Supplement Research - Glycine Propionyl L-Carnitine (GlycoCarn) Beats Other Pre-Workout Supplements

By Robbie Durand, M.A.

Senior Science Editor

            Glycine Propionyl L-Carnitine or GlycoCarn^® exerts powerful antioxidant effects, and has been shown numerous times to enhance the production of nitric oxide. Many pre-workout nitric oxide supplements have adopted the “throw everything in the kitchen sink” philosophy. Some pre-workout supplements can contain as much as 30 ingredients, which consist of various amino acids, caffeine, beta-alanine, and creatine.

            Researchers from the University of Memphis examined the effects of Glycine Propionyl L-Carnitine, compared to three other pre-workout supplements purchased from a GNC store. The researchers wanted to determine if the single dose of GlycoCarn^® would outperform the other pre-workout nitric oxide supplements with arginine and other substances to enhance nitric oxide.

            Subjects consumed either 4.5 grams of GlycoCarn^® with 16 grams of maltodextrin or one of the pre-workout supplements purchased from GNC. Subjects then performed the bench press test, which involved 10 sets in the Hammer Strength™ supine bench press exercise using a load equal to 50 percent of 1RM.

            All sets of exercises were performed to a point of momentary muscular failure, with 120 seconds of rest between each set. None of the products tested resulted in favorable changes in the outcome measures, with the exception of GlycoCarn^® in terms of higher tissue (muscle) oxygen saturation at the start of exercise. GlycoCarn^® resulted in a 13.7 percent decrease in MDA from pre- to post-exercise and yielded a non-significant but greater total volume load, compared to all other conditions.

            It is interesting to note that the single ingredient GlycoCarn^® (in addition to 16 grams of maltodextrin as used in the present design) results in similar or more-favorable effects in terms of blood flow, as well as the total volume performed during the resistance training routine measured during the 10-set bench press protocol. Moreover, while a slight increase in lipid oxidative stress (a measure of cell damage) was observed with all other conditions, GlycoCarn^® caused a decrease in oxidative stress and demonstrated antioxidant effects.

            GylcoCarn^® also resulted in a small reduction in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA); a biomarker for oxidative stress from pre- to post-exercise, indicating a potential antioxidant effect. Interesting to note, this favorable effect of GlycoCarn^® on MDA reduction was associated with the highest StO2 at the start of exercise, indicating a possible association between increased blood flow and decreased lipid peroxidation.

Reference:

            Richard J. Bloomer, Tyler M. Farney, John F. Trepanowski, Cameron G. McCarthy, Robert E. Canale, Brian K. Schilling. Comparison of pre-workout nitric oxide stimulating dietary supplements on skeletal muscle oxygen saturation, blood nitrate/nitrite, lipid peroxidation, and upper-body exercise performance in resistance-trained men. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2010, 7:16.

AMINO IMPACT^TM Kicks ASS!!

            Energy drink consumption has continued to gain in popularity since the 1997 debut of Red Bull, the current leader in the energy drink market. More than 500 new energy drinks were launched worldwide in 2006 and beverage companies are reaping the financial rewards of the 5.7 billion dollar energy drink industry.

            Using energy drinks is a popular practice among college students, as we found that 51 percent of 496 college students surveyed reported drinking greater than one energy drink each month. Drinking energy drinks can be a tricky decision as there are dozens of energy drinks on the market; a recent study reported that sugar-free Red Bull did not enhance performance. When choosing an energy drink to enhance performance, make sure you choose an energy drink with scientific validity, such as AMINO IMPACT.^TM

            Researchers from the College of New Jersey reported in this month’s Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition that the supplement AMINO IMPACT^TM improves performance when taken directly before exercise. AMINO IMPACT^TM contains 26 grams of a powder containing an energy matrix (2.05 grams of caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone), a proprietary amino acid matrix (7.9 grams of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-arginine and L-glutamine), 5 grams of di-creatine citrate, and 2.5 grams of beta-alanine and mixed with 500 ml of water.

            Time to exhaustion was significantly greater after consumption of AMINO IMPACT.^TM Subjects consuming AMINO IMPACT^TM were able to run 12.5 percent longer than during the placebo treatment. Subjects consuming AMINO IMPACT^TM reported significantly greater focus, energy, and less fatigue pre-exercise. These results provide evidence that the ingredients of this particular supplement, that have previously been shown to improve acute resistance training performance, can also benefit endurance exercise.

Reference:

            Allyson L Walsh, Adam M Gonzalez, Nicholas A Ratamess, Jie Kang and Jay R Hoffman. Improved time to exhaustion following ingestion of the energy drink Amino Impact.™ Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2010, 7:14.

MELTDOWN RTD^TM Increases Energy Expenditure

            Meltdown RTD^TM is a thermogenic energy drink that supplies a combination of the stimulants caffeine, yerba maté extract, synephrine, phenylethylamine, yohimbine, and hordenine intended to help ramp up metabolism and increase energy expenditure.

            A study published in Lipids in Health and Disease reported that when subjects consumed Meltdown RTD^TM before exercise, it resulted in enhanced metabolic rate in healthy college-aged students. In addition, no changes in heart rate or diastolic blood pressure were documented, demonstrating that it did not pose a significant cardiovascular risk to the subjects.

Reference:

            Rashti SL, Ratamess NA, Kang J, Faigenbaum AD, Chilakos A, Hoffman JR. Thermogenic effect of meltdown RTD energy drink in young healthy women: a double-blind, cross-over design study. Lipids Health Dis, 2009 Dec 17;8:57.