MuscleTechs NOP-47: The Worlds First Pre-Workout Protein Powder

By Robbie Durand, M.A.
Senior Science Editor

The science of pre-workout nutrition has become more important than we once thought for making increases in lean muscle mass and strength. In the early '90s, bodybuilders were told to work out on an empty stomach for optimal gains, but that is the furthest from the truth. MuscleTech has invented the first revolutionary new pre-workout protein powder called Nitro-Tech NOP-47, which delivers the scientifically researched whey protein hydrolysate NOP-47, ultra-absorbable whey isolate, arginine, leucine and other BCAAs- providing 25 grams of protein! Talk about an all-in-one product- you can forget taking added BCAAs and nitric oxide supplements before exercise, as Nitro-Tech NOP-47 is all you need! Nitro-Tech^® NOP-47™ is the first pre-workout protein that has vasodilating effects to open blood vessels and infuse muscles with nutrient-rich anabolic agents. Plus, a key compound in Nitro-Tech NOP-47 has been shown in university studies to promote and drive muscle growth!

The Science of Nitro-Tech NOP-47

Research published earlier this year suggested that taking a pre-workout whey protein shake like Nitro-Tech NOP-47 before exercise leads to greater muscle hypertrophy, compared to consuming it after exercise. In the past, many bodybuilders would take essential amino acid (EAA) tablets before exercise to induce maximal increases in muscle protein synthesis, but researchers recently reported that taking whey protein is superior to taking EAAs for that purpose. Whey protein, especially Nitro-Tech NOP-47, is just about the most anabolic drink you can consume.

Many bodybuilders may think the anabolic properties of whey protein are strictly due to its high essential amino acid (EAA) content, but researchers found that whey protein produced anabolic effects that were greater than EAAs, when compared dose per dose. The study reported that EAAs are not solely responsible for the anabolic properties of whey protein. They researchers concluded that whey protein (whole consumption) is greater than the sum of its parts (EAAs) or effects, beyond just the amino acid content. The researchers hypothesized that the increase in the plasma concentration of the amino acid cysteine from whey protein, which was previously found to augment muscle protein anabolism, may enhance muscle protein synthesis. When MuscleTech formulated NOP-47, they made it more than a ordinary whey protein and loaded this product to the gills with extra anabolic agents such as leucine, creatine, and arginine.

Nitro-Tech NOP-47: A Vasodilator Protein!

Nitro-Tech NOP-47 is the only product in the sports nutrition industry to harness the vasodilating effects of NOP-47! You simply won't find this patent-pending peptide in any other supplement! Once again, Team MuscleTech presents to you nothing less than a sports nutrition supplement with key ingredients that deliver results, backed by real scientific research- Nitro-Tech NOP-47.

The Science of NOP-47 Vasodilation

The vascular endothelium is a single-cell layer in blood vessels that influences vascular health and the risk of disease by regulating vasoconstriction and vasodilation, blood pressure, blood clotting, etc. Being able to get a good pump is dependent on your blood vessels opening up, like turning a hose on. NOP-47 opens up those blood vessels like a fire hose, so the anabolic effects of whey protein can get into muscle- where it's needed.

Researchers from the University of Connecticut investigated Nitro-Tech NOP-47 and its effects on vasodilation. Subjects consumed one serving a day of NOP-47 or a placebo, for two weeks. At the end of the study, researchers found that acute ingestion of NOP-47 significantly increased blood vessel dilation at 30, 60 and 90 minutes, post-ingestion. Daily ingestion of Nitro-Tech NOP-47 may be a great way to facilitate blood flow in the gym, as a single serving enhanced vasodilation 90 minutes after consumption.

Your blood vessels are going to open up and you're going to get pumps like you have never had before. You may think you can just consume a different brand of whey protein and get the same results- but you are dead wrong! Nitro-Tech NOP-47 contains a vasodilating agent that's meticulously extracted from whey protein for a specific amino acid peptide sequence; NOP-47 is obtained through a resource-intensive process called Peptide Mining Technology- in which the peptide is selected and mined to be used in Nitro-Tech NOP-47, for its vasodilating effects. Nitro-Tech NOP-47 is the only sports nutrition supplement on the market today that contains NOP-47- it is exclusive to Team MuscleTech™!

Nitro-Tech NOP-47 Builds Muscle & Significantly Increases Strength

In another third-party study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, nine untrained males were given the same dose of an additional key ingredient found in Nitro-Tech NOP-47. Thirty-one weight-trained subjects were divided into three groups- all using the same key component in the Nitro-Tech NOP-47 formula- and increased their strength capacity on bench press in 10 days, compared to baselines. The test was performed using 70 percent of the subjects' 1-rep max bench press. Researchers discovered that Nitro-Tech NOP-47 elevated muscle concentrations of this key ingredient. By elevating this muscle-building compound to the levels suggested in this study, muscles may be primed for muscle and strength gains.

Other key ingredients in Nitro-Tech NOP-47are its special whey protein hydrolysates. Casein, the slow protein, and whey, the fast protein, are perhaps the most popular among supplement users. But to add a twist to this little tale, we know there is a difference between whey protein isolate and hydrolysate. In fact, there's evidence that protein hydrolysates can speed tissue repair following damage, and are useful for accelerating recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. And they do it better than whey protein isolate!

