Monday, August 13, 2012

Product Review: The New Jack3d Micro (Part 1) Nitric Oxide














I am going to first cover my own experience with this product and will then share what I found out about the ingredients.

I took this pre-workout today. I did one scoop yesterday and while it felt good, the intesity wasn't close to the old formula. I do think I will be able to take this and sleep. I could only take the old formula for morning and afternoon workouts.

Today I did 2 scoops and not much more energy. I did get a serious pump. I'm going to finish the container and will get a follow up then.

I don't miss the beta-alanine itch. We'll see if the gains keep coming on this.

Now on to the details of the Jack3d ingredients.

USPLabs has taken a big departure from the Jack3d formula. With the imminent banning of DMAA (methylhexanamine or 1,3-dimethylamylamine or Geranamine). A new formula was needed.

The old formulation consisted of :

Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate
Creatine Monohydrate
Beta Alanine
Caffeine
1,3-Dimethylamylamine HC1(Geranium [Stem])
Shizandrol A

Only Arginine and Caffeine remain in the new formulation.  The new formula seems to be focused on nitric oxide production and energy.

Here's the breakdown of the ingredients.

eNOS Super Performance System™ 2799 mg


L-Citrulline
Precursor to Arginine the nitric oxide amino acid. It has been suggested that citrulline does this more efficiently.

Arginine Nitrate
Sometimes called NO3. The theory is that attaching a nitrate to Arginine increases nitric oxide production.
         
Agmatine Sulfate
Agmatine is naturally produced in the body when arginine is processed. Bro science reports say that agmatine produces superior pumps and greater uses of nutrients taken in.  That is nutrient partitioning aka more calories are shuttled towards muscle tissue and less are stored as fat. Also increased production of luteinizing hormone (testosterone) and growth hormone.

Grape Seed (95% Proanthocyanidins) Extract
Researchers at the Temple University School of Medicine discovered that grape polyphenols enhance the production of nitric oxide. These findings were reported in the November 2000 issue of the journal "Biochemical Pharmacology."         

CNS Stimulant System™ 190 mg

Caffeine
According to Flex Magazine’s Encyclopedia of Supplements, Caffeine is “a stimulant and effective fat burner due to its ability to increase the release of fat from fat cells, caffeine has been shown to boost strength and power output when taken one hour before workouts.”

Norcoclaurine HCl (Norcoline™)
USPLabs always has an ingredient that is ahead of the game and this appears to be one of them. As far as I can tell by trying to decipher a study I found on the net. This substance appears to enhance the production of dopamine. Resulting in the other two lifters want to increase focus and intensity. Those being norepinephrine and epinephrine.

**** UPDATE 10/1/12 - Hat Tip to this link for breaking the ingredient down.

http://examine.com/supplements/Higenamine/#howtotake

3,4-Dihydroxycinnamic Acid
I couldn’t find any information in this one myself but found the below on the nutraplanet.com website.

This particular compound is an antioxidative polyphenol found in a variety of foods (coffee, citrus foods, etc) and has multiple benefits. For one, it may enhance the bioavailability of the norcoclaurine in the formula, allowing for greater efficacy. It does this by inhibiting catecholamine o-methyltransferase (COMT), the enzyme that degrades the catecholamines and other related compounds responsible for the stimulant effects seen with stimulant type compounds. This can translate not only to a greater stimulant effect, but a longer lasting effect as well...
Secondly, it has also been shown to increase eNOS activity while also enhancing the formation of NO from nitrite by acting as a reducing agent. Thus, it can increase NO formation through the two main mechanisms through which NO is formed!”
If this weren’t enough, it also has a CNS stimulant effect on its own. Yet, when combined with caffeine, it may actually increase the stimulant effects of caffeine as well!"

**** UPDATE 10/1/12 - Pubmed study on this ingredient.



Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2012;76(5):1025-7. Epub 2012 May 7.



3,4-Dihydroxycinnamic acid attenuates the fatigue and improves exercise tolerance in rats.
Source
Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, MG, Brazil. romuonovaes@yahoo.com.br
Abstract
3,4-Dihydroxycinnamic acid (3,4-DA) is a natural compound with high antioxidant potential found in various foods. This study found that animals administered with 3,4-DA had higher exercise tolerance, reduced blood lactate, and markers of hepatic oxidation. Blood glucose and antioxidant enzymes were not affected by this treatment. 3,4-DA may have applicability in reducing the fatigue associated with exercise.
PMID:22738980
[PubMed - in process]


Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 100 mg 167%
         
The below was taken from Flex Magazine’s Encyclopedia of Supplements issue.

In addition to the health benefits of vitamin C, it can actually increase muscle endurance and reduce fatigue via its antioxidant properties. Vitamin C destroys free radicals created from training and other stresses, which break down NO. Having higher NO levels has been shown in numerous clinical studies to boost muscle endurance, stave off fatigue, and increase muscle strength. Research even suggests that vitamin C can also enhance fat loss.”

This product is selling for about $35 online. I would say it's definitely worth trying.


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