We are really excited about the new Muscle Sport product Andro Revolution. It combines two potent compounds, Fadogia Agrestis and D-Aspartic Acid. What is exciting about these two compounds is that when combined they can boost testosterone levels (naturally) to a greater extent than either could independently.

University studies show that Fadogia Agrestis has the ability to significantly increase testosterone by as much as six times that of a control group in a recent study. Studies on D-Aspartic Acid show it can increase testosterone over baseline by over 42%.

Fadogia Agrestis increases testicular cholesterol and D-Aspartic Acid increases the rate that cholesterol is converted into testosterone. Simply put where Fadogia leaves off D-Aspartic picks up.

Fadogia Agrestis is suggested to work through its ability to support an increase in the productiveness of the testis through increased testicular cholesterol – the building block and direct precursor of testosterone. 
Fadogia Agrestis is thought to naturally increase the sensitivity and production of the testis, which may result in an increase in both total and free testosterone, levels resulting in testosterone production cycles, which are higher and naturally occurring. No other natural or synthetic product on the market can replicate this!

D-aspartic acid has been shown to have some intriguing effects in several animal species and humans. D-aspartic acid has been shown to enhance gonadotropin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus as well as growth hormone and luteinizing hormone release from the pituitary. D-aspartic acid has also been shown to directly increase testosterone production by the testes. So, not only does d-aspartic acid cause the release of more testosterone but also the production of more testosterone. D-aspartic acid does this by increasing the levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein.

StAR plays a critical role in the production of steroid hormones in the testes and adrenals. In fact, StAR mediates the rate-limiting step in steroid hormone production, the importation of cholesterol into the mitochondria. All steroid hormones are manufactured from cholesterol in the mitochondria and if cholesterol doesn’t get into the mitochondria, then steroid hormones, and more specifically, testosterone does not get produced. D-aspartic acid increases StAR which increases cholesterol entry into the mitochondria, which results in, increased testosterone production.

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Diet Revolution packs a punch in each single cap.  Not many fat loss products are effective at a single cap dose which is a testament to the potency of the ingredients in this product.  It works by:

1. Enhancing the breakdown of existing fat stores for use as energy
2. Helps to prevent the formation of new body fat by controlling the enzymatic process that breaks fat down
3. Helps control appetite so you are consuming fewer calories
4. Stimulates an increase in metabolism leading to greater calorie burning

As an added bonus this product has a noticeable effect on mood.  There is nothing worse than feeling run down while trying to lose weight. Let’s face it, when you consume less calories and/or increase exercise you can feel run down. Diet Revolution contains a powerful blend of mood elevators and appetite suppressants to make losing fat much easier. Among them is Beta-Phenyl ethylamine (PEA) which is an extraordinary amine with the ability to increase dopamine production. PEA has also been shown to regulate catecholamine levels which may increase the body’s ability to mobilize stored fatty acids due to increased levels of epinephrine and nor epinephrine. You can’t burn stored fat if it’s not first released. Another serious issue when dieting is mental fatigue and not having the ability to focus with high degree of mental clarity. For this reason the addition of N Acetyl Tyrosine and 5Hyrdoxytryptophan were included to round out Diet Revolutions ability to limit mental fatigue during the stresses of training and attempting to burn away fat. Maintaining mental focus and an elevated mood can ensure you are in the “zone” whether in the gym, or just making it through you day.

USP Labs Pink Magic is marketed as a natural testosterone booster.  It consists of a proprietary blend of the three herbs listed below.  The basic idea of this product is that the herbs listed below are supposed to boost testosterone levels within the body.  According to USP Labs marketing they are claiming that the product will build significant amounts of muscle while reducing body fat (almost sounds like magic).  USP labs also claims that this product would do all of this without the side effects associated with steroid compounds.

USP Labs Pink Magic

In the following paragraphs we will try and break down each component of the product to show you what it actually is and to give you an idea of what you can expect if you do decide to purchase this product.

Massularia Acuminata – Compound number 1 in Pink Magic

Back in 2008, a study was conducted on Massularia Acuminata (Massularia Accuminate = alternate spelling) and its effects on testosterone. The abstract was published online, and was reposted on several websites. In late 2009 and early 2010.

If you read the full study you can see this herb has ZERO potential to be used in a testosterone boosting nutritional supplement.  It simply doesn’t raise testosterone very high, and even then, it can’t do it without taking impossibly high mega doses.

