dotfit NO7Rage Goal Rationale Practitioner Dietary Supplement Reference Guide

Transcription

1 dotfit NO7Rage 2015 Update Goal To deliver a combination of ingredients that demonstrate the ability to increase nitric oxide (NO) production to enhance blood and nutrient flow in and out of exercising muscles in order to amplify the training session and response. These novel NO booster ingredients are supplied together with other compounds known to improve strength, force production, increase time to exhaustion and training endurance while also delivering positive cognitive benefits such as improving training desire, reaction time and focus. All together, this product has the ability, through multiple pathways, to significantly enhance strength, performance and size training induced outcomes when compared to similar mass market commercial products or a non-supplemented state. In addition, its stimulant properties, energy substrate contributions and muscle lactate buffering properties can dramatically improve the training session itself thus setting the stage for greater gains when everything else is equal such as recovery time and overall nutrition. Rationale Competitive athletes and exercisers constantly seek physical improvement in order to remain competitive in their respective sport by attempting to make continuous progression in strength and performance gains, or as with avid exercisers, simply enhance exercise sessions over time. Exercise stimulates natural human skeletal muscle synthesis and muscle performance throughout life when compared to a non-exercise state. 1,2 Various forms of mechanical loading (exercise design) initiate muscle protein s related anabolic signaling and the mode, intensity and volume of exercise differentially affect signaling, thus long-term outcomes. 3,4,5 The general goal of most athletes is to maximize the body's natural muscle protein synthesis (MPS) processes, which include applying peak strength during exercise and recovering adequately from each training bout to constantly increase performance and if desired, increase skeletal muscle (SM) size. Thus, athletes/exercisers continue to improve physically by making each training session build on the previous, leading to continuous athletic and physical progress since unaccustomed exercise continues to set the stage for the desired muscle remodeling (anabolism) that would potentially improve performance or size. 6,7,8 However, despite exercise s constant MPS initiation, positive training progress slows dramatically with age and experience, and training plateaus become common occurrences, 7,9,10,11 leading researchers and athletes to believe that something is missing (nutritionally) in the pre or post exercise period that would otherwise continue progression from proper unaccustomed training. In other words, exercise is only a continual trigger event for the desired result, leaving nutritional/bio-ingredient modulations to deliver the progressive outcome. 2,10,12 These conditions set the stage for dietary supplementation when all else is equal and training and diet protocols are optimized for the desired progression. The primary ingredients contained in NO7Rage are well documented in accomplishing size and performance increases under equal circumstances and compared to placebo. The ergogenic potential of: 1) creatine for size and strength; 13 2) beta-alanine for force production and anaerobic endurance; 14 3) caffeine, 15 glucuronolactone and taurine 16 for endurance and mental focus, combined with the effects of: 1) glycerol for volumizing and exerciseinduced muscle pump; 17 2) pine bark, 18 Nitrosigine, 19 L-citrulline 20 and agmatine sulfate 21 for their nitric oxide (NO) production potential to increase vasodilatation, thus enhancing the inward and outward flow of these ergogenic ingredients and training-induced waste products. As a result, you have set the stage to maximize the training session contribution to MPS thus creating an environment for continuous positive change where further nutrition modulations can now finish the desired result and help avoid common training plateaus. 1

2 2015 Update Nitric Oxide Boosters L-Citrulline L-Citrulline is a naturally occurring alpha-amino acid. It is a non-essential amino acid and is not used in protein synthesis. 22,23 L-citrulline can be obtained from the diet and is also synthesized in the intestinal mucosa and liver from glutamine and ornithine. 24,25 L-citrulline passes through the liver unchanged, taken up by the kidneys where it is converted to L-arginine and released into circulation. L-arginine is converted to nitric oxide by NO synthases in the endothelium of blood vessels and other tissues, with L-citrulline reformed in the process. 23,24,26 An elevation in plasma L-arginine has been shown to improve endothelial function because the vascular endothelium uses NO to signal the surrounding smooth muscle to relax, thus resulting in vasodilation and increasing blood flow. 27 The discovery of L-citrulline (LC) metabolic pathways described here (conversion to L-arginine) led researchers to believe LC is better than arginine as a supplement for NO production. 20 In fact, doses of 0.75 to 3 g of L-citrulline increase plasma L-arginine levels dose-dependently, and to a greater extent than L-arginine supplementation. 23,24 While LC escapes the liver unchanged, consumed L-arginine is metabolized by liver and intestinal arginase before it can reach the systemic circulation, significantly reducing its availability and leads to excessive production of urea. 22,23,24,28 Early research led to L-arginine becoming the primary amino acid found in nitric oxide producing supplements, 29 since it was shown to be involved in the production of NO 30,31,32,33,34 and creatine biosynthesis. 35 But, as described above, oral L-arginine s rapid metabolism by arginase activity makes it less effective at increasing NO production. 36,37,38,39 These actions gave rise to LC as the preferred or additional substrate for NO production since it is not metabolized in the intestines or liver and does not promote arginase activity, thus allowing the body to readily convert LC-to L-arginine concurrently raising plasma and tissue levels of L-arginine, leading to enhanced NO production (see Figure 1). 37,38,40 Schwedhelm et al. demonstrated LC supplementation superiority to L-arginine in humans as shown in Figure 2 23 as well as El-Hattiab AW et al. 41 It s been shown that approximately 75% of LC taken up by the kidneys is converted to L-arginine and released into the circulation. 42 LC is contained in this product for its positive influences on blood vessels via its actions in NO production, vasodilation and blood flow acceleration. 23,43,44,45 In other related studies using L-citrulline, Bailey et al. using 6 g/d of LC versus 6 g/d of arginine and placebo showed that LC, but not arginine or placebo, supplementation can improve blood pressure, Vo2 kinetics and exercise performance in healthy adults. 46 And finally, LC and arginine combined may have additive effects on raising NO production. 47 Figure 1 - Metabolic Pathway for NO production. Abbreviations: CPS-I, carbamoyl PO 4 synthase I; N-AG, N- acetylglutamate Figure 2 - Effect of Oral L-citrulline on Blood L-arginine in Humans 2

