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Designer Supplements ActivaTe Xtreme Review

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

Supplements. A lot of us here who are part of the bodybuilding.com culture are addicted to them. We are searching for that single product that will give us the perfect body and make us look like the guy or girl on the cover of that magazine that catches our eye on whatever newsstand. We are all guilty of this in some way, shape, or form and for good reason: the marketing works.

When I first heard Designer Supplements was releasing a new version of ActivaTe that little demon in my head got excited and said, “Dan you gotta get on that dude?” Seriously, I don’t like being called dude but of course he did have a point. The DS Crew as I like to call them has always put out top notch and innovative products so of course I jumped at the opportunity to try this out. I knew this would be based around 3,4-Divanillyltetrahydrofuran which I’ve had good results from in the past.

When it comes to formulation of a product which modulates hormones it is always best to address through multiple pathways. You can’t just successfully stick one compound in and hope it will elicit a ton of positive effects without throwing off the natural balance of your body. As with most things in nature, balance is key to harmony, and the human body is no different. ActivaTe Xtreme does this through a well designed and meticulous approach to not only test boosting, but mild estrogen and cortisol control, all the while keeping nitrogen levels positive.

This is where I typically begin to spout off a bunch of technical “mumbo jumbo” which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense but elevates me as some sort of wannabe guru. In all seriousness, any attempt at writing a technical review would certainly not do justice to the technical write up for this product found here:

The AcivaTe Xtreme Technical Write-Up

Some of you are thinking, “Dan you are getting a bit lazy when it comes to reviews” and you are RIGHT! I’m one busy “dude” as the demon in my head likes to refer to me as. Gaspari keeps me busy so what do you want from me? Not to get off track, I have no issue with any of the citations used to support the efficacy of ActivaTe Xtreme and feel they are all used in proper form. More importantly it isn’t full of marketing fluff.

I’ve seen a recent trend of Pub Med diving to find supprt rather weak formulas in order for them to seem superior to the vast droves of drooling morons out there (not you of course). The Designer Crew certainly isn?t guilty of this and should be applauded for their continuous effort to be one of the leaders in science based formulation. They certainly aren?t members of the “me too”clan who love to scan the ingredient lists of the innovators to give the legions of bros out there something to clamor over. That is one “journey” respectable companies don’t embark on.

This Journey is Worth Paying Attention To

Since I?m on a roll, Designer was thoughtful enough not to try and fool you with yohimbine either. This novel approach to mask the thoughts of “Man this shit really sucks” from consumers by spiking their “test booster” with harsh stimulants is disgusting if you ask me. However, we all know the “me too” crew will do what it takes to trick you into thinking something works even if it will give you hypertension and tachycardia. I’m sure if a bum found sample on the street he might enjoy it too!

Rack ‘Em Willie Wants Some!

After all was said and done in my eight week trial of this product, I’d give Activate Xtreme a 9.1 out of 10 for a DSHEA compliant and legal testosterone promoting supplement. I noticed some of the “on feeling” effects about two week into my review and noticed increased vascularity about two or three days after my first dose. Since I was cutting and hypocaloric for the duration of my cycle I did not gain any muscle but rest assured, I didn’t loose much either.

Would I buy this product on my own? Yes. Even better, I do recommend this out in the real world while doing demos at various supplement shops because I feel strongly about the efficacy of the formula. It would be a disservice to the consumer not to highlight products which use science backed formulation, safe compounds, and the all important multiple pathway approach to build a truly unique product. I support innovation and stand by those who choose to be leaders in the industry instead of followers and so should you.

-D

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My Review of ALL the SCIVATION XTEND Flavors

Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006

For the past three years I have been a faithful Scivation Xtend user. On a couple occasions I have strayed trying other products but always seem to return to my old favorite. I first learned of Scivation as a company when I joined the Bodybuilding.com forums and soon discovered A TON of positive feedback for this product.

Having experimented with numerous BCAA products in the past I certain welcomed something which supposively tasted good. After jumping off the BCAA tablet bandwagon after learning the benefits of free form powder I had been using either bulk BCAA’s which tasted worse than your grandma’s dirty panties or Optimum Nutrition BCAA powder which wasn’t much better.They always seemed to ruin a nice postworkout protein shake no matter what. GROSS!

So some of you folks who are new to supplementation might ask why would anyone subject themselves to anything that tastes like shit? To put it simply, BCAA supplementation is one of the best investements you can make for recovery purposes in a hyper (1,2) or hypocaloric state ( 3, 4) . Also, they to help protect hard earned muscle and maintain energy levels while you are attempting to drop body fat (3). As you can see, this is why serious lifters and athletes use free form BCAA’s as a staple in their supplemental arsenal.

Now when it comes to Scivation Xtend, you not only get a healthy dose of BCAA’s but also the added benefits of Citrulline Malate. Citrulline Malate is what I would consider a functional pump supplement. Essentially, citrulline malate has the ability to increase aerobic ATP production in cells and also aide in ammonia clearance (5).

A popular misconception is that citrulline itself is responsible for increased aerobic capacity within mitochondria of a cell. In reality it is actually malate which contributes to aerobic ATP production as it is a TCA cycle intermediate. Citrulline supplementation is responsible for enhanced ammonia clearance during exercise (6). This is very important because ammonia deanimates AMP in both fast and slow twitch muscles which can greatly hinder performance as it accumulates (7, . As you can see this is also a powerful little addition to any formula and part of the reason I would choose Xtend over bulk BCAA’s.

Now some of you might be wondering why the heck I haven’t done a review of this product if I have been using it for over three years now. The honest answer was that I didn’t feel compelled to do so until I tried the new flavor. Here is my opinion of the three flavors offered.