But, since most supplement buyers don’t purchase and read studies full studies (*when the abstract is available for free), the door was (and is) left open for it to be used in a nutritional supplement. I’ll tell you why it’s not going to work in a second, but first; I want you to check out the abstract:

Keep in mind that Massularia Acuminate is the most promising ingredient of the three in this product and it shows no real promise of producing results.

Study on Massularia Acuminate and Testosterone

J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Aug 13;118(3):508-13. Epub 2008 May 28. Androgenic potentials of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata (G. Don) Bullock ex Hoyl. stem in male Wistar rats. Yakubu MT, Akanji MA, Oladiji AT, Adesokan AA. Medicinal Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria. tomuyak@yahoo.com Abstract The use of medicinal plants in the management of several ailments is gaining popularity nowadays. Massularia acuminata, one of such plants is commonly used as chewing sticks due to its antimicrobial activity and the aqueous extract of its stem as an aphrodisiac. Aphrodisiac activity in some plants may be due to androgen increasing property of its phytochemicals. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study therefore sought to assess the androgenic potentials of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem in male rats for 21 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male rats weighing between 220 and 260 g were completely randomized into four groups: A, B, C and D. Group A, the control received orally 1 ml of distilled water (the vehicle) while groups B, C and D were orally administered with 1 ml each corresponding to 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the plant extract, respectively for 21 days. Rats were sacrificed 24h after 1, 7 and 21 days. RESULTS: Compared with the control, extract administration at all the doses produced significant increase (P<0.05) in testes-body weight ratio, testicular protein, glycogen, sialic acid, cholesterol, testosterone, luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations throughout the period of administration. Testicular gamma glutamyl transferase activities were decreased significantly (P<0.05) after the first dose and was sustained throughout the experimental period. CONCLUSION: The available evidence in this study suggests that aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem has androgenic potential which may stimulate male sexual maturation and enhance normal testicular function. PMID: 18602232 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

So, at first blush, it looks vaguely promising, right? But check out the dose required…the lowest dose examined in the study was 250mgs/kg! On a kg/kg (simple comparative bodyweight) basis you’ll need about 25 grams of the stuff per day for a 100kg (220lb) bodybuilder, going off the absolute lowest dose. The highest dose would require 100g/day based on a 220lb (100kg)human bodyweight. However, this is based on human weight versus rodent weight. Now, if we convert the rodent dose to the human dose equivalent using the accepted body surface area formula, we find that we need just over 4 grams per day. And that’s at the lowest dose examined – we’d double that dose for the 500mgs/kg (over 8 grams per day) and double it again for the 1,000mgs/kg dose (over 16 grams per day). Currently, only two companies (that I know of) are using this herb in a product, and the dose per serving is (at best) on par with (but likely lower than) even the lowest dose examined in the study (250mgs/kg), translated to anything resembling a human equivalent. The daily suggested dose (all of the daily servings added up) contained in the proprietary blends currently being sold on the market still isn’t likely to be equivalent to the lowest dose in the study.

In fact, even if the 250mg/kg equivalent dose were being used (and it isn’t), the testosterone boost provided would be 12%. But since nowhere near this dose is being used…have I made my point yet? The full study is much more interesting, because when we crunch the numbers, we find out that the rodents were being given an ungodly amount of this stuff, and barely getting any kind of decent test boost!  

So how much of a boost in serum testosterone did the herb provide? Well, we don’t know, because the study doesn’t tell us. Wait…what? Yeah, you read that correctly, the study doesn’t actually look at serum testosterone levels. So what about free testosterone levels? Well, the study doesn’t look at that either. The study examines intratesticular testosterone, LH, and a bunch of other stuff (testicular glycogen, testicular sailic acid concentration, etc…) but provides no hard data on how much of a real test boost the herb provided.

As the saying goes, there’s a sucker born every minute, and no shortage of supplement manufacturers looking to scam them.

Nelumbo Nucifera – Compound Number 2 in Pink Magic

The second ingredient in Pink Magic is Nelumbo Nucifera.  Unfortunately for USP Labs there is not evidence to support this ingredient as a muscle builder or testosterone booster.  There are a couple studies available for review if you search hard enough but they are in know way strong enough to back up the claims USP Labs is making for Pink Magic and they where not conducted on humans.