The potential for a hydrolysate (HD) of whey protein isolate (WPI) to speed recovery following eccentric exercise was tested by assessing its effects on recovery of peak isometric torque (PIT). In this study, 28 sedentary males had muscle soreness (MS), serum creatine kinase (CK) activity, plasma TNF-alpha and PIT assessed at baseline and after 100 maximal eccentric contractions (ECC) of their knee extensors. Participants then consumed 250 ml of flavored water (FW), or FW containing 25 grams of WPI or 25 grams of WPI (HD). PIT or force output decreased by 23 percent following ECC, remained suppressed in FW and WPI, but recovered fully in WPI (HD) by six hours! Thus, in the head-to-head match-up, WPI gets its butt whooped by the hydrolysate in assisting athletes to recover from fatiguing eccentric exercise.

Other Ingredients in Nitro-Tech NOP-47

Leucine has numerous anabolic effects on skeletal muscle, reflecting both stimulated protein synthesis and inhibited protein breakdown. Studies suggest that some of the anabolic effects of leucine are regulated by mechanisms similar to those regulating the effects of insulin. Leucine is known to interact with the insulin-signaling pathway with apparent control of protein synthesis, resulting in maintenance of muscle protein during periods of restricted energy intake.

Leucine also appears to stimulate protein synthesis, independent of insulin. For example, a dosage of leucine resulted in stimulation of protein synthesis that was independent of changes of plasma insulin concentrations, whereas a dosage containing carbohydrates (glucose plus sucrose) that raised insulin concentrations over 2.5 times the fasting glucose concentration did not affect protein synthesis. Overall, the results demonstrate that leucine can cause increases in protein synthesis rates that are independent of insulin.

Creatine has become the mostly widely-researched ergogenic aid to date, and the research is overwhelmingly clear that it not only increases muscle strength, but it does what no other supplement can do- creatine lowers myostatin.

Researchers examined myostatin in a recent study in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. In a double-blind design, 27 healthy male subjects were assigned to resistance training and creatine supplementation groups. Amazingly, the study found that creatine supplementation, when added to a resistance-training program, amplifies the training-induced decrease in serum levels of myostatin- increasing the effect of exercise on muscle strength and mass. Other studies reported that ingestion of creatine enhances muscle IGF-1 response, in conjunction with increasing satellite cell activation.

Arginine. One of the most striking and common effects of arginine supplementation is the stimulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion. Arginine has potent effects that increase GH by reducing somatostatin (i.e., an inhibitory hormone). In general, elevation of GH level can be achieved either by removing the inhibitory effect of somatostatin, or by enhancing the secretion of GH-releasing hormone. In experimental paradigms, increased serum GH levels after arginine ingestion have been due to inhibition of somatostatin. Another potential benefit of arginine supplementation is alterations in skeletal muscle metabolism brought about by increases in nitric oxide.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)- leucine, isoleucine and valine- have anabolic effects in human muscle. BCAAs are the primary amino acids responsible for protein synthesis. The anabolic activities of BCAAs are from multiple pathways. Studies show that the BCAAs, and in particular leucine, stimulate muscle protein synthesis by acting as both a signal and a substrate. One way BCAAs do this is through signaling mTOR activity in human muscle tissue. mTOR is the primary regulator of muscle growth through amino acid sensoring. BCAAs appear to signal mTOR to activate protein synthesis after exercise.

Other impressive results from the research show thatBCAAs help to reduce central nervous system fatigue during training- you will be able to train harder, longer and create a greater stimulus for muscle growth. BCAAs have been clinically documented to reduce exercise soreness and enhance recovery from exercise. BCCAs, when taken before exercise, have been reported to increase blood BCAA levels during exercise- resulting in the suppression of muscle protein breakdown. Another study reported BCAA administration suppresses muscle damage and enhances recovery for several days after exercise.

Beta-Alanine

Many users experience intense vasodilation/pumps from the very first dose of Xpand^® Xtreme Pump, which may be due in part to beta-alanine. This vasodilation/pump is because beta-alanine increases carnosine, and carnosine is a powerful precursor in generating nitric oxide synthase (a group of enzymes necessary for making the powerful vasodilator nitric oxide). Beta-alanine buffers hydrogen ions, which prevent pH levels in muscle from dropping too low (more acidic) so as a result, you can train harder and push through the burn for higher reps. In a more acidic environment (i.e., high lactic acid levels), ATP is less effective and the release of calcium, a key component to muscle contraction, is hindered substantially- so taking beta-alanine is going to significantly enhance your workout performance in the gym.

References:

1. Ballard KD, Bruno RS, Seip RL, Quann EE, Volk BM, Freidenreich DJ, Kawiecki DM, Kupchak BR, Chung MY, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS. Acute ingestion of a novel whey-derived peptide improves vascular endothelial responses in healthy individuals: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nutr J, 2009 Jul 22;8:34.
2. Christos S, Katsanos David, Chinkes L, Paddon-Jones Douglas, Xiao-jun Zhang, Aarsland Asle, Wolfe Robert R. Amino Acids Whey protein ingestion in elderly persons results in greater muscle protein accrual than ingestion of its constituent essential amino acid content. Nutr Res, Volume 28, 2008. Pages 651-65.
3. Buckley JD, Thomson RL, Coates AM, Howe PR, Denichilo MO, Rowney MK. Supplementation with a whey protein hydrolysate enhances recovery of muscle force-generating capacity following eccentric exercise. J Sci Med Sport, 2008.
4. Candow DG, Chilibeck PD, Facci M, Abeysekara S, Zello GA. Protein supplementation before and after resistance training in older men. Eur J Appl Physiol, 2006 Jul;97(5):548-56.