Within the dietary complement market, it’s unhappy to confess, however the pre-workout complement class has gotten a contact… stale. The quaffing of ergogenic powder — normally (however not all the time!) combined in water — is essentially the most venerable and efficient bro science custom, there’s little variation between formulation. It looks as if regardless of how massive a pattern of pre-workouts you care to look at, you’ll see the identical handful of substances over and over.
Luckily for us, Aura Scientific has been working time beyond regulation to alter all that. Within the final yr, Aura has come out with some insanely promising new designer substances – and now, two of them are lastly getting their business debut in Limitless X16 from Magnum Nutraceuticals.
The Limitless formulation, which positively lives as much as its identify, options EndoFlo, Aura’s vasodilatory assist ingredient, and NeuroRush, which is a new-and-improved tackle the coffee-derived polyphenol extracts we sometimes see in higher-end pre-workout formulation.
It’s been fairly some time since we lined the unique Magnum Limitless pre-workout, which was initially launched all the best way again in 2015! It included a “Completely satisfied Mind Mix” that was heavy on nootropics, and nonetheless finds itself on sale because the final reserves get bought out. However it was time for a large improve, and with the assistance of Aura, the Canadian masterminds at Magnum didn’t disappoint.
Let’s get into how these superior substances can assist you obtain a large pump, and take your lifts to the subsequent stage – however first, examine PricePlow’s availability and join our Aura Scientific information:
In a single 1 scoop (27.3 gram) serving of Limitless X16 from Magnum Nutraceuticals, you get the next:
L-Citrulline – 10,000 mg
The conditionally important amino acid citrulline can upregulate your physique’s manufacturing of nitric oxide (NO).[1] Recall that conditionally important amino acids are aminos your physique can produce in restricted quantities, which can should be supplemented underneath bodily or mentally annoying situations.
Your physique converts citrulline to NO as follows: Citrulline → arginine → NO.
As you may see, there’s an middleman step between the citrulline and the tip product, NO – arginine. So why not take arginine as an alternative? In spite of everything, it’s essentially the most direct precursor.
It seems that arginine’s oral bioavailability is unhealthy – so unhealthy that orally-ingested citrulline finally ends up being higher at elevating blood arginine ranges.[2-4] That additional serum arginine is what your physique converts to NO.
We care about NO ranges as a result of the extra NO you have got in circulation, the extra your arteries are capable of increase in diameter, a course of referred to as vasodilation. Throughout vasodilation, the identical quantity of blood strikes by means of an even bigger area, leading to decrease blood stress and coronary heart price.[5-7]
Going from 10 to fifteen grams of L-citrulline could have raised plasma citrulline ranges dose-dependently, however the plasma arginine ranges actually didn’t enhance 50% alongside it! After 10, you hit the legislation of diminishing returns.[8]
Elevated vasodilation means higher cardiovascular effectivity, leading to increased tissue oxygenation, extra environment friendly nutrient supply, and improved disposal of cellular-metabolic waste. With vasodilation, you’ll have the ability to push tougher within the health club, and get well higher if you sleep that evening.
Athletic endurance, particularly, advantages from NO-mediated vasodilation.
Research on citrulline supplementation present that it could actually enhance:
Energy and oxygen utilization[9]
Athletic endurance – by roughly 50%[10]
Submit-exercise muscle soreness[10]
Development hormone (GH) manufacturing[11]
Protein sparing[12]
Muscle protein synthesis[13,14]
An enormous 10 gram dose!
Magnum went huge right here — that is no customary citrulline dose! Cause being, a research discovered that serum arginine will increase linearly as much as 10 grams, earlier than it hit the legislation of diminishing returns someplace between 10-15 grams.[8] As much as 10 grams, you principally get extra serum arginine with extra citrulline.
A 2018 research summarizing citrulline’s impression on cardiovascular well being additionally discusses this research:[15]
One such human research demonstrated a tolerance of as much as 15 g l-citrulline per day in wholesome volunteers.[8] By comparability, high-doses of l-arginine (~13 g) can induce vital gastrointestinal problems.[16,17] Nevertheless, at 15 g doses of l-citrulline, a decrease fractional absorption price and plasma retention of l-citrulline was noticed, doubtlessly attributable to saturation of its transporters (e.g., ASC or B0,+-amino acid transporters) or lowered renal conversion of l-citrulline to l-arginine.