Study number one on Nelumbo Nucifera:

http://www.bioline.org.br/pdf?rm08002

If you follow the link above you will find a study on Nelumbo Nucifera which concludes that Nelumbo Nucifera will act as an anti estrogen for Female Wistar rats.  There really isn’t any data to determine what effect this stuff may have in humans.  Assuming it could reduce estrogen in humans this still would not produce the results that USP Labs claims for this product.  There is also the major issue of dosing.  Pink Magic uses a proprietary blend for this product so it is doubtful the dosing in the product would be appropriate to produce any significant effect in humans.

Study number two on Nelumbo Nucifera:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20481471

The link above brings you to an abstract on Nelumbo Nucifera which relates to its potential anti-obesity effect for individuals eating a high fat diet.  This study doesn’t deal with individuals who are working out and trying to improve body composition.  I don’t see anything in it which would lead me to believe that It can have the kind of effect that USP Labs is talking about in its promotional material.

Rhamnus Nakaharai (Stem) – Compound Number 3 in Pink Magic

Study number one for Rhamnus Nakaharai

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17329876

This study deals with the antioxidant potential of Rhamnus Nakaharai.  This may be good for general health but isn’t really related to what the product is supposed to do.

Study number two for Rhamnus Nakaharai

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8948496

Nothing relevant to the USP Labs claims in this study.  Check it out at the link above.

Study number three for Rhamnus Nakaharai

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np50126a023

This study discusses the anti platelet potential of Rhamnus Nakaharai but does nothing to support the claims USP Labs is making for Pink Magic.

These guys are great marketers but just don’t have the science to back their products.

The studies cited in this blog are from Pubmed and much of the content relating to the herb was borrowed from Anthony Roberts June 16, 2010 article posted online on Muscle Evolution.

If you are online and use supplements you have probably seen ads for Force Factor.  Although some retailers are now carrying the product it is primarily distributed online.

Force Factor makes big promises, claiming users will get “ripped” and that the product can help build muscle and get users stronger.  They even have several athletes to endorse the product.  If you search for the product you will see a lot of reviews and supposed user results from using Force Factor.  Keep in mind that most of the sites that come up in the search results are controlled by the company that produces Force Factor.  The other thing that should be noted is that most reviews in this industry are not from real users but from people being paid to post up positive comments on the product.  I have been working in the supplement industry for over 15 years and have never posted a product review and have never met anyone who has.  Product reviews are probably the worst possible place to derive accurate information.  You should spend time understanding the ingredients in the product and understand whether they can provided the results that are promised.  Reviews are simply the newest form of marketing rather than being a valid place to gather information.

If you examine the ingredients in Force Factor it simply cannot live up to its claims.  In a best case scenario it could help someone derive a better muscle pump in the gym.  Do not expect this product to get you big or help you lose body fat. 

Force Factor Ingredients:

Advanced 3x Nitric Oxide Booster 3000 mg

Arginine-Alphaketoglutarate (A-AKG)

Arginine-Ketoisocaproate (A-KIC)

L-Arginine Monohydrate

Advanced Nutrient Delivery System  200 mg

Calcium Phosphate

Di-Potassium Phosphate

L-Citrulline Monohydrate

Magnesium Stearate

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD)

The bottom line on Force Factor is that it is simply a supplement with a few different types of arginine in it.  For some people this may increase blood flow during a workout and some users may find they experience more frequent erections.  This is about all you should expect from this product.

If you like overpaying for arginine than this product is definitely for you.

Lipodrene by Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals Reviewed:  Lipodrene would be considered a fat burner/energy enhancer.  Lipodrene lists Ephedra Extract as one of its first ingredients but this isn’t the ephedra that users of the original ephedra products expect.  The current extract is a leaf extract which contains no ephedrine alkaloids.  Unfortunately the alkaloids where responsible for most of the energy, appetite control and thermogenic effect that users enjoyed.  To their credit they did introduce the use of Acacia Rigidula Extract which is the source for many of the compounds in Lipodrene as well as several other fat burners on the market.  Many of the components in Lipodrene including Phenyl ethylamine, and Methyl Synephrine are extracts of Acacia.  These ingredients are primarily helpful with mood and as sense of well being.  They will also provide minimal appetite control.  The main ingredient that users will feel in Lipodrene is the 100mg of caffeine per tablet.

Blender bottle is the brand name for a shaker cup with a unique mixing ball design.  It comes in a 20oz size and a larger size which holds 28oz.  The Blender Bottle uses a more rigid plastic than some other shaker cup designs.  We have found that this makes the cup more durable and allows it to be dish washed without the cup warping.  With many shaker cups you cannot dish wash them because the plastic will warp.  When this happen the cup does not seal properly and it will leak when shaken.

