Biological Value
Biological Value (BV) is an older protein-quality measure that ranks how efficiently your body retains absorbed nitrogen from a protein. Whole egg scores 100; whey scores 104 to 159 depending on the form; casein scores about 77; soy scores about 74; collagen scores very low.
Why It Matters
Biological Value was the original protein-quality benchmark and is still useful as a quick mental ranking. Modern measures (PDCAAS, DIAAS) are more rigorous, but BV gives you a reliable gut-feel comparison between two proteins. The number above 100 for whey is real: it reflects whey's ideal amino acid ratio for human muscle building.
How to Spot It on a Label
Older protein labels and bodybuilding marketing still cite BV ('100 percent BV' or 'BV 104'). It is not regulated in the US. Treat BV as a marketing signal that the brand has at least thought about protein quality, then verify with a closer look at the amino profile.
Examples from real products
Related Terms
Keep learning with these closely-linked entries: