical | |||
| Ginkgo biloba powdered extract | botanical | |||
| Nettles powdered extract | botanical | |||
| Pumpkin seed extract | botanical | |||
| Oyster extract | animal part or source | |||
| Enzyme Blend | blend | 50 | mg | |
| Papain | enzyme | |||
| Bromelain | enzyme | |||
| Alpha Amylase | enzyme | |||
| Lipase | enzyme | |||
| Alpha Lipoic Acid | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 25 | mg | |
| PABA | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 10 | mg | |
| Inositol | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 10 | mg | |
| Boron | mineral | 2 | mg | |
| Lycopene | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 500 | mcg | |
| Lutein | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 500 | mcg | |
| Alpha-Carotene | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 140 | mcg | |
| Vanadium | mineral | 100 | mcg | |
| Cryptoxanthin | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 34 | mcg | |
| Zeaxanthin | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 28 | mcg | |
Other Ingredients:
Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid (C18:0), Croscarmellose Sodium, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC), Magnesium Stearate (Mg Stearate), Silica, Glycerin, Sunflower Oil
Opti-Women Ingredients
Capsule
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Vitamin A | vitamin | 5000 | IU | 100 |
| Vitamin C | vitamin | 250 | mg | 417 |
| Vitamin D | vitamin | 600 | IU | 150 |
| Vitamin E | vitamin | 100 | IU | 333 |
| Vitamin K | vitamin | 80 | mcg | 100 |
| Thiamine | vitamin | 20 | mg | 1333 |
| Riboflavin | vitamin | 20 | mg | 1176 |
| Niacin | vitamin | 20 | mg | 100 |
| Vitamin B6 | vitamin | 20 | mg | 1000 |
| Folic Acid | vitamin | 600 | mcg | 150 |
| Vitamin B12 | vitamin | 100 | mcg | 1667 |
| Biotin | vitamin | 250 | mcg | 83 |
| Pantothenic Acid | vitamin | 20 | mg | 200 |
| Calcium | mineral | 150 | mg | 15 |
| Iron | mineral | 18 | mg | 100 |
| Iodine | mineral | 200 | mcg | 133 |
| Magnesium | mineral | 75 | mg | 19 |
| Zinc | mineral | 15 | mg | 100 |
| Selenium | mineral | 70 | mcg | 100 |
| Copper | mineral | 2 | mg | 100 |
| Manganese | mineral | 5 | mg | 250 |
| Chromium | mineral | 120 | mcg | 100 |
| Molybdenum | mineral | 70 | mcg | 93 |
| Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) 4:1 root extract | botanical | 80 | mg | |
| Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) 4:1 berry extract | botanical | 50 | mg | |
| Garcinia extract | botanical | 50 | mg | |
| Uva Ursi | botanical | 50 | mg | |
| Horse Chestnut extract | botanical | 25 | mg | |
| Alpha Lipoic Acid | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 20 | mg | |
| Butchers Broom | botanical | 15 | mg | |
| Ostivone | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 10 | mg | |
| Grape seed extract | botanical | 10 | mg | |
| deodorized Garlic | botanical | 10 | mg | |
| Citrus Bioflavonoids | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 10 | mg | |
| Soy Isoflavones | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 2 | mg | |
| Lycopene | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 250 | mg | |
| Lutein | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 250 | mcg | |
| Alpha-Carotene | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 93.5 | mcg | |
| Cryptoxanthin | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 22.8 | mcg | |
| Zeaxanthin | non-nutrient/non-botanical | 18.7 | mcg |
Other Ingredients:
Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Calcium Phosphate (Ca Phosphate), Microcrystalline Cellulose, Silica
Platinum Hydrowhey Ingredients
Turbo Chocolate
| Ingredient | DSLD Ingredient Categories | Amount Per Serving | Amount Per Serving Unit | % Daily Value per Serving |
| Calories | other | 140 | Calorie(s) | |
| Calories from Fat | other | 10 | Calorie(s) | |
| Total Fat | fat | 1 | Gram(s) | 2 |
| Saturated Fat | fat | 0.5 | Gram(s) | 3 |
| Trans Fat | fat | Gram(s) | ||
| Cholesterol | fat | 5 | mg | 2 |
| Sodium | mineral | 210 | mg | 9 |
| Total Carbohydrates | sugar | 2 | Gram(s) | 1 |
| Sugar | sugar | <1 | Gram(s) | |
| Protein | protein | 30 | Gram(s) | 60 |
| Vitamin A | vitamin | |||
| Calcium | mineral | 10 | ||
| Vitamin C | vitamin | |||
| Iron | mineral | 2 | ||
Other Ingredients:
Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolates, Micronized Branched Chain Amino Acids (L-Isoleucine; L-Leucine; L-Valine), Cocoa, Natural and Artificial flavors, Lecithin, Contains 1.5% or less of: (Acesulfame Potassium; Cellulose Gum; Creamer; Enzyme Blend; Potassium Chloride; Salt; Sucralose; Vanillin)