Grape: 6.8 out of 10

I’m not really a fan of any grape products out there but do on occasion buy a tub of this flavor. It’s definitely not the best Xtend flavor, but when megadosing it does add some variety. By all means, this taste a hell of a lot better than bulk bcaa’s so given the extremely marginal price difference between it and bulk BCAA’s and also considering the inclusion of citrulline malate it is by far the superior choice. All in all, I’d say I have bought about ten large tubs of this.

Watermelon: 8.7 out of 10

For a long time this was my favorite flavor. It is quite refreshing and covers the taste of BCAA’s extremely well. In all honesty, I have gotten numerous fellow gym patrons hooked on this flavor as well. At my gym you will see plenty of folks sporting a water bottle full of a pink liquid. Oddly enough, I feel some of the cardio bunnies I know drink it just because it’s pink and feel they are stylish. Eitherway, this flavor rocks and over the years I would say I have bought anywhere from 15-20 large tubs.

Lemonade: 9.4 out 10

This is the flavor which compelled me to write this review. When you open the tub it smells like Lemonheads candy is quite potent. When it first hit my taste buds I couldn’t believe at how enjoyable this was. THIS DOESN’T EVEN TASTE LIKE A SUPPLEMENT!!!! It’s hard to mask BCAA’s and with this flavor Scivation definitely did just that and then some. However, I did have to neg it a bit because it isn’t tart like a true lemonade but regardless, it is a damn enjoyable product. I now find myself throwing a few scoops in my bottled water. It’s an expensive way to flavor water but I enjoy it that much. GOOD JOB SCIVATION!!!! I just bought two tubs of this so I’m set a for a couple months.

References

1. Shimomura Y, Yamamoto Y, Bajotto G, Sato J, Murakami T, Shimomura N, Kobayashi H, Mawatari K. Nutraceutical effects of branched-chain amino acids on skeletal muscle. Journal of Nutrition. 2006 Feb;136(2):529S-532S.

2. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Kohnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. Journal of Nutrition. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S.

3. Shimomura Y, Murakami T, Nakai N, Nagasaki M, Harris RA. Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise. Journal of Nutrition. 2004 Jun;134(6 Suppl):1583S-1587S

4. Mourier A, Bigard AX, de Kerviler E, Roger B, Legrand H, Guezennec CY. Combined effects of caloric restriction and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in elite wrestlers. International Journal of Sports Medicine. 1997 Jan;18(1):47-55.

5. Bendahan D, Mattei JP, Ghattas B, Confort-Gouny S, Le Guern ME, Cozzone PJ. Citrulline/malate promotes aerobic energy production in human exercising muscle. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2002 Aug;36(4):282-9.

6. Callis A, Magnan de Bornier B, Serrano JJ, Bellet H, Saumade R. Activity of citrulline malate on acid-base balance and blood ammonia and amino acid levels. Study in the animal and in man. Arzneimittelforschung. 1991 Jun;41(6):660-3.

7. Vanuxem D, Duflot JC, Prevot H, et al. Influence of an anti-asthenia agent, citrulline malate, on serum lactate and ammonia kinetics during a maximum exercise test in sedentary subjects. S©minaire des H´pitaux de Paris 1990;66:477…81.

8. Mutch BJ, Banister EW. Ammonia metabolism in exercise and fatigue: a review. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1983;15(1):41-50.

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MAN Body Octane Review

Wednesday, November 1st, 2006

In an industry full of supplements marketed towards eager young men wishing to look like their favorite IFBB pro it is very difficult to discern what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to non-hormonal manipulating supplements. It seems the recent trends in supplementation formulation are geared towards eliciting an effect among younger users which creates a psychological addiction to the feeling of being pumped or energized but does little to actually improve performance or the physique. The rewards of a good workout that old school lifters would experience like a good pump or the rushes of endorphins post workout are now found in a pill or powder form.The usual suspects you will find on the labels of supplements like this are methylxanthines, arginine alpha-ketoglutartate (AAKG), glycocyamine (GAA), and guanidinopropionic acid (GPA). These ingredients do nothing to actually improve performance and recently some have had serious questions raised about their potential negative effect on long term health and wellness. Nowadays, we have a generation of young and aspiring bodybuilders who depend on these supplements to get the same reward which actual hard work in the gym elicited. As time goes on they are often left disappointed as the effects begin to wear off and along with their fake pump.

Science based formulation has always been something I pay close attention too because I want real results that have a foundation in research. There is a lot of pseudoscience floating around in the supplement industry and it is quite disgusting. However, there are a few gems out their which actually live up to their claims. Fortunately, I was able to review one of these products which support the functional performance supplement movement I stand behind and puts these psychologically addictive effect supplements to utter shame.

No Pseudoscience Allowed

One functional ingredient which elicits a moderate pump effect is citrulline malate. You rarely see this ingredient in a lot of formulas because quite frankly it isn’t cheap. When you are trying to increase a profit margin it isn’t ideal. However, this is one powerful little molecule. Essentially, citrulline malate has the ability to increase aerobic ATP production in cells and also aide in ammonia clearance (1).A popular misconception though is that citrulline itself is responsible for increased aerobic capacity within mitochondria of a cell. In reality it is actually malate which contributes to aerobic ATP production as it is a TCA cycle intermediate. Citrulline supplementation is responsible for enhanced ammonia clearance during exercise (2). This is very important because ammonia deanimates AMP in both fast and slow twitch muscles which can greatly hinder performance as it accumulates (3, 4). As you can see this serves a functional role as opposed to just eliciting some temporary effect.