3 2015 Update Agmatine sulfate & Nitrosigine - Better Forms of Arginine L-arginine is an amino acid necessary for protein synthesis. As noted above, arginine is best known for its effects on the vascular system. 48 L-arginine is a substrate for the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme. NOS in vascular endothelial cells converts L-arginine to nitric oxide (NO), also known as endothelium-derived relaxation factor (EDRF), which causes vasodilation. 49,50 But as noted above, orally ingested L-arginine is inefficient by itself in raising NO production 23 leading to continuous research into creating a form of arginine that used orally may be able to raise plasma arginine to increase NO production thus avoiding injections or use of large oral doses that may cause gastric distress. 51 Nitrosigine and agmatine sulfate are two potentially effective oral related forms of arginine that may accomplish an additive NO production effect. Nitrosigine Nitrosigine* is an inositol stabilized arginine silicate compound that has been shown to enhance plasma arginine and markers of nitric oxide. 19,52 Kalman et al. using 1500 mg/d in healthy subjects measured significantly increased plasma arginine levels in 30 minutes and remained for 3 hrs. Figure 3 showed enhanced markers for NO levels which were superior to arginine HCI and found significantly enhanced blood proteins related to vasodilation and heart health. 19 3

4 2015 Update Figure 3 - Effect of Nitrosigine Supplementation on Plasma Arginine Levels 19 Agmatine Sulfate Agmatine Sulfate is a biogenic amine that is derived from the amino acid L-Arginine. This occurs due to a process called decarboxylation, which is the removal of a carboxylic acid group from the amino acid. 53 The resulting compound, a now downstream metabolite of arginine, agmatine sulfate, is often used in athletic performance supplements. The additional agmatine inhibits further conversion of arginine to agmatine thus increasing the amount of arginine converted to NO. 53 Therefore, natural agmatine sulfate may serve as not only a safe additional NO fuel source that may be better than high doses of arginine, 54,55 but also by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down NO. 56 Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol-85% proanthocyanidins) Pycnogenol (PYC) is a combination of procyanidins extracted from the bark of the pine, pinus maritime, which has significant antioxidant properties. 57 Studies demonstrate that pycnogenol contains an array of constituents with free radical scavenging properties, including polyphenols and flavonoids. 58 PYC also inhibits free radical producing enzymes while stimulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes. 58,58,59 Pycnogenol also demonstrates the ability to increase nitric oxide production from vascular endothelial cells by stimulating nitric oxide synthetase that can lead to vasodilation. 57,60,61,62 Increased nitric oxide production is the proposed mechanism for the possible benefit of PYC in erectile dysfunction, 63 hypertension, 64 and sexual satisfaction in peri-menopausal women. 65 It has been added to NO7Rage because of its antioxidant powers and beneficial effects on circulation including vasodilation through effects on nitric oxide, as described throughout this article, the chemical that stimulates dilation of the blood vessels. 66,67,68 Pycnogenol use in exercise has shown promise as a recovery and possible ergogenic aid. Pycnogenol orally at 200 mg daily for 30 days demonstrated improvement in treadmill exercise capacity in recreational athletes aged years. 69 Vinciguerra et al. using 200 mg/d (50 mg four times daily) found a significant reduction in muscle cramping events in subjects (from 8.6 before treatment to 2.4). 70 Additionally, Vinciguerra G et al., in a two-part fitness and performance study evaluated the effects of 100 mg/d of PYC on improving physical fitness (PF) in normal individuals using the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Using 150 mg/d, the researchers tested PYC s efficacy as a supplement in improving training, exercise, recovery and oxidative stress in athletes in training for a triathlon. 18 In part one, the 4

5 2015 Update group using pycnogenol (74 subjects) performed statistically better than controls (73 subjects) including push-ups and sit-ups, and showed greater decreases in oxidative stress. In part two, the PYC group had fewer drop outs and more benefits compared to controls. The total triathlon time was 89 minutes, 44 seconds in PYC users and 96 minutes, 5 seconds in controls. Subjects in the control group improved their performing time by an average of 4.6 minutes versus an improvement of 10.8 minutes in the PYC group. A significant decrease in cramps and postrunning pain was apparent in PYC subjects while there were no significant differences in controls. In PYC subjects there was a lower increase in oxidative stress and subsequent faster recovery to near normal levels compared to controls. The authors interpreted these results as PYC use leading to a faster metabolic recovery. 18 G. Belcaro et al., using PYC at 150 mg/d for 12 weeks demonstrated an improvement in cognitive function and oxidative stress in healthy professionals. 71 Ergogenic Aids Creatine Monohydrate Creatine (Cr) is a substance found in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Creatine synthesis occurs in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas from the amino acids methionine, glycine, and arginine. 72,73 Most of the total body creatine resides in skeletal muscle where about one-third exists as creatine (Cr) and two-thirds as phosphocreatine (PCr) and depending on muscle fiber type and total mass, an average 150 lb male has a creatine pool of approximately g. 74,75 Typically, the human body manufactures about one gram of creatine, obtains one gram from food, and loses about two grams per day. Therefore, under normal circumstances, creatine levels are fairly constant. 76,77 The average concentration of total Cr in skeletal muscle varies between 45 and 68 mmol/lb dry weight in normal humans. 75,76 Cr and PCr are degraded to creatinine in a non-enzymatic and irreversible reaction. 72 Creatinine is then filtered by the kidneys into the urine, the primary route of loss. 72 Typical food sources of Cr are animal muscle meats. 76 Creatine phosphate, with its high-energy phosphoryl transfer potential, serves to maintain intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. 78 At rest, concentrations of ATP, PCr, and Cr in skeletal muscle are 4, 25, 13 mm, respectively. 74,75 During exercise, levels of ATP decline very little until stores of PCr are used. 79 Since creatine supplementation has been shown to increase intracellular levels of PCr, intracellular levels of ATP may be maintained at higher levels for a longer period of time. 76,80,81 Therefore, the aim of creatine loading with supplementation is much like the goal of carbohydrate loading by endurance athletes, but instead of increasing glycogen storage, and thus delaying glycogen depletion, loading Cr would enhance PCr levels and delay its depletion while accelerating repletion. This practice would benefit activities that are dependent on PCr as an energy source such as sprinting and weightlifting. To be sure, the majority of studies focusing on creatine supplementation report an increase in the body s creatine pool, 13,82,83,84 with exercise increasing the uptake and leading to an increase in exercise performance. 13,84 Early data by Volek et al. 85 attributed the increases in strength performance, after 12 weeks of creatine supplementation with exercise, to an increased total creatine pool resulting in more rapid ATP regeneration between exercise sets allowing athletes to maintain a greater training intensity and improve the quality of the workouts throughout the entire training period. Additionally, creatine supplementation has been shown to cause a reduction in plasma concentrations of hypoxanthine and lactate following exercise, suggesting lower levels of anaerobic glycolysis, another possible contribution to delaying muscular fatigue by maintaining a normal ph level. 86 Because of creatine s aforementioned functions in the body, supplementing creatine to maximize stores thus strength, size, and/or performance, has become one of the most popular and heavily researched natural supplements. 13,87,88,89,90 The bottom line is that creatine supplementation (CS) with exercise improves many training outcomes such as activity specific physical performance and skeletal muscle size and development, 13,88,89,91,92,93,94 not only by improving the training event itself leading to better continuous workouts, 82-85,95 but also through unique muscle building/recovery/development mechanisms of action all during the supplementing phase. 82,96,97 These recently elucidated mechanisms of creatine supplementation may include changes in gene expression, 96,98 satellite cell 5

