"In the late 1930s a young pharmacist named Eugene Schiff developed a method of processing whey from milk for human consumption. He created Schiff Bio-Foods, a whey packaging company. This was a half century before whey concentrates would emerge as a popular supplement in the bodybuilding scene. For a short time he sold his packaged whey to local drug stores, then sold his own store to enter into the manufacturing and packaging of health foods. The demand during World War II for non-perishable foods allowed the food industry to expand and popularize the market for powdered or dehydrated foods and bodybuilders would eventually find their way into this market. Powdered milk and eggs, and later powdered soy protein, were promoted as an easy way to get additional protein into the diet. The first protein powders "tailored" specifically for athletes appeared around 1950. One of these was called 44, "The Supplemental Food Beverage," produced in California by a company called Kevo Products. The principle ingredient was dehydrated powdered whole soy beans, along with kelp, wheat germ, dextrose, and various dehydrated plants, herbs and flavorings. The supplement was sold at health food stores, body-building studios, and health institutes. Meal replacement products also appeared during the 1950s, with much hype. One product, called B-FIT, was recommended as a replacement for two or three regular meals per day. Advocates for new diet theories--food combining, alkaline-forming diets, even strict vegetarianism--promoted their ideas throughout the 1950s, but the big emphasis was on protein powders and supplements. For the 1954 world weightlifting championships, team coach Bob Hoffman hauled more than 100 pounds of his Hi Protein powder to Vienna, hailing it as the "secret weapon" for his athletes. " (14)

The protein supplementation industry is a multi-million dollar business with people on both sides of the aisle in regards to it's validity. The RDA recommends that the average person, including weightlifters, consume approximately 0.8 - 1 gram/kg body weight per day of dietary protein. There are basically two major camps in the weightlifting arena. Some people argue that the reason they use protein supplements is that the RDA has underestimated the protein requirements for active individuals and that they are only making up the deficit. These individuals would concede that an abundance of protein probably does not increase muscle mass or strength, but that if they only ate what the RDA suggested they would actually be protein deficient.

The other major group of weightlifters argue that not only is the RDA off the mark on protein requirements in rigorously active adults, but that protein supplementation above and beyond this perceived deficit will actually improve muscle growth and strength, acting to promote anabolism after resistance training.