Another ingredient which has been receiving a lot of well deserved press as of late is beta-alanine. This fun molecule, when supplemented has the ability to raise intramuscular carnosine levels (6, 7).The performance benefits of elevated carnosine levels are not few and far between. When exercising the intramuscular hydrogen ion concentration (H+) increases (8) thus inhibiting performance (9). When intramuscular carnosine levels are elevated it acts as a buffer against the H+ increase during exercise thus increasing performance (10,11). Furthermore, stacking beta-alanine with creatine has shown to be well tolerated and provides a strong synergistic effect increasing multiple quantifiable performance enhancing tests results (12).
Beyond Performance Enhancement

It has been suggested that with age “decreased expression of the transporter for beta-alanine as precursor to carnosine, or a decrease in carnosine sythetase” (13) which quite possibly account for the noticeable decline in intramuscular carnosine levels found in older/elderly adults (12, 14). More strikingly this contrast was observed in type II muscle fibers (13) and as the result of ageing and denervation (15). Could beta-alanine supplementation help slow or even stop age related muscle wasting in active seniors? I don’t know for sure, but I would recommend beta-alanine supplementation not only to a young healthy athlete but also to active seniors looking to maintain there youthfulness and to attenuate fatigue from physical activity.Beyond the direct performance enhancements beta-alanine offers through boosting skeletal muscle carnosine levels is its effect on a process called glycation. In a nutshell, glycation causes an irreversible configuration of proteins which forms advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs). These have been attributed to playing a role in cancer (16-19), diabetes related health complications (20-26), rheumatoid arthritis (27), heart disease (28-32), and Alzheimer’s disease (33-39).

Carnosine has proven itself an effective as both an effective antioxidant (40-45) and powerful antiglycotic (45-47) in humans. Increasing carnosine in the diet is proving to also be an effective anti-aging tool as well (48-53). Since beta-alanine has proven to increase carnosine concentrations in humans (6, 7) and based on the body of research supporting it’s efficacy I do not see why it should not be taken as a nutritional staple along with your multivitamin. It would be a wise choice for anyone who cares about their health.

Did the Product Meet the Stated Claims: 1-10 Scale

Claim 1: Contains scientifically proven ingredients and doses. One look at the label tells you all, High-Voltage BODY OCTANE© contains no gimmicky proprietary blend and works big-time!

10 out of 10: The proof is on the label.Claim 2: Improves muscular fire power and endurance by boosting muscle carnosine concentrations and aerobic ATP production.

10 out of 10: Volume training using the P/RR/S methodology and cardio sessions were made easy.Claim 3: Regulates nitric oxide and boosts plasma arginine better than arginine supplements.

8.0 out of 10: Vascularity was present 24/7 and did not diminish over the duration of the review.Claim 4: Speeds recuperation from athletic performance.

8.4 out of 10: Definitely noticeable especially during repeated bouts of maximal and supramaximal exercise.

Claim 5: Removes performance and health hindering endotoxins such as lactic acid and ammonia from the body.

9.1 out of 10: Based on the positive effect during maximal and supramaximal exercise I would have to agree.Claim 6: Increases oxygen & blood flow to exercising muscles.

9.5 out of 10: Based on the increased vascularity and performance enhancement effects I would have to agree.Claim 7: Ideal for fat loss and muscle gains.

8.7 out of 10: When considering the amount of fatigue induced by a hypocaloric diet and increased physical activity while “cutting” I would have to agree. As for muscle gains, anything which would contribute to increased performance in the gym such as this supplement would warrant strong favor as well.Final Thoughts

MAN BODY OCTANE© was a truly revolutionary product when it was released in March of 2004. In my honest opinion, it is by far the most effective hybrid beta-alanine product on the market. I respect innovation and research based formulation and why I have put so much effort forth shedding some light on this great product. The formulators for this product hit a home run and I wish them all the best. Hopefully, we will see more pioneering supplements like this one from the MAN team in the near future.

References

1. Bendahan D, Mattei JP, Ghattas B, Confort-Gouny S, Le Guern ME, Cozzone PJ. Citrulline/malate promotes aerobic energy production in human exercising muscle. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2002 Aug;36(4):282-9.2. Callis A, Magnan de Bornier B, Serrano JJ, Bellet H, Saumade R. Activity of citrulline malate on acid-base balance and blood ammonia and amino acid levels. Study in the animal and in man. Arzneimittelforschung. 1991 Jun;41(6):660-3.

3. Vanuxem D, Duflot JC, Prevot H, et al. Influence of an anti-asthenia agent, citrulline malate, on serum lactate and ammonia kinetics during a maximum exercise test in sedentary subjects. S©minaire des H´pitaux de Paris 1990;66:477…81.

4. Mutch BJ, Banister EW. Ammonia metabolism in exercise and fatigue: a review. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1983;15(1):41-50.

5. Hill CA, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Harris BD, Sale C, Boobis LH, Kim CK, Wise JA. Influence of beta-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity. Amino Acids. 2006 Jul 286. Zoeller RF, Stout JR, O’kroy JA, Torok DJ, Mielke M Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion. Amino Acids. 2006 Sep 5

7. Harris RC, Tallon MJ, Dunnett M, Boobis L, Coakley J, Kim HJ, Fallowfield JL, Hill CA, Sale C, Wise JA.The absorption of orally supplied beta-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis. Amino Acids. 2006 May;30(3):279-89.

8. Begum G, Cunliffe A, Lecurcumintt M. Physiological role of carnosine in contracting muscle. Internation Journal of Sports Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. 2005 Oct;15(5):493-514.