The Blender Bottle also includes a small metal whisk/mixing ball in the bottom of the cup.  The mixing ball helps the cup more thoroughly mix up protein and other thick powders.

Overall we find this cup to be very useful and durable.  If you are mixing protein, or other powders this cup is definitely helpful.

What is Creatine CXS?
MuscleSport Creatine CXS is a blend of several types of creatine, including creatine gluconate, which is comprised of creatine bonded to glucose. This combination improves creatines intestinal absorption because it’s absorbed in a manner similar to regular glucose, a fast-digesting carb. The glucose also allows the creatine to dissolve well when mixed in water and helps it enter muscle cells by increasing insulin release.

Creatine MagnaPower provides more active creatine to the bloodstream for subsequent incorporation into the cells of the muscle. Chelate provides magnesium, which is involved in more energy producing systems than creatine, plus creatine requires magnesium for its energy producing cycle. High doses of creatine are not required, since the chelate is not susceptible to acidic cyclization. Gastric disturbances are eliminated since only doses approximately 20% of what would be needed with creatine monohydrate are required.

Kre-Alkalyn is a buffered form of creatine that has been PH balanced.  It offers improved absorption, requires lower dosing and leads to less water retention in users.

Creatinol-O-Phosphate is actually not creatine although it is similar in molecular structure.  It acts more as an intracellular buffer somewhat similar to carnosine.  This is important for hard training athletes as it increases anaerobic glycolysis in the presence of lactic acid.  Basically it will allow an athlete to train longer and harder by delaying fatigue and allowing for more muscle fiber recruitment.

Creatine CXS Product Benefits

1)  Creatine helps muscle cells grow by increasing the amount of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) a hormone crucial for muscle growth. New research has found that when subjects boost their muscle creatine levels via supplementation, they also increase genetic expression of IGF-1. So it appears that creatine may enhance muscle growth by influencing critical genes in cells that regulate this growth.

2)  Another way creatine affects muscle gains is through cell volumization. When creatine enters muscle cells, it pulls water into the cell with it. When a muscle is fully loaded with creatine, such as when you supplement with it, its cells fill with water like a balloon. This increases their size immediately and leads to long-term expansion in muscle size due to the stretch placed on the cells. The stretch also turns on growth processes that boost the amount of muscle protein produced.

3)  ATP is the energy currency of every cell. This energy is used to fuel countless processes in the human body, including muscle contractions. When CP donates its phosphate to form ATP, it’s done rapidly to supply immediate energy during periods of intense exercise, like weightlifting. In other words, creatine increases strength because more creatine equals more CP in the muscle and, in turn, more ATP available for muscle contractions. Therefore, you have more energy at the end of a set, allowing you to perform more reps or lift a heavier weight.

MuscleSport’s Lean Revolution shakes up the pre-workout category by introducing the novel ingredient GPLC.  Short-term supplementation of GPLC was shown in research studies to produce significant enhancement of anaerobic power during repeated cycle sprints in resistance trained men. The increase in peak power output was accompanied by a significantly lower accumulation of lactate.

GPLC amplifies the mobilization of fatty acids (stored energy) into working tissue for cellular metabolism, which creates energy in the ATP or Krebs’s Cycle via the beta oxidation process. When supplemented into the diet for a period of over eight weeks, GPLC has been shown to increase this fat burning process in subjects when combined with aerobic activity.

For intense energy and focus Lean Revolution turned to1,3-dimethylamylamine or geranium oil which resembles the body’s own chemical messenger, epinephrine (adrenaline). Similar to adrenaline, 1,3-dimethylamylamine exhibits a powerful CNS stimulating ability, for increased energy, mental clarity, and physical performance. 

Lean Revolution boasts a significant dose of Carnosyn Beta Alanine which is synthesized from Beta Alanine and Histidine and is known to buffer hydrogen ions resulting in a positive impact on exercise performance. Research has shown that supplementing with 3.2 grams per day of Beta Alanine can increase muscle carnosine stores by as much as 66%. This elevation in carnosine has been shown to improve athletic performance. Studies have shown oral supplementation of Beta Alanine for 2-4 weeks has improved a range of athletic tests from sprint cycling to leg extensions by 8-12%.

Lean Revolution also introduces Agmatine Sulfate another new ingredient to the sports supplement market.  As a metabolic byproduct of Arginine, Agmatine goes beyond Arginine and works  by stimulating the release of pituitary hormones such as Leutinizing Hormone (LH) and Growth Hormone (GH). Agmatine also demonstrates insulin like properties.