As such, the authors advised a dose of 10 g l-citrulline for medical use.[8] Nevertheless, for growing circulating l-arginine concentrations, doses of l-citrulline as little as 3 g have been proven to be efficient.[4] Thus, the minimal efficient dose is ~3 g/day, whereas the maximal efficient dose could also be as excessive as 10 g/day.[15]
Moreover, citrulline dietary supplements can even upregulate ornithine,[18] an amino acid that may enhance psychological and bodily endurance by serving to detoxify ammonia.[19]
Ornithine supplementation can enhance metabolic well being and enhance sleep satisfaction, whereas reducing subjective emotions of stress, by lowering the physique’s ratio of cortisol to DHEA.[19]
Betaine Anhydrous – 4,000 mg
One other big dose!
Betaine, also referred to as trimethylglycine (TMG), is a strong ergogenic assist. Which means that it could actually enhance your physique’s capability for bodily work and, therefore, athletic efficiency.
This compound is a potent methyl donor,[20] which means it could actually assist your cells synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP).[21] This can be a huge deal, as a result of ATP is your physique’s power foreign money, the gas that your cells use to carry out all their metabolic features, together with train. Relative to different dietary dietary supplements, betaine is without doubt one of the strongest methyl donors identified to science.[22]
Betaine can even upregulate key metabolic regulators like AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is considered one of your physique’s “want power now” messengers. Rising AMPK expression causes a cascade that normally ends in a sooner cellular-metabolic price.[23]
Lastly, betaine is an osmolyte, which means it modifications the conduct of mobile fluids. Extra particularly, betaine has been proven to have an effect on extracellular osmotic stress, ensuing within the motion of additional water into your physique’s cells. This causes mobile hyperhydration, a usually fascinating state that will increase your cells’ resistance to warmth and their entry to essential vitamins.[20,24-30]
Muscle development analysis
A landmark 2013 research confirmed that 2.5 grams of betaine daily can have profound results on physique mass and energy[29]
There was one actually spectacular research, from 2013, which discovered {that a} 2.5 gram every day dose of betaine – far lower than what we’ve got in Limitless X16 – triggered a mean 5.3 pound acquire in lean muscle and 6.4 pound fats loss.[29,31]
A followup research by the identical staff of scientists confirmed that the two.5 gram dose, when given to feminine collegiate weightlifters, resulted in considerably higher fats loss throughout resistance coaching, in comparison with placebo.[32]
And never solely do we’ve got greater than 2.5 grams right here, we’ve got 60% extra over these clinically-studied doses! This complement is clearly not messing round.
Beta Alanine – 3,200 mg
Beta-alanine is one other potent ergogenic assist. When it combines with the amino acid histidine, it varieties carnosine, a dipeptide molecule that helps detoxify lactic acid in your muscle tissue. This could finally enhance efficiency by discouraging extra lactic acid accumulation, which could be a main consider fatigue.[33]
Carnosine itself isn’t very bioavailable when taken orally, making beta-alanine supplementation a greater technique for growing serum carnosine ranges. And since massive quantities of histidine are current in commonly-eaten meals, beta-alanine availability is nearly all the time your physique’s limiting consider carnosine synthesis.[34,35]
Two meta-analyses, over 40 peer-reviewed papers, discovered that beta-alanine is greatest at enhancing throughout workout routines that may be sustained for 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a time.[36,37]
Don’t sweat the tingles!
Should you really feel a tingling sensation in your face or torso after ingesting beta-alanine, don’t fear – it’s benign.[38]
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate – 2,000 mg
L-carnitine L-tartrate is a particular type of carnitine utilized by complement producers who prize its excessive bioavailability and speedy motion.[39]
A research carried out in resistance-trained males discovered that 2 grams of L-carnitine L-tartrate (LCLT), taken as soon as every day, can considerably enhance mobile oxygen supply, which might finally enhance cellular-metabolic price.[40]
Maybe extra importantly, the identical research discovered that LCLT can enhance androgen receptor density, thus potentiating the motion of circulating testosterone.[40] For the reason that binding of testosterone to the AR is what really causes T’s androgenic results, growing AR density is functionally equal to growing testosterone ranges.
