The Science of Cricket Protein

Cricket protein · human research

Cricket protein. Backed by human research.

Complete protein, all nine essential amino acids, and human trials showing what cricket protein does after you eat it and after resistance exercise.

9essential amino acids
25gcricket protein in beef comparison
50men in post-exercise trial
Oko Chocolate Crunch cricket protein bar 30g protein · 1g sugar · Chocolate Crunch
Complete proteinall nine essential amino acids
Human trialsnot just lab theory
Post-exercise testedmuscle signalling measured
Peer reviewedpublished research
Human trial 01

Cricket protein delivers amino acids.

In a randomized, double-blind crossover study, 20 young men consumed 25g of cricket-derived or beef-derived protein. Cricket protein produced greater total post-meal exposure to leucine, branched-chain amino acids and essential amino acids than beef.

Bottom line: the amino acids in cricket protein become available in circulation after you eat it.
Read the peer-reviewed study →
20healthy young men
25gprotein in each test drink
300minutes of post-meal monitoring
↑leucine, BCAA and EAA total exposure vs beef
Athlete strength training with a barbell in a gym Resistance exercise · human trial
Human trial 02

Tested after resistance exercise.

Fifty healthy young men performed resistance exercise, then consumed cricket, pea or whey protein. Whey produced higher circulating amino-acid concentrations, but activation of the skeletal-muscle mTORC1 signalling pathway did not differ between the protein sources, either at rest or after exercise.

Bottom line: cricket protein activated the measured muscle-signalling response after resistance exercise.
Read the peer-reviewed study →
The species Oko uses

All nine essential amino acids.

Oko uses tropical banded cricket, Gryllodes sigillatus. Published analysis of this species found every essential amino acid in the tested cricket protein forms. In the protein preparation, leucine measured 62mg per gram of protein.

01

Complete protein

All nine essential amino acids are present.

02

Leucine

62mg per gram of protein in the tested protein preparation.

03

BCAAs

Leucine, isoleucine and valine are all present in the amino-acid profile.

04

Species-specific evidence

The published analysis is on Gryllodes sigillatus, the same cricket species used by Oko.

The wider human evidence

Four randomized trials. 100 participants.

A 2026 systematic review brought together four randomized controlled human trials comparing insect protein with animal protein. In the two studies that directly assessed the post-exercise skeletal-muscle anabolic response, researchers found no difference between insect and animal protein sources.

That matters: cricket protein now sits inside a human evidence base that measures amino-acid availability and muscle responses, not just nutrient composition.
Read the 2026 systematic review →
4 randomized controlled trials in the review 100 adult participants across those trials
Oko Chocolate Crunch protein bars
From research to real food

30g protein. No cricket taste.

Oko turns cricket protein into a familiar Chocolate Crunch bar. You get 30g protein and 1g sugar in a substantial 70g bar, with the cricket doing the nutritional work rather than dominating the taste.

30g protein 1g sugar No artificial ingredients
Choose your box
Research references

Check the papers yourself.

01
Cricket-derived protein vs beef-derived protein in healthy young men
Dai J, et al. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2022.
Open study
02
Cricket, pea and whey protein after resistance exercise
Lanng SK, et al. European Journal of Nutrition. 2023.
Open study
03
Insect Protein to Support Human Skeletal Muscle Anabolism
Rutherford JAG, et al. Nutrition Reviews. 2026. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Open review
04
Protein and amino-acid analysis of Gryllodes sigillatus
Foods. 2023. Includes cricket flour, defatted flour and protein preparation.
Open study

Allergy information: cricket proteins can cross-react with crustacean and dust-mite allergens. Follow the allergen information on the product before eating Oko.

Science checked

Now try the bar.

8 bars £24.99 · Free UK delivery
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