9.Lindinger MI, Heigenhauser GJ. The roles of ion fluxes in skeletal muscle fatigue.Canadian Journal Physiology & Pharmacology. 1991 Feb;69(2):246-53

10. Suzuki Y, Ito O, Mukai N, Takahashi H, Takamatsu K. High level of skeletal muscle carnosine contributes to the latter half of exercise performance during 30-s maximal cycle ergometer sprinting. Japanese Journal of Physiology. 2002 Apr;52(2):199-205.

11.Hill CA, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Harris BD, Sale C, Boobis LH, Kim CK, Wise JA. Influence of beta-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity. Amino Acids. 2006 Jul 2812. Zoeller RF, Stout JR, O’kroy JA, Torok DJ, Mielke M. Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion. Amino Acids. 2006 Sep 5

13. Tallon MJ, Harris RC, Maffulli N, Tarnopolsky MA. Carnosine, taurine and enzyme activities of human skeletal muscle fibres from elderly subjects with osteoarthritis and young moderately active subjects. Biogerontology. 2006 Sep 12

14. Stuerenburg HJ, Kunze K. Concentrations of free carnosine (a putative membrane-protective antioxidant) in human muscle biopsies and rat muscles. Archives of Gerontology & Geriatrics. 1999 Sep-Oct;29(2):107-13.

15. Johnson P, Hammer JL. Effects of calpain on antioxidant enzyme activities.
Free Radical Research. 1994 Jul;21(1):27-33.

16. Robert L, Labat-Robert J. The metabolic syndrome and the Maillard reaction. An introduction.
Pathologie Biologie (Paris). 2006 Sep;54(7):371-4. Epub 2006 Sep 15.17. Marko D, Habermeyer M, Kemeny M, Weyand U, Niederberger E, Frank O, Hofmann T. Maillard reaction products modulating the growth of human tumor cells in vitro. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2003 Jan;16(1):48-55.

18. Stadler RH, Blank I, Varga N, Robert F, Hau J, Guy PA, Robert MC, Riediker S. Acrylamide from Maillard reaction products. Nature. 2002 Oct 3;419(6906):449-50.

19.Yan SF, Yan SD, Herold K, Ramsamy R, Schmidt AM. Receptor for advanced glycation end products and the cardiovascular complications of diabetes and beyond: lessons from AGEing. Endocrinology & Metabolism Clinics of North America. 2006 Sep;35(3):511-2422 Goldin A, Beckman JA, Schmidt AM, Creager MA. Advanced glycation end products: sparking the development of diabetic vascular injury. Circulation. 2006 Aug 8;114(6):597-605.

23 Yamamoto T. The role of AGEs for the pathogenesis of osteopenia in diabetes mellitus. Clinical Calcium. 2006 Aug;16(8):62-6.

24.Gillery P. Oxidative stress and protein glycation in diabetes mellitus. Annales de Biologie Clinique (Paris). 2006

26. Toth C, Schmidt AM, Tuor UI, Francis G, Foniok T, Brussee V, Kaur J, Yan SF, Martinez JA, Barber PA, Buchan A, Zochodne DW. Diabetes, leukoencephalopathy and rage. Neurobiological Disorders. 2006 Aug;23(2):445-61. Epub 2006

27. Carroll L, Hannawi S, Marwick T, Thomas R. Rheumatoid arthritis: links with cardiovascular disease and the receptor for advanced glycation end products. Wiener Mediniziche Wochenschrift. 2006 Jan;156(1-2):42-52.

28. Simm A, Casselmann C, Schubert A, Hofmann S, Reimann A, Silber RE Age associated changes of AGE-receptor expression: RAGE upregulation is associated with human heart dysfunction.
Experimental Gerontology. 2004 Mar;39(3):407-13.

29. Baynes JW, Thorpe SR. Glycoxidation and lipoxidation in atherogenesis. Free Radical Biology & Medicine. 2000

30. Zieman S, Kass D. Advanced glycation end product cross-linking: pathophysiologic role and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease. Congestive Heart Failure. 2004 May-Jun;10(3):144-9

31. Candido R, Forbes JM, Thomas MC, Thallas V, Dean RG, Burns WC, Tikellis C, Ritchie RH, Twigg SM, Cooper ME, Burrell LM. A breaker of advanced glycation end products attenuates diabetes-induced myocardial structural changes. Circulation Research. 2003 Apr 18;92(7):785-92. Epub 2003 Mar 632. Asif M, Egan J, Vasan S, Jyothirmayi GN, Masurekar MR, Lopez S, Williams C, Torres RL, Wagle D, Ulrich P, Cerami A, Brines M, Regan TJ. advanced glycation endproduct cross-link breaker can reverse age-related increases in myocardial stiffness. Procedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2000 Mar 14;97(6):2809-13. Erratum in: Procedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2000 May 9;97(10):5679.33. Sato T, Shimogaito N, Wu X, Kikuchi S, Yamagishi S, Takeuchi M. Toxic advanced glycation end products (TAGE) theory in Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias. 2006 Jun-Jul;21(3):197-208.

34. Emanuele E, D’Angelo A, Tomaino C, Binetti G, Ghidoni R, Politi P, Bernardi L, Maletta R, Bruni AC, Geroldi D. Circulating levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products in Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Archives of Neurology. 2005 Nov;62(11):1734-6.

35. Riederer P, Hoyer S. From benefit to damage. Glutamate and advanced glycation end products in Alzheimer brain. Journal of Neural Transmission. 2006 Nov;113(11):1671-7. Epub 2006

36. Staniszewska M, Leszek J, Malyszczak K, Gamian A. Are advanced glycation end-products specific biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2005 Sep;20(9):896-7.

