$25.00
Protocol
PRESALE PRICE WONT LAST LONG
Research and empirical evidence have shown time and time again that immediately after weight training, taking advantage of specific physiological changes can exponentially accelerate changes in body composition and performance. With Protocol, not only will you allow your body to maximize the endogenous changes already caused by training, but you can actually create a perfect anabolic environment by driving your body’s nutrient storage and muscle protein synthesis capabilities to a new level.
Protocol was designed to be taken immediately after weight training to kick start protein synthesis and perfectly harmonize your body’s hormonal cascade priming it for a post workout meal or shake. Take a serving of Protocol right after training, wait 15 minutes and have a high carbohydrate, high protein shake or meal. For fat loss programs, take a serving of Protocol, wait 15 minutes and have an isocaloric (equal parts carb, protein and fat) mixed meal. The end result will be faster muscle gain and accelerated recovery, fully preparing your body for the next training session. On non-training days, take a serving 15 minutes before your first meal. See FAQ for multiple serving recommendations.
Overview of ingredients and function
L-Leucine
Leucine is a Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA’s) concentrated highly in eggs, milk, beef, chicken and fish. Since Leucine is one of the few amino acids not metabolized by the liver, intake directly affects cellular concentrations (1). Numerous studies have looked at the ability of Leucine to prevent muscle protein breakdown and increase muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rates with promising results (1-13). It seems that Leucine acts as a primary signal alerting the body of amino acid availability for protein synthesis. This signaling causes an up-regulation of relevant anabolic machinery, especially in conjunction with insulin (2).
While insulin seems to enhance the effect of Leucine, multiple studies have proposed an additional non-insulin dependent effect of Leucine on MPS, which most discussions on the topic have overlooked (2,3,11). The relevant message is that Leucine will cause an anti-catabolic and/or anabolic effect on its own through non insulin-dependent mechanisms, and will also have an additional effect when coupled with insulin from concurrent carbohydrate ingestion.
While all of the mechanisms Leucine uses to deliver its effects on muscle tissue have yet to be elucidated, we know that it has a profound effect on mTOR activation, a key regulator of MPS (1,7,9). Aside from the well documented mTOR effect, Leucine may also have anabolic effects unrelated to this pathway, as noted by Kimball and Jefferson in a 2001 study which found elevated muscle protein synthesis with no significant increase in mTOR signaling proteins (4).
Another way Leucine exhibits its beneficial effect on body composition is through its lesser known ability to increase muscle cell insulin sensitivity (2). It seems that available Leucine directly translates to increased uptake of all nutrients at the muscle cell, therefore creating an immediate increase in anabolism. Resistance training alone has been shown to upregulate MPS when adequate calories are supplied, yet the addition of Essential Amino Acids (EAA’s, which include Leucine) causes a much greater elevation (8). While initial studies on post workout MPS focused on BCAA’s and EAA’s, later studies have shown that Leucine is the primary contributor to accelerated muscle tissue accretion, having the same or greater effect when taken alone vs. conjunction with the other BCAA’s/EAA’s (2,8,10).
Garlick PJ, Grant I. 1988. Amino Acid infusion increases the sensitivity of muscle protein synthesis invivo to insulin. Biochem J. 254:579-584.
Leucine is truly a wonder supplement when trying to retain lean body mass on a calorie restricted diet. Studies have shown supplemental Leucine to retain LBM in a hypocaloric state and even suppress protein breakdown after 18 hours of starvation (1,5,6). While most weight training aficionados have known for some time that the RDA for protein is far from optimal when trying to change body composition, new research has confirmed that during caloric restriction, daily requirements of certain amino acids, particularly Leucine, are drastically understated. In a 2008 review titled “Leucine for retention of lean mass on a hypocaloric diet”, researchers looked at a study that put various subjects on a 500 calorie/day deficit with various macronutrient intakes. The group on a high protein/high Leucine diet lost more weight, more fat, and showed greater LBM retention. Leucine supplemented groups have also shown more visceral fat loss than controls, which aside from being unsightly, is the deep abdominal fat known for wreaking havoc on the entire body. This review also covered Leucine’s ability to control appetite through hypothalamic regulation, truly pointing to leucine as a dieter’s best friend (1).
Whether using leucine to accelerate protein synthesis during a muscle gaining phase or minimize muscle loss and accelerate fat loss while dieting, it should certainly hold a place in any physique enthusiast’s repertoire and represents a crucial component in the Protocol formula.
Leucine Review
•Activates mTOR
•Significantly elevates muscle protein synthesis
•Reduces muscle protein breakdown
•Reduces muscle loss on hypocaloric diet
•Increases muscle cell insulin sensitivity
•Provides an anabolic effect in conjunction with insulin
•Increases anabolism through insulin-independent mechanisms
•The only amino acid to independently switch on muscle building cascade
L-carnatine L-Tartrate
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (LCLT) is a combination of the amino acid L-Carnitine and the salt of tartaric acid, with numerous potential benefits for those looking to improve body composition, performance and overall health.
One of LCLT’s major benefits stems from its ability to directly enhance recovery from exercise, allowing for faster muscle building and fat loss. Studies have shown supplementation with LCLT can reduce the metabolic stress of exercise, enhance ammonia clearance at the muscle causing a favorable shift in pH, speed recovery, and even reduce muscle soreness (15,17,19,21). Reduced soreness may not be a big seller for some people that don’t mind a little post training pain, but looking at it in big picture terms, this may allow you to train again sooner and get more effective and frequent training sessions in throughout the week, month, or year leading to accelerated progress.