Curiously, elevated AR density triggered a drop in serum testosterone, as extra testosterone was taken up by cells and put to make use of intracellularly.[40]
In a phrase, LCLT is the type of carnitine examined on androgenic potential. This can be a workout-friendly ingredient that we don’t see in pre-workouts usually sufficient — and we’re not performed with carnitine but!
Tyrosine – 1,500 mg
Prepare for the Aura Scientific substances coming…
The amino acid tyrosine is a good anti-stress complement, with a aspect of nootropic advantages. It’s an essential precursor to the catecholamine neurotransmitters like dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline,[41-45] which play a vital position in serving to you are feeling targeted, motivated, and energetic.
Tyrosine can even enhance your thyroid’s manufacturing of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4),[46,47] your physique’s thyroid hormones. This could be a big assist for physique recomposition, for the reason that two behaviors sometimes required for an environment friendly recomp – caloric restriction and exercising – each hammer thyroid perform.[46,47]
Like carnitine, we’re additionally not performed with tyrosine but — there’s a bit extra coming in an alternate type as properly.
Acetyl L-Carnitine – 1,000 mg
Acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) is the nootropic type of carnitine. Supplementation with this acetylated quaternary ammonium compound confers neuroprotective, neurotrophic, and even antidepressant advantages.[44]
After studying a brand new overview primarily based upon 100 citations,[48] we’re discovering fewer and fewer causes to not take ~2g L-Carnitine every day.
ALCAR’s notably acute impact on the central nervous system could be attributed to the truth that it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB),[49] which most dietary dietary supplements should not able to doing. Animal analysis has demonstrated that ALCAR administration can enhance synaptic plasticity in mammalian mind tissue, and enhance studying.
One notably compelling human research, carried out in gentle cognitive impairment (MCI) sufferers over the age of 65, discovered that those that took ALCAR carried out considerably higher on a cognitive battery than than placebo group.[50]
All advised, we’ve got a complete of three grams of whole carnitine-containing substances right here – large!
N-Acetyl Tyrosine – 500 mg
N-acetyl tyrosine (NALT), is simply the amino acid tyrosine, with an connected acetyl group. It comes with all the advantages we mentioned within the tyrosine part above. Nevertheless, opposite to prevailing business perception, NALT is by no means superior to free tyrosine (i.e., L-tyrosine) – if you happen to’re serious about studying extra about this, learn our complete dialogue of the difficulty in our earlier submit L-Tyrosine vs. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine: A Story of Two Tyrosines.
In the end, although, that is nonetheless slightly additional tyrosine, which might’t harm and positively may assist. This brings us to 2 grams of whole tyrosine, one thing we positively get enthusiastic about.
Alpha-GPC (50% L-Alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine) – 300 mg
The unique promoting from the 2015 model of Limitless nonetheless rings true — there’s far more pump motion on this than the competitors.
Alpha-GPC is a sort of choline, a necessary B vitamin that your physique makes use of to synthesize and restore the phospholipid bilayer membranes that encapsulate the contents of all of your physique’s cells.[51] Moreover, choline performs a necessary position in a number of the intercellular signaling features carried out by these membranes.[51]
Choline can be one of many constructing blocks for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that coordinates a number of the mind’s most essential studying processes.[52] Elevated acetylcholine synthesis through supplemental choline ingestion can considerably enhance cognitive efficiency, notably in relation to reminiscence consolidation, the conversion of short-term reminiscences into long-term ones.[53,54]
In comparison with different types of choline, alpha-GPC has a superior skill to cross the blood-brain barrier, making it the nootropic type of choline.[55]
N-Acetyl Cysteine – 300 mg
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a direct precursor to glutathione (GSH), your physique’s most potent endogenous antioxidant.[51]
NAC has an amazing impact on cell-mediated immunity[56]
Typically talking, elevated antioxidant exercise is an effective factor, so it’s pure to wonder if GSH supplementation is feasible. Because it seems, oral GSH’s bioavailability is just too low to be efficient.[52] As soon as once more, we see that the precursor, which is NAC on this case, has a lot better bioavailability, making it a simpler goal for supplementation.