37. Moreira PI, Smith MA, Zhu X, Nunomura A, Castellani RJ, Perry G. Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences2005 Jun;1043:545-5238. Lue LF, Yan SD, Stern DM, Walker DG. Preventing activation of receptor for advanced glycation endproducts in Alzheimer’s disease.Current Drug Targets: CNS Neurologic Disorders. 2005 Jun;4(3):249-6639. Takeuchi M, Kikuchi S, Sasaki N, Suzuki T, Watai T, Iwaki M, Bucala R, Yamagishi S. Involvement of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in Alzheimer’s disease. Current Alzheimer’s Research. 2004 Feb;1(1):39-46.

40. Boldyrev AA. of proteins from oxidative stress: a new illusion or a novel strategy? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 200541. Reddy VP, Garrett MR, Perry G, Smith MA. Carnosine: a versatile antioxidant and antiglycating agent.Science of Aging Knowledge Environment. 2005 May 4;2005(18) e12.

42. Nakagawa K, Ueno A, Nishikawa Y. Interactions between carnosine and captopril on free radical scavenging activity and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in vitro. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2006 Jan;126(1)

43. Begum G, Cunliffe A, Leveritt M. Physiological role of carnosine in contracting muscle. International Journal of Sports Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism. 2005 Oct;15(5):493-514.

44. Guiotto A, Calderan A, Ruzza P, Borin G. Carnosine and carnosine-related antioxidants: a review. Current Medical Chemistry. 2005;12(20):2293-315.

45. Reddy VP, Garrett MR, Perry G, Smith MA. Carnosine: a versatile antioxidant and antiglycating agent. Science of Aging Knowledge Environment. 2005 May 4;2005(18)

46. Peterszegi G, Molinari J, Ravelojaona V, Robert L. Effect of advanced glycation end-products on cell proliferation and cell death. Pathologie & Biologie (Paris). 2006 Sep;54(7):396-404. Epub 2006 Aug 21.

47. Brownson C, Hipkiss AR. Carnosine reacts with a glycated protein. Free Radical Biology & Medicine. 2000 May 15;28(10):1564-70

48.Hipkiss AR. Glycation, ageing and carnosine: are carnivorous diets beneficial? Mechanisms of Ageing & Development. 2005 Oct;126(10):1034-9.

49. Ferrari CK. Functional foods, herbs and nutraceuticals: towards biochemical mechanisms of healthy aging. Biogerontology. 2004;5(5):275-89.

50.Hipkiss AR, Brownson C. A possible new role for the anti-ageing peptide carnosine. Cellular & Molecular Life Science. 2000 May;57(5):747-53

51. Sztanke K, Pasternak K. The Maillard reaction inhibitors and their biological and therapeutic significance. Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie Sklodowska [Med]. 2003;58(2):156-8.

52. Hipkiss AR.Would carnosine or a carnivorous diet help suppress aging and associated pathologies? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2006 May;1067:369-7453.Hipkiss AR. Does chronic glycolysis accelerate aging? Could this explain how dietary restriction works? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2006 May;1067:361-8.

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VPX Redline Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

Back in the day when energy drinks contained ephedra I could often be seen grabbing an ABB Speed Stack upon arriving at the gym. At this time I really didn’t know what I was doing in the gym but always thought my workout sessions were effective because I was supercharged from the liquid rocket fuel I was drinking. Eitherway, I miss the days of ABB Speed Stack with ephedra and are now bound to the rules of the INBF. I can’t even consider the ephedrine HCL as an option.

Like any other supplement that catches my interest, the formulation of VPX Redline RTD’s is quite impressive compared to other energy drinks on the market. I found the inclusion of cAMP, Evodiamine, Vinpocetine, and Yohimbine HCL really puts this light years ahead of any other energy drink.

Admittedly, this drink contains enough caffiene to give even a crackhead a hard on. This comes in the form of caffeine citrate, caffein anhydrous, yerba mate, and also green tea. The use of yohimbine HCL also contributes to the jitters one might experience while taking this product. If you are sensitive to stimulants like caffeine or yombine HCL I suggest you look somewhere else for energy needs.

The bottom line on this product is that it is intense but does not cause one to experience any sort of stimulant crash. I have been using these for some fasted cardio sessions in which I am just truly dog tired. I prefer RTD’s because very simply they hit you faster and I don’t want to wait for something to kick in when I wake up to do cardio. Currently my weight is at about 236lbs and this has me wired like a four year old who was mixing Pixy Stix with Pepsi.

Cost: 10 out of 10

On bodybuilding.com you can buy a case of 24 for $45.95. Other energy drinks run about the same price or even a little more. However, none of them have the ingredient profile of this product and is why I rated it so high.

Effectiveness: 9 out 10

This product is hands down the most potent energy drink you can buy today. I have a friend who is a pure stimulant addict drinking about four Turbo Teas a day to level himself out. When I got my last order of these I let him try one out and he was more chatty then a drunk woman who just bumped a line. It is was quite funny actually because he was stuck behind the front desk of my health club for a few more hours. Basically, don’t take this product unless you intend to workout, stay up for long time, or MC at an auction.

Taste: 8 out 10

This tastes very similiar to sugar free fruit punch Kool Aide. VPX did a great job masking all the ingredients in such a small bottle. It’s not the typical synthetic energy drink taste. Also, since it has no sugars and is carb free so it gets a thumbs up from any person on a diet.

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MRM Driven Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

Currently my energy levels are always low. This is because my present diet has me eating about 1800 calories less per day compared to my bulking diet. Every morning I wake up starving but know that I have to put in a solid 45 minutes of cardio before I can eat. Welcome to the life of a cutting bodybuilder.