6 2015 Update proliferation, insulin-like growth factor signaling, 83 increase in growth hormone, 97 alterations in myogenic transcription factors leading to a reduction in serum myostatin (muscle growth inhibitor), 99 improved neuromuscular function (facilitating the reuptake of Ca 2+ into sarcoplasmic reticulum), 100 and as mentioned above, 86 reduced exercise induced blood lactate. 101 See section on dotfit CreatineMonohydrate for complete creatine data including metabolism, mechanism s of action, safety and loading procedures. Creatine and Hypertrophy Along with increasing performance, CS (loading phase 20 g/d [.14g/lb/d] and maintenance 3-5 g/d [ g/lb/d) has also been shown to produces greater gains in exercise induced muscle hypertrophy. 92,102,103 Creatine and Anaerobic Exercise Performance CS and resistance training was shown in a 2003 meta-analysis to produce an 8% increase in performance in 1 repetition max (RM) and 14% increase in reps per set. 89 The Branch et al. meta-analysis showed an overall effect size (ES) of creatine supplementation of This group of studies showed a 7.5% from baseline vs. 4.3% in placebo on primarily anaerobic exercise (activities 30 seconds which primarily utilize the ATP-phosphocreatine system). 88 Later reviews confirmed similar findings across different anaerobic activities. 91,97,101 The meta-analysis by Lanhers C et al. on lower limb strength included 60 studies (646 subjects in CS group and 651 controls). At the end of CS period, the effect size for squat was 0.336, leg press and for overall quadriceps. The authors concluded CS was not only effective in lower limb strength performance for exercise with a duration of less than 3 min, but also that results were independent of subject characteristics, training protocols, and supplement doses and duration. 104 CS also demonstrates performance and lean mass increases in older male and female adults. 105,106 Primarily Aerobic Exercise Very little has been studied or benefits quantified using CS in aerobic activities due to CS targeting the ATPphosphocreatine energy system. If there is a benefit, it is probably related to a change in energy substrate utilization when CP levels are high, at least during the early phase of aerobic activity that might help decrease time to exaustion. 88 de Andrade et al. showed a 5-day CS load increased the anaerobic energy contribution during 1K cycling time trial and resulted in a higher body mass of the subjects compared to placebo but no time difference in completing the trial. 107 A decrease in blood lactate accumulation and an increase in lactate threshold have been observed in elite rowers with 5-days of CS also suggesting potential to improve overall performance. 108 de Salles et al. using a 20 g/d loading phase and 5 g/d maintenance, found only the CS group was able to maintain leg-press performance after the intermittent aerobic exercise while the placebo group showed a significant decrease in legpress. 109 CS significantly increased bench-press after aerobic exercise modes, while the bench-press was not affected by either mode of aerobic exercise in the placebo subjects. These results suggest acute decreases in strength following aerobic exercise may be offset by CS. 109 At this time, experimentation with CS and aerobic exercise has produced little benefit but has so far shown no downside and may be of use to cross training athletes. Creatine and Muscle Recovery from Exercise Damage or Injury CS has been shown to improve recovery from injury, 110 muscle damage (post-exercise ingestion may enhance the regenerative process by improving the anabolic environment) 111,112 and oxidative stress 113 from exercise. Responders, Partial and Non-responders While the overall effect size of creatine supplementation is significantly positive as described above on predominantly anaerobic activities/exercise, some subjects demonstrate lesser improvements, which has been attributed to a number of reasons such as genetics (Type II fiber populations, gene polymorphisms, etc.), 114,115 diet (vegetarian vs. omnivore), 102 and ineffective supplement protocols (daily dosages, loading, etc.). 116,117 Responders are generally people with lower initial levels of muscle creatine, relatively high proportion of type II muscle fibers, 6