Technically talking, cysteine is the precursor, however taking an acetylated type like NAC will increase bioavailability by sparing the cysteine from the primary go impact.[53,54]
A 2017 analysis overview of NAC supplementation discovered that NAC can enhance:[55]
Feminine hormonal and reproductive well being
Delivery outcomes
Liver resilience
Fertility
Bronchitis signs
Muscular efficiency
Hemodialysis
Bronchial asthma signs
Neurodegenerative sickness symptom severity
Particularly, NAC is nice for liver well being and performance,[57] which is essential for the reason that liver is so essential for general well being and wellness.
That is one other ingredient we don’t usually see in pre-workouts, but it surely’s one that may positively assist well being associated to health.
EndoFlo (Mango [Mangifera indica] Fruit Extract, Black Ginger [Kaempferia parviflora] Root Extract, Ginkgo [Ginkgo biloba] Leaf Extract, Pine [Pinus massoniana] Bark Extract) – 250 mg
EndoFlo is a compelling new ingredient from Aura Scientific. It’s a proprietary mix of 4 botanical extracts proven to have highly effective results on vasodilation and therefore, circulation. Right here’s what’s underneath the hood:
Mangifera indica (mango fruit)
Only one capsule brings some stable stimulant-free bolt-on pump results
Mango fruit extract is without doubt one of the complement business’s greatest development substances – proper now there are fairly a number of nutraceutical homes exploring potential functions for Mangifera indica’s highly effective bioactive constituents.
Amongst different issues, Mangifera has vital phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibiting exercise,[54] which ends up in elevated ranges of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Elevated cGMP causes easy muscle rest and vasodilation, enhancing blood circulate to particular areas, together with the penis (Viagra can be a PDE5 inhibitor).
Nevertheless, it might be a mistake to treat the results of PDE5 inhibitors as merely native – the systemic enhancements in circulation are behind the rising use of medication like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) for sports activities efficiency enhancement[58] and anti-aging functions in useful medication.[59]
In skincare, mango extracts are sometimes used to enhance circulation in pores and skin tissue.[60,61] It even has nice CNS results![62]
For now, let’s file this Kaempferia Parviflora Extract (KPE) rodent research underneath the “fascinating” class, the place it “markedly elevated the muscle fiber dimension, muscle quantity, and muscle mass, ensuing within the enhancement of muscle perform, similar to train endurance and grip energy”.[63]
Kaempferia parviflora (black ginger)
Black ginger is probably essentially the most versatile bioactive constituent in EndoFlo – rising analysis means that this botanical has potential makes use of in an enormous vary of functions, from dampening irritation to combating weight problems, extending muscular endurance, and growing energy.
One human research confirmed that black ginger supplementation elevated grip energy, leg energy, dash speeds, and hip and higher physique flexibility.[64]
Different research have discovered that black ginger can:
Set off vasodilation[65-68]
Improve muscular endurance (through AMPK upregulation)[69,70]
However what’s maybe most compelling is the animal information displaying {that a} explicit flavonoid in black ginger, particularly 5,7-dimethoxyflavone (DMF), is a potent vasodilatory, cardioprotective PDE5 inhibitor.[71-73]
Different animal analysis has proven that DMF can enhance muscle development and energy.[63,74]
Ginkgo biloba extract
You’ve most likely heard ginkgo biloba talked about as a strong nootropic complement – because it seems, these mind advantages are largely attributable to ginkgo’s skill to extend cerebral blood circulate.[75,76]
Ginkgo incorporates a number of terpene lactones, that are cardioprotective due to their documented antiaggregant results.[77]
Like different EndoFlo substances, Ginkgo has additionally been proven to inhibit PDE5, in addition to PDE4.[78]
Pinus massoniana (pine bark)
Pine bark extracts have a protracted historical past of use as vasodilatory and cardioprotective dietary supplements – we see numerous pine species present up in pump-focused pre-workouts on a regular basis, due to their excessive focus of proanthocyanidins, which have highly effective anti-vasoconstrictive results.[79] It additionally incorporates key antioxidants, like catechin and epicatechin, which have an enormous quantity of information displaying their cardiovascular profit (simply google “Camellia sinensis cardiovascular advantages” and also you’ll get hundreds of outcomes on catechins).[79,80]
General, that is an extremely thrilling pre-workout assist ingredient. Paired with the behemoth dose of L-citrulline, we’re very assured you’ll be getting some large pumps.