Even on the mornings I do feel somewhat energized about ten minues after I jump on the stepmill my body wants to give up. Another ten minutes later my mind wants to give up. A short time after this point I am running on nothing but a pure will to succeed. I don’t know how else to put it but fasted cardio sucks.

What initially sparked my interest in Driven was the utilization of citrulline malate. This supplement ingredient has show to cause an attenuation in fatigue sensation along with improvements in the metabolic pathways for aerobic respiration (Bendahan 2002). I had some initial reservation about this product because the test subjects in the Bendahan study received 6 grams of citrulline malate during the study and a serving of Driven contains less. Needless to say my worries subsided after my first cardio session using this product as a standalone. I believe this is due to the addition of acetyl-l-carnitine which has also shown an improvement in ATP production in skeletal muscle mitochondria (Iossa 2002). These two ingredients combined pack a powerful punch.

This product made my cardio sessions a lot more enjoyable in many ways. First off, this supplement did not take long to kick in per se because it comes in a mixable liquid which is actually quite enjoyable to a sugar deprived dieter like myself. Secondly, I was not experiencing the normal lactic acid burn which I can always count on while on the stepmill. This was a huge plus in my book because I am normally dragging ass only after a short while. Lastly, I did feel pretty focused on the task at hand. I have a problem of constantly checking the clock and flipping channels during cardio. I seemed content watching MSNBC during my entire workout which I normally get disguested with at some junction and only glanced at the clock a few times. Normally I have to break from TV and throw on some club music like Paul Van Dyk or DJ Tiesto to keep the tempo up.

Taste: 9 out 10

This product is very refreshing and doesn’t even taste like a supplement to be really frank with you. Its flavoring reminds me of a diet Rasberry Snapple. I feel anyone on a strict diet or just looking for a safe performance enhancer will enjoy Driven very much. In all honesty, I mixed mine in warm water just because I’m lazy and didn’t throw any ice cubes in. I also don’t feel like having to wait for the water get cold in the morning from the faucet because I am essentially a zombie. My apartment is usually pretty warm during these hot summer days. I haven’t used any air conditioning this summer and don’t plan to as part of my fat loss regimine. smile I’m sure this product would taste truly excellent if it were chilled a bit.

Effectiveness: 8 out 10

Anyone looking for a product to help burn through cardio sessions with a breeze should consider Driven. The past three weeks of seemingly endless cardio session are already starting to take a toll on me and I still have 17 weeks to go until my competition. This is a great addition to any supplement arsenal and will provide you with the extra boost you need stay focused on the task at hand. When taking this I actually looked forward to cardio and didn’t fear the stepmill. I couldn’t ask for more.

References

Bendahan D, Mattei JP, Ghattas B, Confort-Gouny S, Le Guern ME, Cozzone PJ.
Citrulline/malate promotes aerobic energy production in human exercising muscle.
British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2002 Aug;36(4):282-9.

Iossa S, Mollica MP, Lionetti L, Crescenzo R, Botta M, Barletta A, Liverini G.
Acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation differently influences nutrient partitioning, serum leptin concentration and skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration in young and old rats.
Journal of Nutrition. 2002 Apr;132(4):636-42

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ErgoPharm Blueberry GF-Pro Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ergo/gf.html

“ErgoPharm decided to make a no carb, no fat whey protein supplement, but first they were determined to break the mold. This new protein had to be something never seen before - something truly original - not just different for the sake of being “different”. ErgoPharm was determined to engineer a whey protein unsurpassed in its ability to supply the best source of fast absorbing whey, and they also wanted to incorporate a completely novel, unknown source of animal protein - a protein delivering potent immunomodulatory and growth promoting peptides.

GF Pro. Zero carb, zero fat GF Pro contains a proprietary blend of the highest quality whey protein isolates available combined with a remarkable spray dried plasma protein that is comprised of peptides (IGg, transferrin/lactoferrin, IGF-1, TGFŸ-1) with potent anabolic and immunoprotective functional properties. This remarkable protein has been proven scientifically to lead to increases in lean tissue mass through its ability to optimize protein utilization. Therefore the net result of the proprietary formulation, GF Pro, is the most advanced protein supplement ever created. Oh yeah, and the stuff comes in mouthwatering fruit flavors - so delicious you’ll swear it can’t be good for you. Available in Green Apple, Cherry Blast, Orange Cream and Raspberry Lemonade. ”

I wanted a fruity whey isolate for my pre cardio and post workout shakes. So last week I received my 5lbs jug of Ergopharm Blue Berry GF-Pro. I was really excited about this product because ErgoPharm is known for theit quality and I was curious to see what a relatively expensive isolate product tasted like. Here’s my review:

Taste: 10 out of 10

The taste was spot on blueberry. I was actually surprised out how realistic the flavoring matched real blueberry. I use to pick blueberrys all the time when I used to spend my summers in Maine as a kid so I was very impressed.

Mixability: 7 out of 10

While this is not the worst mixing protein it isn’t the best either. It did take some extra effort to get a smooth consistency with a shaker. However, it wasn’t impossible. I think it is due to the fact the powder is extremely fine and could be the added spray dried plasma protein.

Value: 8 out of 10

This is definately an expensive product, but I feel the quality justifies the cost. If you are looking for a great tasting isolate this will not dissappoint. Furthermore, I don’t know of any protein powders with bioactive proteins and spay dried plasma protein. Here’s some more info on those ingredients. http://www.ergopharm.net/tech_immunolin.php

Overall: 8.5 out of 10

As I become more experienced with supplementation you pay for what you get when it comes to protein. This is a quality product and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fruity isolate product

Afterthoughts…..