7 2015 Update genetically wired to respond to increased levels of creatine and maintain a proper dosing protocol throughout the training period. Dosing Protocols The most common and successful dosing of CS is described by Buford T et al. within The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand on creatine supplementation and exercise. 91 The protocol starts with a loading phase of 20 g of creatine monohydrate (CM)/d or 0.14g CM/lb/d split into 4 daily intakes of 5 g each, followed by a maintenance phase of 3-5 g CM/d or g CM/lb/d ( dotfit prefers.03 g CM/lb/d based on experience) for the duration of the supplementation period. Other protocols have used a daily single dose of ~3 6 g/d 82 but this method might take between 21 to 28 days to produce ergogenic effects. 13,91 There is some evidence that dosing 20 g/d taken in 1 g increments at ~30-min intervals for 5 days may result in an increase in whole body retention of creatine (+13%) when compared to the above mentioned 4 x 5 g/d ingested in 3 hour intervals during the 5 days loading. 118 Though this type of dosing may be difficult, it intuitively makes sense based on the body s ability to potentially more effectively transport and use creatine in smaller doses i.e. analogous to a controlled release. The creatine amount in 2-scoops of NO7 is 5 g and therefore it would take the daily use of 2 scoops to eventually (~28 days) fill creatine stores to levels described above. Although this would work, we recommend in order to maximize CM effects throughout the supplement period, to use dotfit CreatineMonohydrate for the first 5-days to load as outlined and continue as needed to make sure the daily maintenance dose of CM remains at ~4-6 g daily. This would include using CM on non-training days if not using NO7 since it is primarily designed a pre-workout supplement. Additionally, CreatineXXL can also be added to the mix if necessary as in the Super Stack used by elite strength and size athletes. See all protocols under Dosing Options below. Creatine Safety The efficacy and safety of the proper use of Creatine Monohydrate is well established.13,91,119 For more on creatine and safety see Creatine Monohydrate section in this PDSRG. β-alanine (see CreatineXXL for complete data on β-alanine): Beta-alanine (BA) is a non-proteogenic amino acid (not used by the body to synthesize proteins) formed in the liver from the degradation of uracil and thymine and obtained by humans from the consumption of primarily animal meats. 120 Harris et al. showed that β-alanine (BA) availability is the rate-limiting factor for carnosine synthesis in skeletal muscle and BA supplementation can increase intramuscular levels of carnosine. 120,121 Carnosine is a naturally occurring dipeptide, formed by combining L-histidine and BA using the enzyme carnosine synthetase. 122 Carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) has many physiological functions including acting as an intramuscular ph buffer, (sequestering protons [H+]) 122,123 and therefore increasing carnosine levels can reduce exercise-induced acidosis and potentially prolong time to exhaustion. 14,124,125 In fact, carnosine has been shown to be more effective at sequestering protons than bicarbonate and inorganic phosphate. 126,127,128 Carnosinase, the enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of carnosine, is located in serum and other tissues but not in skeletal muscle, (SM) rendering oral carnosine supplementation inefficient in raising human muscle carnosine levels. 129 The ingested carnosine would be metabolized before reaching skeletal muscle. 129,130 This fact gives rise to BA supplementation since it can enter SM and be converted to carnosine where its molecular structure of nitrogen atoms on the imidazole ring can attract protons at physiological ph. 127 The contribution of carnosine to the buffering capacity of muscle is significant but not totally quantified. 131,132 What is clear is beta-alanine supplementation s (BAS) ability to increase muscle carnosine concentrations 120,133 and attenuate exercise induced reductions in ph, 134 highlighting that carnosine plays an important role in buffering exercise-induced acidosis, thus potentially delaying fatigue and/or improving performance. 14,124,125 Carnosine has also been shown to act as an antioxidant by scavenging free radicals and singlet oxygen, 135 thereby reducing oxidative stress. 136 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced at an accelerated rate during exercise 137 7

8 2015 Update and thought to contribute to muscle fatigue and exercise-induced muscle damage, 138 therefore carnosine may contribute a positive antioxidant effect. In summary, since BA has been shown to be the rate-limiting precursor to carnosine synthesis, BAS has been shown to consistently increase SM carnosine levels regardless of baseline values 139 and may subsequently, through its SM buffering and antioxidant capacities, improve performance during high-intensity exercise and/or enhance the quality of training in strength and power athletes. 14,124,125,140,141 Beta-alanine and Exercise Studies Beta-alanine supplementation compared to placebo has been clearly shown to be effective in improving performance in certain activities (repeated high intensity movements) using dosages ranging from 4-6 g/day for a minimum of 4 weeks. 14 Results in exercise measures to a certain extent have been averaged to ~ 2.85 % improvement, which is significant in all aspects of competitive performance. 14 Human muscle carnosine levels generally range from mmols/lb dry weight with mmols/lb being the average. 142,143,144 Differences in individual outcomes using proper BAS dosing are most likely due to a users baseline carnosine levels, which may be higher in males, persons with higher percentages of type II fibers, high meat diets and trained athletes.124,142,143,144,145,146 Early studies, where BAS compared to placebos were shown to improve exercise induced lean body mass, 147,148 endurance performance, 148 training volume while reducing feelings of fatigue, 149 sprint performance in endurance cycling, 150 and improve muscle endurance in the elderly, 151 helped establish current effective doses. These studies 143,152, 153 also demonstrated safety. Recent Studies: Painelli et al. demonstrated that 6.4 g/d for 4 weeks improved repeated high intensity cycling performance in both trained and untrained athletes. 124 This was an important study because of other studies showing modest or no performance improvement in highly trained athletes,154,155,156,157,158 which was probably due to dosages, testing protocols (not sufficient in intensity or duration to be influenced by increased carnosine-induced buffering [decreased ph]) or high percentage of non-responders based on carnosine baseline conditions described earlier Gross et al. using 4.8 g/d of BAS improved explosive and repeated jump performance in elite alpine skiers. The author s surmised that BAS enhancement of muscle contractility could explain the improved explosiveness and repeated jump performance. 159 Ducker et al. using 36 mg/lb/day for 28 days improved 800-meter track performance in club runners when compared to the same subjects under the same conditions with no supplementation. 160 Hoffman et al. using 6 g/d BAS found 30-days of BA ingestion can increase muscle carnosine content and improve aspects of military specific performance including cognitive skills (although brain carnosine was not increased). 161 Hoffman et al. in an assessment on military performance supplementation found that over 50% of military personnel use dietary supplements for this purpose. They also determined that mounting evidence supporting the use of BAS in competitive and recreational athletes would suggests similar benefits for tactical athletes and recent studies (as in the above) in military personnel provide direct support for the use of BA for enhancing combat-specific performance. BAS appears to be most beneficial for high-intensity activities lasting seconds. Additionally, though evidence is limited, BA supplementation may enhance cognitive function and promote resiliency during highly stressful situations. 162 In a 2014 systematic review on BAS, Quesnele et al. found moderate to high quality studies supporting that BA may increase power output and training capacity, decrease feelings of fatigue and exhaustion, and have 8