Caffeine Anhydrous – 200 mg (of 301mg whole)
Famed methylxanthine stimulant caffeine has an unimaginable skill to cross the blood-brain barrier, enabling it to profoundly have an effect on the perform of the mind and central nervous system. For this reason, relying in your particular person genetics, caffeine could be such a useful temper booster, focus enhancer, and even ergogenic assist.[81]
Caffeine’s skill to cut back fatigue could be defined largely by its antagonism of adenosine, a nucleotide byproduct of ATP hydrolysis that accumulates in mind tissue whilst you’re awake, thereby inflicting fatigue.[82,83] By blocking the adenosine receptor, caffeine can stop adenosine from exerting its pro-fatigue impact, thus serving to you keep alert and awake longer than you ordinarily may.
Are you a gradual, medium, or quick caffeine metabolizer? On this research, ~46% of all contributors had been quick caffeine metabolizers (A/A),[84] which means greater than half of people aren’t optimum caffeine shoppers!
In sports activities vitamin contexts, caffeine is used as a gentle performance-enhancing agent. That is doable due to caffeine’s skill to extend cellular-metabolic price by means of the inhibition of phosphodiesterases 1 by means of 4, which will increase the expression of a secondary messenger molecule named cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). As a result of cAMP tells your cells to supply power, upregulating cAMP through PDE inhibition has a slight metabolism boosting impact.[82,85,86]
Caffeine can be a potent fats burner,[87,88] an impact that reveals up at doses as small as 3 mg/kg physique weight.[89]
Due to its cellular-metabolic impression, caffeine can enhance numerous dimensions of athletic efficiency, together with energy, pace, and endurance.[83,87,88,90]
Caffeine additionally has vital nootropic results on dimensions of cognition like consideration, vigilance, response instances, and dealing reminiscence.[91-93]
Word – the full quantity of caffeine in Limitless X16 is 301 mg, which is a big dose. Should you aren’t positive whether or not it is best to take this a lot supplemental caffeine, please ask your physician for medical recommendation.
NeuroRush (Espresso Fruit Extract) (2% Caffeine) – 150 mg
NeuroRush is a brand new designer espresso fruit extract from Aura Scientific, standardized to comprise a whopping 50% chlorogenic acid by weight. It additionally incorporates vital quantities of a compelling bioactive constituent referred to as 5-caffeoylquinic acid.
Inside PricePlow testing has proven us that NeuroRush is a strong feel-good ingredient, including some gentle euphoria on high of any stimulant it’s stacked with.
However apart from simply feeling good, espresso fruit extracts like NeuroRush have been proven to confer vital cognitive advantages.
Elevated vigilance
One 2019 research confirmed that solely 100 mg of espresso fruit extract can considerably attenuate the decline in vigilance, and corresponding enhance in psychological fatigue, that individuals normally expertise after performing a sequence of demanding psychological duties.[94] One fascinating factor to notice about this research was that the impact wasn’t dose-dependent – 100 mg of espresso fruit extract had the identical psychological energizing impact as 300 mg.
A brand new novel ingredient developer named Aura Scientific has launched, with 4 new substances that embody a feel-good coffeefruit extract named NeuroRush. Get the primary peak right here in the present day!
The chlorogenic acid issue
The principle bioactive constituent of NeuroRush, chlorogenic acid, has a wealthy physique of analysis literature backing its skill to enhance cognitive efficiency and temper, largely by means of its antioxidant and anti inflammatory results.[95-97]
Professional-longevity results
Espresso fruit extracts may have a pro-longevity impact – there’s tons of analysis displaying that espresso consumption is linked to elevated lifespan and healthspan,[98-101] and animal research recommend that espresso extracts could confer comparable advantages.[102]
Superior security profile
Probably the greatest issues about espresso fruit extracts is that they’re as secure because it will get, and there’s a mountain of first-rate research displaying this.[103]
Chlorogenic acid alone has tons of security research behind it, together with a large analysis overview titled “The Organic Exercise Mechanism of Chlorogenic Acid and Its Purposes in Meals Business: A Overview”,” which describes chlorogenic acid’s antioxidant energy in nice element.[104]
That is an ingredient to look at – Aura Scientific is doing nice work on the whole, however they’re actually taking espresso fruit extracts to the subsequent stage. Learn extra in our article titled “Aura Scientific: Novel Ingredient Developer Introduces 4 New Substances“ for more information.