This product tastes really good with milk, water, and orange Gatorade. I am really impressed with the flavoring system. It would be nice if ErgoPharm expanded their product line with a BCAA cocktail and blended protein utilizing the same flavoring system.

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ErgoPharm Cherry GF-Pro Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

Taste: 10 out of 10

I had very high expectations for this flavor because the blueberry version was truly exquisite. The problem with a lot of protein powders is that they are rather bland with water. In order to make them more palatable you must add something that usually means more calories or sugars. Cherry Blast tastes great with water and is extremely refreshing. Mixed with milk it is absolutely to die for and makes a decent standalone protein blend considering milk protein is about 80% casein. I still have yet to mix this with any other ingredients. I honestly haven’t felt the need to experiment because I love it so much with skim milk. It’s quite the treat!

Formulation: 10 out of 10

What I like best about this product is how low the cholesterol content is. A lot of whey blends utilizing isolates and concentrates have about six times as much cholesterol per scoop. If you are injesting multiple scoops of protein per day this isn’t ideal in my opinion for someone trying to lead a healthy lifestyle.Another unique inclusion to the GF-Pro formulation is sprayed dried bovine plasma (SDBP). This is a bioactive protein that contains particularly large amounts of insulin like growth factor one (IGF-1). This can stimulate muscular hypertrophy via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway. It is also important for overall nitrogen retention and stimulating protein synthesis as well. Lastly, it is a key player in the anabolic utilization of growth hormone (GH).

“In summary, the addition of SDBP and its’ constituent bioactive proteins to ones diet and exercise program have been shown to exert several different and important biological effects upon oral ingestion including:1) Increasing the ability to fight infection and decreasing the inflammatory response of pathogenic infection

2) Increasing the ability to resist the immunosuppressive and catabolic effects of overtraining and other environmental stressors

3) Increasing alimentary levels of IGF-1 and TGF-beta1 thus aiding in intestinal integrity and intestinal absorptive ability of nutrients … especially protein

4) Increasing appetite as well as the efficiency of ingested protein towards lean body mass accretion. ”

More facts on Spray Dried Bovine Plasma

Cost: 10 out 10

I bought two of these on sale for only $12.99 a piece plus free shipping. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for 4lbs of high quality isolate. I am actually pissed off I didn’t buy more. This just goes to show that when an opportunity to buy high quality supplements like this arises that you should take full advantage of it.

Other ErgoPharm Reviews

Banana Cream and Chocolate Fudge Mass Meal
Blueberry GF-Pro

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MuscleTech LEUKIC Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

I am very pleased by the results of this product. While on it, I experienced enhanced recovery which is important to any bodybuilder. Since I will be competing as a natural bodybuilder I am willing to spend the extra money for a non-hormonal supplement which will enhance recovery.

This may not seem important as most novice bodybuilders are looking for the quick result supplements. This hasty approach has opened up the market of “effect” supplements which yield little in terms of real strength and mass gains. They are equating a pump with progress which as any real bodybuilder can tell you, is not the benchmark for gains.

What initially turned me on to this supplement was the fact that MuscleTech actually is a research driven supplement company. If you can get past the bulging eyes and exposed teeth of their ad campaigns, there is a true science backing their products. Hopefully, I was able to show that in this review.

My main motivation for doing this review was to show that there should be a more objective approach to judging a supplement. MuscleTech has been then object of too much criticism in my opinion unjustly. Yes, their ads are overboard and they do make some claims which should be worded differently. I am not denying that I get annoyed when I buy a magazine and a third of it is MT ads. However, science is science.

Innovation is something that hasn’t really revealed itself in a quite a few years in the supplement industry since the time of PH’s and ephedra. As a natural bodybuilder I am always looking for that natural edge, but would never compromise my health. That is why I am constantly scanning the market for new innovations.

In my opinion, MuscleTech has hit a home run with this supplement. I challenge all the haters to open their eyes a bit. Don’t judge something unless you have tried it. Question company reps who endlessly bash other companies. They are in this game to make money just like MuscleTech.

“The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.”

-Henri B. Stendhal

While I appreciate having owners and reps (Scivation, Designer Supplements, SAN, Molecular, and InStone) on the board I feel some (not mentioned) have abused their influence which has narrowed some forum members perspective on the supplement industry as a whole. Some members have looked to these manipulators for the innovation without prejudice. This sickens me because as someone who is educated and has been bodybuilding for a while now I can see through the bullshit. My advice is to give all supplements a fair chance especially if they are researched based.

Cost: 7 out of 10

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This is an expensive supplement no doubt. However, it does work in term of increasing protein sythesis naturally which makes it a great revovery aid. It is honestly hard to judge the cost harshly because there isn’t really anything to compare it to. I negged it a little because of the high price tag, but then had to give it a positive for being effective.

Effectiveness: 9 out of 10

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This is a quality product and I found it effective. Keep in mind that my diet and training schedule is impecable for the most part. Don’t expect huge gains from this as this will do nothing for you unless you are eating enough to support growth. I feel this a great supplement for those looking for a natural edge and don’t want to resort to hormonal manipulation such as steroid or PH use for real strength and mass gains.

Full Log: http://www.forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=700994

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Schiek Model 540 Lifting Glove Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

Over the past ten years I have gone through many pairs of lifting gloves. I find them necessary because lifting consistently 5-6 times a week can leave your hands extremely rough. Nothing is worse than having your lifting schedule interrupted because a callus on your hand tore open and the only way to keep it from bleeding while working out is fixing it up with some good old duct tape (this is a good remedy when necessary).