9 2015 Update positive effects on body composition and carnosine content. They also suggested that side effects may be under-reported (referring primarily to paraesthesia or harmless tingling). 163 Of interest are the findings by Invernizzi et al. that acute (2 g of carnosine, 2 g BA taken 4 hours before test) supplementation produced positive effects on maximum voluntary contractions and jumps after a fatiguing (45 seconds of jumping) protocol and improved jumping performance during the 45 seconds of continuous jumping. Additionally, carnosine and BA reduced the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and muscular pain 24 hours after the fatiguing protocol. 164 Notwithstanding the previous citation, in a review article on ergogenic effects of nutrition including supplementation, Sahlin summarized that there is clear evidence that prolonged periods with high doses of BAS can increase muscle carnosine concentration leading to an enhanced muscle ph buffering capacity with improvements in performance. The ergogenic effects are well documented in events lasting 1 4 min, during which lactic acidosis will be most prominent. 165 Gross et al. found that BAS increased leg muscle carnosine (32 ± 13 %) but buffering capacity and incremental cycling were not affected. However, during 90 second severe cycling, BA supplementation increased aerobic energy contribution concurrent with reduced O 2 deficit (-5.0 ± 5.0 %) and muscle lactate accumulation (-23 ± 30 %), while having no effect on ph. Beta-alanine also enhanced motivation and perceived state during the high intensity-training test. The authors concluded that although BAS did not affect buffering considerably, it had beneficial effects on severe exercise metabolism as well as psychological parameters during intense training phases. 166 Carpentier et al. found using g/d BAS in male and female trained athletes that supplementation resulted in a slight improvement of explosive force after 45 maximal consecutive jumps in these young athletes. 167 Glen et al., discerning that females may be more sensitive to the benefits of BAS (lower initial baseline carnosine levels) and that baseline intramuscular carnosine levels also naturally decrease with age, investigated trained master female cyclists females using 800 mg four times daily for 28 days. The authors found no differences existed between groups at baseline or at the 7, 14, and 21 day time points for any variables. But at the last time point (28 days),when evaluating lower-body isokinetic strength (ISO), total work performed during the assessment (24.0% vs. 16.8% change) in flexion and average peak torque (5.4% vs. 2.9% change) in extension were significantly increased from baseline in BAS compared to placebo. No differences were displayed in handgrip strength or body composition. Therefore, 28-days of BAS increased peak torque and work completed, demonstrating that BAS improves lower body exercise performance in female master athletes. 168 In the same vein as the previous citation, Glenn et al. using the same dosing in master female cyclists, found 28 days of BAS increased cycling performance by enhanced time to exhaustion and total work completed, which were associated with lactate clearance during passive rest. 169 Β-alanine Dosing 4-6 g daily, divided into 800 mg servings (serving size would help avoid potential paraesthesia i.e. generally harmless tingling 120 ), for 4 weeks (40-60% increase in carnosine levels 139 ) taken with food including pre-workout snack/shake, 170 in order to reach maximum muscle levels of carnosine, thus optimizing it s buffering effect during exercise. Thereafter, - according to Stegen et al. where they found that after 46 days of loading 3.2 g/day (4 X 800 mg) that men and women were able to maintain muscle carnosine levels 30-50% above baseline using 1.2 g/d- for the remaining duration of the supplement period, the user may be able to reduce intake to 1.2 g/day. 171 To maintain maximum carnosine levels, a maintenance dose of 3.2 g/day may be appropriate since little research says otherwise. Safety As mentioned, paraesthesia (tingling) is a commonly known side effect of beta-alanine in individuals ingesting more than 800 mg of BA in one dose unless using a time-released formula. 120 If present, paraesthesia generally disappears 9

10 2015 Update within 60 to 90 minutes following ingestion. 172 It s been hypothesized that BA activates Mas-related genes, 173 or sensory neuron specific G-protein coupled receptors that reach to the skin. 174 If present, paraesthesia generally affects the face, hands or neck and is dose dependent (the higher the dose the greater chance of effect). Currently there is no data to support that this tingling is harmful in any way. 14 β-alanine Summary Based on the current available peer reviewed data as shown above, beta-alanine supplementation appears safe and effective in healthy subjects at recommended doses. Four weeks of BAS at 4 6 g/d significantly raises muscle carnosine concentrations thus increasing intracellular ph buffering capacity. BAS can lead to increases in exercise performance especially in repeated high intensity activities lasting 1-4 minutes. BAS may increase power output and training capacity, decrease feelings of fatigue and exhaustion with greater effects on people with lower baseline levels of carnosine. Because of beta-alanine s unique mechanisms of action, combining it with other safe and proven ergogenic ingredients may deliver additive benefits important to competitive athletes. Beta-alanine and Creatine in Combination The rationale for simultaneously ingesting creatine monohydrate and beta-alanine supplementation is to deliver an additive performance effect by combining their respective mechanisms of actions. Creatine supplementation increases the total muscle creatine pool allowing greater energy substrate availability while also improving the anabolic environment throughout the training and recovery periods, while BAS acts as an intramuscular ph buffer to reduce exercise-induced acidosis to extend time to fatigue. At least one study tested them apart and together. Okudan et al. after 28 days of creatine at 5 gms and BAS at 1.6 g twice daily found that separately each increased mean power and delayed fatigue but CR + BAS also increased peak power significantly in untrained exercisers. 175 Using relatively the same dosing, Kresta et al. found no consistent additive benefits of BAS combined with creatine over creatine alone in recreationally active women. 176 Nevertheless, considering their individual and unique mechanisms of actions, most researchers and athletes alike believe that under certain athletic conditions/protocols and individual physiologic states, the combination of BAS and CS should contribute in an additive effect size manner. 13,14,165,175 Furthermore, supplementing simultaneously with CR and BA has been shown to be safe as well as effective 14,177,178,179 Mental Performance, Focus and Ergogenic Aid Caffeine Caffeine is a methylxanthine compound and is structurally related to theophylline, theobromine, and uric acid. 180 It is 100% bioavailable after oral ingestion, and is metabolized primarily in the liver producing among others, the metabolites paraxanthine, theophylline and theobromine. 181 The half-life of caffeine in healthy adults is 5-6 hours. 182 Caffeine is rapidly absorbed from the gut and transported quickly and efficiently to tissues. 183,184,185 Peak tissue concentrations of caffeine and its constituents are reached generally in 1-hour post ingestion 183,186 including crossing the blood brain barrier. 185,187 Based on tissue uptake and urinary clearance, tissue levels are decreased by 50-75% within 3-6 hours of ingestion. 183,188 Therefore, removal time from the bloodstream is approximately the same as caffeine s rate of absorption and metabolism. 188 Caffeine is a primary ingredient in this formula because of its positive effects on performance 188,189 including focus/alertness, 190,191,192 which also plays a role in training protocol motivation and success. 189 Caffeine anhydrous (caffeine extract without water) elicits a greater and more predictable response than caffeine delivered in caffeinated coffee, and is therefore used in this formula. 193,194 Mechanisms of Action Caffeine has been suggested to have multiple mechanisms of actions related to its performance and cognitive enhancing effects. Caffeine s stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS) and its ability to compete with 10

