According to researchers from Purdue University, 68% of the most cited studies on whey protein involve only male subjects. To challenge the myth that supplementing with whey bulks women up, the team analyzed more than 1,000 articles and selected 13 studies to come to the conclusion that women supplementing with this popular dairy protein generally increase muscle mass by about 1% while not gaining additional body fat.

The findings, which were published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, are based on groups of healthy female subjects who supplemented with whey protein while engaged in an exercise program lasting at least 6 weeks. Body composition changes were more favorable when calories were being reduced for weight loss.