While women love a man’s hands they do not like the feeling of huge calluses touching them. Every girl I have ever dated has always complained about my calluses because from time to time I would lose or forget my gloves for a training session. After one heavy back workout without gloves and you are left with unwanted calluses. To get rid of them you have to pick at them or cut them off which can leave you hands even rougher for a short time. When you touch a woman she should respond affectionately and not with a “WTF is wrong with your hands?” I much rather feel her caring touch than be left alone with mine

With all that said, I have found the Schiek 540 Lifting Gloves to be the best lifting gloves I have ever used. Their construction is nothing but pure quality and their functionality is made with the serious weight lifter in mind.

I personally like having gloves with wrist support because they provide greater stability while doing heavy presses. I was also extremely impressed that they are designed to be cleaned in a washer machine. There is nothing worse that funky smelling gloves except maybe an old wet shoe. The last pair of gloves I had were destroyed in the washing machine which was a complete waste of $40.00. These have held up extremely well after multiple washes.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/sck/540.html

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MuscleTech GAKIC Review

Thursday, October 12th, 2006

When I first saw the advertisements for this supplement I said to myself, “You have to be kidding me!” I am always skeptical of advertising, especially when it comes from a supplement company. Once I began to research GAKIC a little more I did find that there was substance behind the claims. The famous immediate 10.5% increase claims were not based on MuscleTech hype but rather actual published research studies (Buford 2004 & Stevens BR 2000). I personally feel they should have also included the proven fact that this formula also improves resistance to fatigue by an average of 21% (Buford 2004 ).

The reason I mentioned the improved resistance to fatigue is because this is what I most notably experienced throughout my six week review. I was able to push out more reps and noticed huge improvements in my leg workouts with respect to more marginal improvements in other muscle groups, but improvements nonetheless. It took a lot more effort to fully fatigue my legs and sometimes I actually had to stop my workouts in fear of overtraining.

Post workout cardio sessions improved dramitically as well. The typical lactic acid burn almost never interfered with my performance and often I would only experience shortness of breath because I was pushing myself so hard.

To me this was most impressive because so many workout energizers rely on caffeine or caffeine derivatives. I feel a lot of people might have been disappointed with GAKIC samples because they expected a stimulant like feeling which is often misleading. I personally prefer not to take caffeine pre workout because it actually increases cortisol levels more than if not taken (Lovallo WR 2006). Cortisol has shown to have a catabolic effect so I prefer not promote it’s release during my workout if controllable (Crewther B 2006). Also, consistent use of caffeine based products will cause the stimulatory effects to diminish over time as your central nervous system becomes accustomed to their presence. I’m not saying I never use them, I just don’t rely on them for motivation. That should come from your heart and not a bottle.

What also troubles me is that some immediately say that GAKIC is “garbage” and creatine is “better.” To me, this is comparing apples and oranges. During repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise such as weight lifting, creatine has shown to increase total power output (Okudan 2006). This means you are able to exert more energy within a certain time frame such as multiple sets of barbell bench presses during your workout. You can bench more total weight because the amount of force you are able to exert is greater.

GAKIC on the other hand helps decrease the drop in mean power output during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise (Buford 2004). We will use the same example of barbell bench presses that we used for creatine. When benching GAKIC will not help necessarily help you exert more force, but will help maintain a more consistent applied force. This means that if you normally start dropping reps on you last few sets, GAKIC could potentially assist in pushing out those few extra reps, because it is indeed an anearobic fatigue toxin reducer (Stevens BR 2000).

Most notably I have read many people comparing this to nitric oxide supplements and saying they didn’t get a great pump from GAKIC. Frankly, most of the claims of NO2 supplements are merely theory and you are experiencing only an effect. Personally, I get pumped up every workout without using NO2 supplements because my diet is solid. While I do feel they may serve more of a psychological advantage if anything, I would much rather use a product that actually improves the performance of muscles rather than a product that makes me feel as if I did. There is a huge difference and for anyone wishing to compete in the future you will realize this as well.

Cost: 7 out of 10

GAKIC is expensive without a doubt. However, when compared to other formulations utilizing the same formula it is on par with them. It really comes down to whether or not nutritional based performance enhancement is worth it for you. For me, I am training for a competition so utilizing a formula like this is certainly worth it. Despite this being a sponsored review, I will be buying GAKIC in the future.

Effectiveness: 9 out of 10

I found the GAKIC pills to be extremely effective when taken properly. The directions in my opinion are a little flawed because I found the supplement to be most effect when taken 90 minutes before my training sessions as opposed to 45 minutes. I often took them before my preworkout meal with a lot of water to ensure they were digested properly. Once I was able to tailor the supplement to my individual nutrition plan I found it to be extremely effective. My performance was improved in every muscle group, especially my legs. Hardcore workouts became easier plain and simple.

References

Buford BN, Koch AJ. Glycine-arginine-alpha-ketoisocaproic acid improves performance of repeated cycling sprints. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Apr;36(4):583-7.

Lovallo WR, Farag NH, Vincent AS, Thomas TL, Wilson MF. Cortisol responses to mental stress, exercise, and meals following caffeine intake in men and women. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Apr 20

Crewther B, Keogh J, Cronin J, Cook C. Possible stimuli for strength and power adaptation: acute hormonal responses. Sports Med. 2006;36(3):215-38.

Okudan N, Gokbel H. The effects of creatine supplementation on performance during the repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2005 Dec;45(4):507-11.

Stevens BR, Godfrey MD, Kaminski TW, Braith RW. High-intensity dynamic human muscle performance enhanced by a metabolic intervention. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Dec;32(12):2102-8.

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