11 2015 Update adenosine for its receptor sites is generally regarded as its primary ergogenic properties. 185,188,195 Blocking adenosine receptors causes a buildup of intracellular 3,5-cyclic-adenosine monophosphate (camp) leading to greater activity in cells. 196,197,198 Adenosine is found in every part of the body because of its role in fundamental ATP-related energy metabolism, but it has a unique brain function. Concentrations of brain adenosine are increased by various types of physical and mental metabolic stress. 181,195 Stress-related adenosine increases appear to be produced mainly by extracellular metabolism of ATP. Brain adenosine acts to protect the brain by suppressing neural activity and by increasing blood flow through A2A and A2B receptors located on vascular smooth muscle. 186 Caffeine elicits disinhibitory effects on neural activity helping to maintain or increase arousal and alertness. 183,184,185,186,195 It s conceivable that caffeine s effects are more neural than muscular since the central nervous system is a primary site of caffeine s actions. 198,199 The enhanced sympathetic stimulation and/or the direct adenosine antagonism by caffeine have been shown to be responsible for caffeine s glycogen sparing effects through increasing adipose tissue lipolysis as measured by a decrease respiratory exchanged ratio (RER) during submaximal exercise. 200,201 Cruz et al. observed the same results. 202 They found, using 2.75 mg/lb of caffeine, an improvement of 22% in time to exhaustion during maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) workload and an accompanied decrease in RER, demonstrating the favorable change in energy substrate use. The lower RER observed at MLSS suggests enhanced fat oxidation and depressed carbohydrate combustion after caffeine ingestion. 202 In these and other studies, the performance improvements were based upon an increased energy reliance on fat metabolism, as shown by increased free fatty acids concentrations and lower RER. 200,201,202,203 The metabolites of caffeine mentioned above also contribute to caffeine's effects. Paraxanthine is responsible for an increase in the lipolysis process, releasing glycerol and fatty acids into the blood to be used as fuel by the muscles thus sparing glycogen. 185,204 Theobromine is a vasodilator that increases the amount of oxygen and nutrient flow to the brain and muscles. 198 Theophylline acts as a smooth muscle relaxant that chiefly affects bronchioles and acts as a chronotrope and inotrope that increases heart rate and efficiency. 205 Caffeine Summary and Dosing Summarizing caffeine s proposed performance enhancing mechanisms of action, studies have reported caffeine ingestion to increase in mobilization of free fatty acids (FFA), ,206,207,208,209 spare glycogen, stimulate the release of epinephrine and β-endorphins 204 (may decrease pain perception 210,211 ), block the effects of adenosine 189,211,212 alter the calcium level in muscle, possibly increase blood pressure in non-habitual users 213 and stimulate the central nervous system. 214,215,216,217,218 All of these physiological effects may also explain caffeine s ability to reduce fatigue 219 improve concentration 220, and enhance mental alertness. 213,221,222,223,224,225,226 Dosing (see WorkoutExtreme in this document for caffeine dosing in endurance sports and testing): Using mg/lb of caffeine in an anhydrous state, there is universal agreement that caffeine supplementation can enhance different modes of exercise performance 189,219 including endurance (see figure 2), 189,193,194,227,228,229,230,231 high intensity team sport activity of long duration (e.g. rugby, soccer, hockey etc.), 213,232,233,234,235 strength, muscle power and muscle endurance (primarily anaerobic). 212,213,236,237,238,239 In the later group, Chen et al. found no gender differences in the ergogenic effect of caffeine. 239 Among golfers, approximately 1g/lb of caffeine improved measures of performance and reduced fatigue in skilled golfers. 240 Responders and Non-responders Like with all studies using supplements (or prescription drugs) there are caffeine investigations that showed little to no improvement in different performance measures in individuals and overall. 189 These results are generally attributed to dosing formulations (anhydrous or not), non-responders (genetics/habitual use), type of activity, or study end-point measured. Some reports have discovered up to 30% of caffeine study participants derived little to now ergogenic benefits. 241,242 In fact, Womack et al. may have identified a genetic polymorphism as a primary reason for some people not deriving an ergogenic effect from caffeine supplementation. 243 Using 2.75 mg/lb in a 11

12 2015 Update 40-kilometer time trial, performance in cyclists homozygous for the A variant (of the cytochrome P450 gene faster caffeine metabolism) had a greater performance increase than those who possess the C variant (slower caffeine metabolism). Caffeine decreased 40-km time by an average of 3.8 minutes in the AA homozygotes as compared to 1.3 minutes in the C allele carriers highlighting a specific polymorphism as a potential cause of variations in the performance effect of caffeine supplementation. 243 NO7 Caffeine Dose The anhydrous caffeine dose in NO7 at 1 or 2 scoops ( mg) is within the range ( mg/lb) that elicits both exercise and cognitive benefits for the average population. 189 If ingesting 2 or more scoops, we suggest not using other caffeine containing products within 4 hours of consuming NO7. Glucuronolactone, Caffeine and Taurine This combination of ingredients is common in energy drinks. 244 The only reason they are included in this product with caffeine is for their potential additive effects to focus and performance/recovery. Based on solid evidence, it is easy to argue caffeine is the only ingredient of these 3 that delivers the desired effects described in the caffeine section above i.e. mental and/or physical performance improvements. However, studies using this combination have demonstrated similar success with a lower caffeine content, suggesting a possible additive effect with no safety concerns. 244 Taurine Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a semi-essential amino acid found in mammalian tissues that is not involved in protein synthesis. 245 The function of taurine is not completely understood but it is known that taurine modulates intracellular Ca 2+ levels. 246 In skeletal muscle, its main roles are to facilitate Ca2+ dependent excitation contraction processes, contribute to the regulation of cellular volume, and aid in antioxidant defense from stress responses. 247,248 Its potent antioxidant role may contribute to its potential benefits in patients with heart failure. 249 Taurine also is involved in retinal photoreceptor activity, bile acid conjugation, white blood cell antioxidant activity, central nervous system neuromodulation, platelet aggregation, cardiac contractility, sperm motility, growth, insulin activity, 250 and osmoregulation. 251 Supplementation studies using between 1-6 g of taurine have yielded positive results related to muscle function, recovery 252,253 and endurance performance. 254,255 Rutherford et al. found using 1.6 g of taurine 1 hour before exercise did not increase time trial performance in well trained cyclists but significantly increased fat oxidation (16% over 90 minutes). 256 Da silva et al. showed taurine supplementation to increase strength and decrease muscle soreness, lactate dehydrogenase level, creatine kinase activity, and oxidative damage but did not decrease the eccentric exercise inflammatory response following the activity. 257 Song-Gyu Ra et al. study suggested using a combination of 3.2 g BCAA and 2.0 g taurine, three times a day, for two weeks prior to and three days after exercise to be useful for attenuating exercise-induced DOMS and muscle damage. 258 Glucuronolactone Glucuronolactone is a naturally occurring chemical that is an important structural component of nearly all connective tissues and also found in many plant gums. 259 In the body, glucuronolactone is metabolized to glucaric acid, xylitol, and L-xylulose, and humans may also be able to use glucuronolactone as a precursor for ascorbic acid synthesis. 260 According to The Merck Index, it is also used as a detoxicant. The liver uses glucose to create glucuronolactone, which cause blood-glucuronide levels to rise. Glucuronides combine with toxic substances, by converting them to water-soluble conjugates, which are excreted in the urine. 261 Hypothetically, higher bloodglucuronides should help remove toxins from the body, leading to the claim that energy drinks are detoxifying. We make no such claims. Its presence in this product, as mentioned above, is for any potential synergistic effect based on empirical data. 244 Although levels of glucuronolactone in energy drinks generally far exceed those found in 12