For raw strength and power Lean Revolution turned to Creatine MagnaPower® also known as magnesium creatine chelate, a fully-reacted magnesium and creatine chelate. Magnesium is needed to drive the conversion of creatine into ATP. Creatine MagnaPower® will deliver 12% more free creatine to the body than a 5 gram serving of creatine monohydrate. It is a stable molecule and will not convert to creatinine in stomach acid.

Creatine plays a vital role in energy production by recycling ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). ATP is the source of energy for all muscle cells and is required for all cellular functions including muscle contraction, DNA synthesis and protein synthesis. The ATP recycling function of creatine does not occur without magnesium because magnesium is the mineral cofactor required for the enzyme which converts creatine into ATP. In fact, magnesium actually stabilizes ATP (energy) in the body. By combining magnesium and creatine into the same molecule, both of these nutrients are provided to the cell to work in the energy producing pathways.

Magnesium creatine chelate has been shown through research to be more effective then creatine monohydrate in enhancing lean muscle mass, increasing strength and power, and supporting energy levels.

Creatine MagnaPower provides more active creatine to the bloodstream for subsequent incorporation into the cells of the muscle. Chelate provides magnesium, which is involved in more energy producing systems than creatine, plus creatine requires magnesium for its energy producing cycle. High doses of creatine are not required, since the chelate is not susceptible to acidic cyclization. Gastric disturbances are eliminated since only doses approximately 20% of what would be needed with creatine monohydrate are required.

While stimulants can definitely help fuel workout intensity it is just as important to facilitiate the mind muscle connection.  That’s whey MuscleSport added Pikatropin-a nootropic compound that increases blood flow to the brain and lessens mental fatigue. Pikatropin also improves hand -eye coordination and reaction time.

CDP Choline was also added for brain and mood support.  CDP Choline results in a noticeable level of alertness and motivation.  In addition, colors seem brighter and sharper and libido is enhanced.

ANS Diesel Fuel creatine builds muscle through several different pathways but for the purpose of this article we will touch on its effect on producing a natural insulin response. 

This product has developed its own cult following by producing consistent positive results.  It has also generated a lot of questions on why it works so much better than competing products.  Read on to learn more about how Diesel Fuel creatine works.

ANS Diesel Fuel forces an insulin response in order to drive creatine and amino acids into the muscle for enhanced muscle growth.  This concept involves using the body’s natural insulin response to drive increased levels of amino acids, creatine, and glucose into muscle during extremely intense training sessions. The net effect equals more rapid gains in strength and muscle.

Insulin is the chemical trigger that drives nutrients into muscle cells. The larger the insulin response the greater the anabolic response. It’s that simple.

Insulin up regulates and activates all the transport mechanisms responsible for pumping amino acids, creatine, and glucose (all of which are critical for building maximum muscle and strength) directly into the muscle tissue.

So in effect, going into a workout with insulin spiked, and the bloodstream loaded with an abundance of these nutrients, will produce the necessary anabolic environment for gains in mass and strength.

ANS has taken this strategy to an entirely new level with the advent of Diesel Fuel, by utilizing the body’s own insulin production to drive increased levels of anabolic nutrients into working muscle — effectively turning the body into an anabolic machine.

Diesel Fuel sets off a near skin-splitting pump. It should be noted that even though the pump feels very pronounced and is definitely addictive, it’s not the feel that’s anabolic. It’s what’s being pumped into the engorged muscle tissue that’s making the difference.

Diesel Fuel can be taken pre or post workout but if you are looking for the pre-workout insulin response make sure to dose it before your workout.  If you really want to maximize results from this product mix it into a pre-workout product like SSL Rush or BioRhythm’s Juice.

The key ingredients in Intek’s Fat Burner Evolution have been shown to increase energy and stimulate the metabolism.  By increasing nor epinephrine this product creates a thermogenic effect which allows the body to become energy inefficient.  This causes the body to burn excess calories and waste them as heat, allowing an individual to use more calories throughout the day even while at rest.  Fat Burner Evolution not only increases metabolic output but also forces your body to tap into fat as a fuel source by allowing the body to release stored energy (body fat) into the blood stream so it can be used as fuel.  A patented appetite suppressant keeps cravings in check so you don’t have to fight hunger while moderating calories.

Try this product with Intek CLA Evolution as it enhances the fat mobilization effect.