This gives 3 milligrams of caffeine – little or no, but it surely does push us over the 300mg threshold after we add within the subsequent ingredient:
Inexperienced Espresso Bean Extract (98% Caffeine) – 100 mg (yields 98 of 301mg caffeine)
The standardization of this inexperienced espresso bean extract makes it a superb supply of pure caffeine, which comes with all the advantages we described within the caffeine anhydrous part above.
Only one capsule brings some stable stimulant-free bolt-on pump results
Typically talking, we choose pure caffeine to artificial stuff – it’s rather a lot much less prone to be contaminated with residues of solvents, and different industrial chemical compounds, that may be concerned in artificial caffeine manufacturing.
Word – this brings the full quantity of caffeine in Limitless X16 as much as 301 mg, which is a big dose. Should you’re not sure of your tolerance, begin at half of a scoop.
Theacrine (from 125 mg TeaCrine 40%) – 50 mg
Theacrine is a stimulant alkaloid, intently associated to caffeine,[105] which is often derived from a selected Chinese language number of tea referred to as Camellia kucha, typically referred to easily as kucha tea.[106]
Theacrine is just like caffeine, however positively not the identical, offering a presumably far longer lasting impact.
Theacrine’s mechanisms of motion will sound acquainted by now – it has anti-fatigue results due to its adenosine antagonism,[107] and in addition upregulates cAMP through phosphodiesterase inhibition.[108]
Theacrine can be dopaminergic,[109] which means it could actually assist enhance focus, motivation, and power.
On the subject of athletic efficiency, theacrine administration has been proven to extend time to exhaustion at 85% VO2max by 27-38%,[110] which is a large impact dimension.
Huperzia Flower Extract (1% Huperzine) – 20 mg
Huperzia serrata extracts are sometimes standardized for huperzine A, a sesquiterpene alkaloid that inhibits acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme answerable for breaking down acetylcholine.[111] This makes Huperzia an awesome ingredient for synergy with acetylcholine boosters like alpha-GPC – whereas the choline will increase acetylcholine ranges, Huperzia helps that surplus acetylcholine final even longer than regular.
Huperzine A has additionally been proven to advertise neurogenesis, the delivery of recent neurons.[112]
Naringin (from Grapefruit [Citrus Paradisi] Extract) – 10 mg
Grapefruit extracts comprise two distinctive compounds (6,7-dihydroxybergamottin and Naringin) that assist to spice up metabolism and speed up fats loss!
The flavonoid naringin helps us take pleasure in the advantages of NO upregulation, whereas limiting the downsides – it scavenges NO free radicals[111] and selectively downregulates iNOS, the NO-producing enzyme concerned within the inflammatory stress response.[112]
Naringin has additionally been proven to lower the expression of metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), a key antioxidant and anti inflammatory mechanism. A restricted physique of proof means that lowering MMP-9 expression can assist enhance athletic endurance.[113]
Naringin may additionally ease respiratory throughout intense train, by lowering irritation and exerting bronchodilatory results.[114]
What a improbable improve to the unique LIMITLESS, which we liked when it hit the scene. However as time strikes on, ingredient expertise does too, and we’re thrilled to see Magnum Nutraceuticals conserving tempo.
Magnum’s Limitless X16 is predicated on a core of tried-and-tested substances like citrulline, beta-alanine, betaine, and caffeine, however actually takes issues to the subsequent stage with EndoFlo and NeuroRush. We’re very excited to see these substances, particularly when paired subsequent to such a monstrous formulation.
This product is an auspicious starting for these two heavy-hitters from Aura Scientific, and we will’t wait to see how the business continues placing them to make use of.