13 2015 Update standard the diets, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that exposure to glucuronolactone from regular consumption of energy drinks is not a safety concern. The no-observed-adverse-effect level of glucuronolactone is 1000 mg/kg/day. 262 Energy Drinks Including Caffeine, Taurine and/or Glucuronolactone in Combination All though these three ingredients are common in popular energy drinks (ED), relatively few studies have investigated formulas with caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone in combination. 244 There are no studies that we know of that have established an elucidated additive cognitive or physical performance effects of taurine or glucuronolactone beyond caffeine s benefits. As mentioned, studies using this combination with caffeine have documented safety and efficacy but performance enhancements may have been likely due to the caffeine content. 244 Noting that studies supporting ED performance benefits (increased mental focus/cognitive performance, 263 reaction time and physical endurance) generally used formulas that contained lower caffeine levels (between ~ mg/lb) than positive studies using caffeine alone ( mg/lb), tends to lend credence to the claim of a potential synergistic effect from glucuronolactone and taurine. 264,265,266,267 Positive studies using lower levels of caffeine content in ED, found increases in training/lifting volume but not necessarily absolute power. 265,268,269 To this point, Del Coso et al. had 12 male and female non-resistance trained subjects use a commercially available ED with either.45 mg or 1.4 mg/lb caffeine or a placebo 1-hour before the test. 270 Each participant completed 10-to-100% 1 RM power-load tests for the bench press and half-squat. The.45 mg/lb of caffeine was not enough to raise the power output. However, the group using the ED with 1.4 mg/lb of caffeine increased maximal power output by 7% in the half-squat and bench-press compared to placebo. 270 Gonzalez et al. found that an ED containing caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone ingested 10-min before a workout resulted in an 11.9% improvement in number of repetitions during 4 sets of the squat or bench press using 80% of the participants 1-RM. 271 Additionally, the average power output for the workout was significantly higher for subjects consuming the ED compared to placebo users. 271 Alford et al. found aerobic performance was 8-14% longer compared to carbonated water following the ingestion of a popular ED. 264 Ivy et al. using an ED containing ~1 g/lb of caffeine found that the ED group finished the time trial ~4.7% faster than the placebo subjects. 272 Finally, Walsh et al., using an energy mix (2.05 g of caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone), amino acids (7.9 g of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine, L-arginine and L-glutamine), di-creatine citrate (5 g), and β-alanine (2.5 g) 10 minutes before activity, investigated the effects on aerobic performance and subjective measures of focus, energy, and fatigue in active male and females. Participants consuming the ED increased time to exhaustion while running at 70% of VO 2 max by 12.5%, reported greater focus, energy, and less fatigue before exercise. Their ratings of focus and energy were also greater 10 minutes into exercise. 273 The bottom line is that caffeine dosing is effective for improving cognitive and physical performance and glucuronolactone and taurine may produce a synergistic effect. Glycerol Glycerol (also called glycerine or glycerin) is a simple polyol (sugar alcohol) compound commonly used in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Supplemental glycerol increases serum osmolality. 274 Glycerol (GLY) has been shown to be an effective ingredient for expanding the water compartments in the body. 17,275,276 GLY seems to expand the intracellular water (ICW) like creatine supplementation, 277,278 but GLY also expands extracellular water (ECW). 279 Generally, doses of gm/lb/d taken hours before exercise increase total body water (TBW) compartments to reduce thermal and cardiovascular strain during exercise in the heat. 280 Supplementing with combined hydrating substances like GLY or creatine consistently produces moderate fluid retention of ml. 281,282 Adding GLY to creatine demonstrates that the combination has an additive hyperhydration effect, as the inclusion of GLY to creatine significantly increased TBW more than Cr alone. 283 Therefore, glycerol is added to this formula for its modest fluid retention properties (not necessarily for its thermo-regulation properties since dosing with NO7 would be only before the workout and amounts in NO7 are far less than used in thermo-regulation studies), thereby potentially increasing volumization and pump within the exercising muscles. 17, ,285,286 13

14 2015 Update Summary As a pre-workout formula, NO7Rage contains a synergistic group of compounds designed to work together to produce the following before and during exercise: 1) greater desire to exercise, 2) increased strength and power output and muscle endurance, 3) longer and enhanced alertness and focus, 4) improved muscle vasodilation and blood volume leading to greater muscle swelling, energy substrate delivery and waste product removal, and 5) attenuation of muscle damage. These benefits compared to a non-supplemented state or commercially available competitive products, would deliver greater overall quality workouts while setting up the post-exercise period with an enhanced anabolic environment prepared to accomplish more efficient recovery allowing greater net protein synthesis and continuous performance gains, especially when post-exercise nutrition is maximized using AminoBoost and/or the proper post-workout formula and meal planning. Typical Use A pre-workout supplement for anyone, not adversely effected by caffeine, needing pre and during training sustained motivation and seeking an enhanced overall training session or competition outcome Same as above plus a complimentary ergogenic supplement for intermediate and advanced anaerobic athletes to enhance and continue size and/or strength gains from exercise (5 g of creatine and 2,000 mg of beta-alanine in 2 scoops) o See NO7 inclusion in creatine loading and stacking programs Dosage Thirty to 40 minutes before workout o Under 150 lbs - take 1.5 scoop o lbs - take 2 scoops o Over 200 lbs - take 2.5 scoops Not necessary on non-workout days if using other products containing creatine (see stacking creatine loading and stacking programs); otherwise use 1 full dose to maintain enhanced creatine levels Do not exceed 3 scoops (primarily due to caffeine content) Precautions NO7Rage contains caffeine, which is a CNS stimulant and should be avoided by those sensitive to its effects. NO7Rage is otherwise a well-tolerated, ephedrine-free ergogenic aid. Contraindications NO7Rage supplementation is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation because of the CNS stimulant (caffeine) and no ingredient studies are done with this population for ethical reasons. Caffeine can interfere with some medications such as lithium and MAO inhibitors. Caffeine is contraindicated in those with cardiac arrhythmias, other forms of heart disease, hyperthyroidism and peptic ulcers. Creatine is contraindicated for those with kidney problems because of potentially greater kidney stress. Do not use if: Using other products containing high doses of caffeine or are caffeine sensitive. Alternatively, separate by at least 4-hours Using erectile dysfunction drugs Individual has a heart condition or is using related medications Taking medication for hypothyroidism 14

