Protein quality refers to a protein's ability to provide essential amino acids in the proportions needed by the human body and its digestibility. High-quality proteins supply all indispensable amino acids and are readily digested and absorbed. To assess this, scientists have developed scoring systems like PDCAAS and DIAAS.

In the world of protein science, there’s a lot of chatter about what makes a protein truly high quality. Two heavyweights dominate the conversation: PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score) and DIAAS (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score). While they both measure protein quality, they do so in slightly different ways. And as a brand rooted in nutritional science and real-world impact, SuperYou believes it’s time to decode them — and tell you why PDCAAS is still the most powerful tool in your protein-buying arsenal.

The Basics: What Are PDCAAS and DIAAS?

What is PDCAAS?

PDCAAS stands for Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score. It measures how well a protein supplies essential amino acids after digestion. In simpler terms: how much of that protein your body can actually use.

• Scale: 0 to 1.0 (1.0 being the best)

• Top score = complete protein with all essential amino acids, fully digestible

• Global status: Used by the FDA, WHO, FAO, and Codex Alimentarius for nutritional labeling and standards

SuperYou’s fermented protein powder proudly scores 1.0 on PDCAAS, meaning it delivers all the essential amino acids your body needs — in forms your body can fully absorb and use. No guesswork. No gaps.

What is DIAAS?

DIAAS, or Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score, is a newer method designed to give a more precise picture of how different amino acids in a protein are absorbed at the end of the small intestine (ileal digestibility).

• Scale: Can exceed 1.0, offering “more detail” than PDCAAS

• Primarily used in academic research and animal nutrition studies

• Not yet adopted for global food labeling — even the FAO has called for more data before wide-scale implementation

So, Which One is Better?

Let’s reframe that question. Instead of asking which is better, ask which is more relevant and reliable for human nutrition today.

Why SuperYou Supports PDCAAS:

1. It’s globally accepted. Used by regulatory bodies around the world.

2. It’s trusted. Billions of food products have been formulated and labeled based on PDCAAS.

3. It’s consumer friendly. Easy to understand, easy to compare.

4. It’s rigorous. The test is based on human amino acid requirements and real-world digestibility.

5. It works for whole foods and clean-label products, not just isolates.

Where DIAAS Can Help (With Context):

DIAAS is valuable in research, especially when comparing very subtle differences in amino acid digestibility at a granular level. It can also be useful in clinical or elderly care settings where gut absorption may be compromised.

But it’s not ready for prime time — yet. It requires ileal cannulation studies (often in pigs), isn't always feasible for real foods, and lacks standardized datasets across the full food system. Until the science matures and standard benchmarks are widely validated, PDCAAS remains the clearest, cleanest, and most reliable score for consumers.

What’s a Good PDCAAS Score?

• 1.0: Complete protein, fully digestible — ideal.

• 0.7–0.99: Decent protein source, may be missing one or more essential amino acids.
  
  
• < 0.7: Incomplete or poorly digestible protein.

DIAAS Score Protein List vs. PDCAAS Score Protein List

Let’s take a closer look at how common proteins rank using DIAAS and PDCAAS, so we can get a complete picture of protein quality.

Note: DIAAS values vary by age group. Above numbers are based on adult amino acid requirements.

Where Bio-Fermentation Changes the Game

So how do we make plant or alternative proteins rival whey?

One word: biofermentation.

SuperYou’s biofermented protein powder goes through precision biofermentation that removes anti-nutrients like phytic acid and improves amino acid bioavailability. That’s what helps us get a PDCAAS score of 1.0, and an estimated DIAAS close to 0.9–1.0 — nearly unheard of for non-animal proteins. 

Benefits of Bio-Fermentation:

• Neutralizes anti nutrients like phytates and trypsin inhibitors

• Increases solubility and digestibility of amino acids

• Improves gut health, which can further boost protein absorption

• Supports slow release, giving muscles a longer window to absorb key aminos

When we say SuperYou protein is “next-gen,” this is what we mean. Bio-fermentation isn’t a buzzword — it’s the reason we’ve been able to engineer a plant-origin protein that performs on par with the world’s best using our proprietary SuperFermentTM technology.

Why PDCAAS Still Matters in 2025

With so many new protein innovations — from fermented protein powder to insect and algae proteins — there’s a need for a strong, standardized system to compare quality. PDCAAS continues to deliver this reliably.

For SuperYou, it’s simple:

• Our fermented protein has a PDCAAS of 1.0

• It’s complete, digestible, and bioavailable

• It gives your body what it needs, without any guesswork

And while DIAAS may play a future role in nutrition science, it doesn’t yet offer the standardization, accessibility, or consumer clarity that PDCAAS does today.

Final Word: Know Your Score

When it comes to choosing your protein, don’t get lost in complexity. Look for a high protein digestibility score — and if it’s PDCAAS 1.0, even better.

At SuperYou, we didn’t just choose fermented protein for innovation’s sake. We chose it because it delivers top-tier performance — and because our PDCAAS score of 1.0 is backed by science, sustainability, and trust.

PDCAAS isn’t just a number. It’s a promise.