Initially Optimum Nutrition delayed the release of any information on Platinum Tri-Celle Casein. Now a week after it surfaced, the brand have launched it’s product page listing every little detail about the supplement. The disappointing issue is that despite the protein’s complex name, it doesn’t really seem to offer anything more than Optimum’s 100% Casein. It does have a few extras, but for a product that was already a protein spin off. It’s difficult to justify the need to take it any further than where it already was.
A lot of supplement enthusiasts are fine without slow digesting formulas. Regular proteins have been sufficient enough for years, so why should there be any need to change. Casein products do provide that extended release, however even with that effect nothing much really comes of it aside from the delayed hunger. The best way to describe a night time protein is as a luxury item, definitely not a necessity.
Optimum’s Tri-Celle advertising campaign goes through the motions with a few facts about casein, highlights such as theanine, and how it sits in your body longer. Regrettably none of the effects seem to point out anything to do with growth, performance, or recovery. The brand have just taken their innovative night time window and expanded it into their Platinum Series. Giving it the appearance of a stronger product, when really it’s added theanine and poorly detailed MicelleXL complex is all it has over the original 100% Casein.
Think of Platinum Tri-Celle compared to regular casein proteins, like Muscle Pharm’s Carnitine Core versus an average carnitine competitor. While it does have the same baseline ingredients and intentions, it throws in a little more to give it a 1 to 5% advantage. That being said, Optimum are most definitely not going to be selling this as close to the price of other caseins. As opposed to MP’s Core series that offers creative formulas at a very competitive price.
The brand did their best to hype Tri-Celle. They introduced it with a teaser image, and then let the word run wild when brochures and photos were picked up at the Arnold Classic. Unfortunately after reading everything Optimum had to say about the casein, it’s price, and even the extra features in the formula. It’s hard not to think that the legendary company are just repeating themselves. Based on the facts and same old repetitive highlights, there doesn’t seem to be any need to switch from the Gold Standard casein.