15 2015 Update Adverse Reactions Caffeine: use may result in slight diuresis (increased water loss, usually in non-regular users) and insomnia when taken late in the day. Numerous studies on the safety of caffeine exist. 15 Caffeine abuse can cause tension, anxiety, excitability and restlessness at doses over 400 mg at one time. Doses over 1,000 mg at one time can elicit toxicity symptoms. 287,288 Because NO7 has 175 mg/serving, adverse effects may occur in sensitive individuals. Taking NO7 with other stimulants is not advised unless separated by at least 4 hours. Adverse effects due to high amounts of caffeine are not likely to be seen at the recommended dose of NO7Rage. Individuals sensitive to caffeine may wish to start with a low dose and work up to the recommended dose. Glycerol: At doses up to 1 g/kg, glycerol is considered well tolerated, with a few incidences in clinical trials of gastrointestinal upset, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and bloating. 17,283,289 The dose of glycerol in NO7Rage is far less, making such adverse events improbable. Citrulline: No adverse reactions have been reported in doses up to 6 grams of citrulline malate. 290 Citrulline has been used up to 9 g/d for 9 months with reported side effects 26 and in single doses up to 15 g/d. 42 Creatine: (also see section on dotfit CreatineMonohydrate) the safety of the proper and studied use of creatine monohydrate is well established. 13,91,119 Pine Bark (Pycnogenol) has been safely used in oral doses of mg daily for up to 6 months 68,291,292,293 β-alanine Beta-alanine supplementation currently appears to be safe in healthy populations at recommended doses. 14 The only reported side effect is paraesthesia (tingling), but studies indicate that this is harmless and can be attenuated by using divided lower doses (1.6 g) such as in NO7. 14,120,172 (See section on CreatineXXL for more info) Glucuronolactone: Glucuronolactone is a substance found in many caffeine and taurine containing energy drinks at doses of 500 mg or more per drink. It is considered safe and well-tolerated in these beverages. 264,294 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that exposure to glucuronolactone from regular consumption of energy drinks is not a safety concern. The no-observed-adverse-effect level of glucuronolactone is 1,000 mg/kg/day 262 Taurine: Taurine is an amino acid naturally present in many foods, especially meats and fish. It has been combined with caffeine in several beverage studies with no adverse events reported except in one study where a mild increase in mean arterial blood pressure (2.8 mm Hg average) and an eight-beat-per minute reduction in heart rate were shown. 295,296,297 Taurine is used for congestive heart failure at higher doses from two to six grams daily to help increase stroke volume with few side effects such as mild diarrhea. 298 It is also used for other disease states such as hepatitis and cardiac arrhythmias where doses from 12 to 20 grams daily were used. 298 Mild diarrhea was reported in a few subjects in the heart failure studies. People enrolled in research studies have not reported any side effects connected with the use of taurine. 249,253 Upper Limit/Toxicity Caffeine: Should not exceed 1000 mg/day, leaving the dose in NO7Rage at a safe level. Taurine: Taurine has an LD50 in rats of greater than 64g/kg and therefore practically unattainable. Citrulline: The LD50 is not available at this time. 15

16 2015 Update Glycerol: The LD50 for Glycerol is 12.6 g/kg Glucuronolactone: The no-observed-adverse-effect level is 1,000 mg/kg/day 262 Creatine and β-alanine: there are no established limits for either 13,91,119 other than β-alanine potential to cause tingling at single doses above 800 mg 14,120 The upper limit (UL) for Vitamin E is 1,500 IU; even when this product is combined with a dotfit multivitamin and a typical diet, the total daily dose is well below the UL. The upper limit (UL) for Vitamin C is 2,000 mg. Even when this product is combined with a dotfit multivitamin and a typical diet, the total daily dose is well below the UL. Other ingredients: no upper limits have been established and shown to be safe at proper doses. Summary Purpose A pre-workout supplement for anyone, not adversely effected by caffeine, needing pre and during training sustained motivation and seeking an enhanced overall training session or competition outcome Same as above plus a complimentary ergogenic supplement for intermediate and advanced anaerobic athletes to enhance and continue size and/or strength gains from exercise (5 g creatine and 2,000 mg of beta-alanine in two scoops) o See NO7 inclusion in creatine loading and stacking programs As a pre (and during) workout formula, NO7Rage contains a synergistic group of compounds designed to work together to produce before and during exercise: o greater desire to exercise o increased strength and power output o greater muscle endurance o longer and enhanced alertness and focus o improved muscle vasodilation and blood volume leading to greater muscle swelling, energy substrate delivery and waste product removal o attenuation of muscle damage Deliver greater overall quality workouts (which makes its own unique contribution to reciprocal exercise gains) while setting up the post- exercise period with an enhanced anabolic environment prepared to accomplish faster, more efficient recovery, allowing greater net protein synthesis and continuous performance gains especially when post-exercise nutrition is maximized using AminoBoost and/or the proper post-workout formula and meal planning Unique Features Contains L-citrulline malate which has been shown to be a more effective substrate than arginine for inducing NO production Contains two novel forms of arginine, Nitrosigine and agmatine sulfate. Both significantly increase plasma arginine to desired levels shown to enhance NO production Contains a unique blend of taurine, glycerol and pine bark (pycnogenol) to enhance the pump during resistance training workouts The proprietary flavoring generally appeals to a greater portion of users than competitive products Can be used alone or with AminoBoostXXL, Creatine Monohydrate and/or CreatineXXL as part of the dotfit "Loading and Stacking Programs 16

17 2015 Update Dosage instructions will be far more efficacy accurate per individual compared to other products 17

18 Supplement Facts Panel 2015 Update 18