Sodium Caseinate Side Effects

Casein and whey are two types of protein naturally found in milk. Both proteins are extracted and used in large quantities to make protein powders and supplements. Sodium caseinate also contains extracted casein protein, but it’s used as a food additive. If you’re allergic to milk, you'll need to avoid sodium caseinate. Other than the risk posed to people with milk allergies, sodium caseinate isn't associated with side effects.

Sodium Caseinate Overview

About 82 percent of the proteins in milk belong to the casein family. Casein proteins are stable when exposed to heat. As a result, they survive pasteurization and they can be dried and reconstituted while retaining their nutritional value, reports Cornell University’s Milk Facts.

Sodium caseinate is made by mixing extracted casein with a sodium compound such as sodium hydroxide. Then the mix is dried to produce sodium caseinate powder. Sodium caseinate retains the original protein, but other qualities change. One important difference is that milk casein doesn't easily dissolve in fluids, while sodium caseinate is soluble.

Milk Allergy or Lactose Intolerance

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Since sodium caseinate contains milk protein, it can cause an allergic reaction and should be avoided if you're allergic to milk. Also watch for other forms of caseinates and extracted casein, such as calcium caseinate and hydrolyzed casein, recommends Food Allergy Research and Education.

Check the list of ingredients for sodium caseinate. Any type of caseinate in the ingredients should include a note that it comes from milk. Be aware that products labeled dairy-free and nondairy often contain sodium caseinate.

Sodium caseinate is low in lactose, according to a report in Food Science and Nutrition in November 2014. But if you’re highly sensitive to lactose, be careful about consuming products with sodium caseinate, recommends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Side Effects and Quantity

Side effects from consuming sodium caseinate have not been reported to the FDA’s adverse event reporting program; the agency recognizes sodium caseinate as a safe food additive as long as it’s used according to good manufacturing practices. These guidelines state that it must be added to products in the smallest amount required to achieve the desired nutritional or physical value. In other words, sodium caseinate is not intended to be consumed in large quantities. Potential risks from taking a large amount have not been studied.

Sources of Sodium Caseinate

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Manufacturers often use sodium caseinate to boost protein content, but it also fills nonnutritive roles. For example, it adds texture, thickens foods such as sauces and blends with fats so they don’t separate from liquids.

Sodium caseinate is easy to identify in some products because they’re dairy-related. For example, if you check the ingredients, you’ll find it in some brands of ice cream, cheese products, yogurt and coffee creamers.

Look for sodium caseinate in nutritional food bars and sports drinks. A variety of baked goods and other products that you may not suspect also contain sodium caseinate, such as meat products, pasta and soups.