In a placebo controlled study published in 2008 by the big dogs William Kraemer and Jeff Volek (among others), the researchers found that ingestion of 2g/day of LCLT favorably shifted muscle cell oxygenation, (the balance between oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption) by enhancing oxygen consumption at the muscle cell (16). This can have favorable effects in anaerobic as well as aerobic training.
LCLT has also gained recent attention due to its ability to favorably affect anabolic hormone signaling through multiple mechanisms. In a groundbreaking study published in Med Sci Sports Exerc., researchers found LCLT was able to increase muscle cell androgen receptor density which gives testosterone more sites to “dock”, and therefore could potentially kick start a large anabolic cascade (18). This is extremely beneficial for athletes choosing to use exogenous sources of testosterone as well as natural trainees. Aside from optimizing endogenous and exogenous testosterone binding ability, ingestion of 2g/day of LCLT for 3 weeks also significantly elevated IGF-1 levels in study subjects, another key anabolic hormone which aids in muscle gain (19).
Aside from the numerous exciting benefits, LCLT has also been deemed to be safe, researchers finding no adverse effects from daily supplementation (20).
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate Review
•Increases androgen receptor density
•Elevates IGF-1 levels
•Reduces markers of metabolic stress to exercise
•Decreases post workout soreness
•Speeds recovery from training
•Enhances muscle cell oxygen consumption
Agamtine Sulfate
Arginine is an amino acid that has made its way into countless bodybuilding supplements in the past few years, surrounded by endless promises about enhanced muscle pumps and heightened nutrient delivery. Most people have realized the incredulous amount of hyperbole involved in these claims and have begun to accept its muscle building potential to be far less than originally theorized. What does arginine have to do with agmatine? Once arginine is decarboxylated, it becomes agmatine. This decarboxylation entirely changes the nature of the compound in the body, so much so that agmatine is involved with even more metabolic processes than arginine itself.
Agmatine takes a two pronged attack at nitric oxide elevation, by increasing NO synthesis as well as being an irreversible inhibitor of Nitric Oxide Synthase, which is the enzyme responsible for degradation of NO (24,27,28). By effectively elevating NO and decreasing its breakdown, the much sought after effects of increased vasodilatation and nutrient delivery to the muscle cells can be maximized. While it is debatable whether an increase in NO pre-workout is beneficial, most experts agree that a post workout elevation of NO can be highly useful for muscle recovery and enhancing the anabolic signal cascade.
Agmatine is normally released endogenously in response to stress and inflammation, by supplementing with an exogenous source one can maximize its effect on recovery (27). When using agmatine immediately after workouts, the nutrients digested in a post workout meal or shake can be more effectively delivered to the muscle cells for enhanced recovery and muscle growth.
In addition to increased nutrient delivery to muscle cells, agmatine also acts to aid nutrient uptake by increasing muscle cell insulin sensitivity through activation of I(2)-imidazoline receptors (25). So agmatine not only helps you get the glucose and amino acids to the right place, it also opens the door and drives them right inside the muscle cell to enhance protein synthesis.
Aside from the potent effects at the muscle cell, agmatine also possesses some interesting psychological effects. Studies have shown it to be neuroprotective by blocking the damaging effects of excessive glutamate, act as an anti-depressant and MAOb inhibitor, and even modulate and reverse opiate tolerance (22,26,27,28). Agmatine also has a beneficial effect on calcium homeostasis by reducing cellular calcium overload, lowers blood pressure, and has various beneficial effects on the heart (23,24).
Agmatine Sulfate Review
•Increases Nitric Oxide synthesis
•Inhibits Nitric Oxide breakdown
•Enhances nutrient delivery to muscle cells
•Raises muscle cell insulin sensitivity
•Neuro-protective
•Mood elevating
Beta Alanine
For many years now research has continued to support the usage of this amino acid derivative for performance enhancement. Working in a similar, yet more efficient fashion as Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine increases muscle carnosine levels allowing for improvement in multiple areas of physical performance (29,33,36).
By buffering hydrogen (H+) ions, it allows for an increase in aerobic and anaerobic performance especially muscular endurance in weight training and short and long duration sprinting (29,31,33,36). A 2009 study showed even an increase in peak sprint power output by over 11% (29). Another recent study published in the peer reviewed journal Amino Acids showed that supplementing with Beta Alanine was able to increase muscle carnosine levels by as much as 64%, and low doses still caused an elevation over 40% (36). Beta alanine has also been shown to prevent the drop in blood pH seen in high intensity exercise, which may be a significant contributor to its ability to improve exercise performance (37).
Aside from improving muscular endurance, strength athletes that train in low rep ranges can also benefit from Beta Alanine supplementation to decrease fatigue and increase total training volume (30). When training primarily with low reps, users will see the most benefit later in the workouts, by being able to add sets and experience less drop off due to fatigue accumulation.
Use
Benefit
Moderate to high rep weight training
More reps per set, more total volume per workout, decreased reps between sets without performance drop.
Low rep training
More sets per workout, less drop off in performance due to reduction of fatigue accumulation.
Sprinting
Increased performance due to buffering effect
Beta Alanine Review
•Increases muscle carnosine levels
•Buffers hydrogen ions
•Increases muscular endurance
•Delays onset of muscular fatigue
•Allows for increased training volume
•Increases peak sprint power output
Protocol Overview
Ingredients (per serving) Dosage
L-Leucine 6.5g
Beta Alanine 2.0g
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate 1.0g
Agmatine Sulfate 500mg
Protocol will greatly enhance the anabolic effect of weight training, speed up recovery, and exponentially accelerate body composition change. Maximize your post workout nutrition and force your body into unprecedented new growth.
ProtocolMechanisms of Action
•Activates mTOR
•Elevates muscle protein synthesis
•Reduces muscle protein breakdown
•Reduces muscle loss on hypocaloric diet
•Increases muscle cell insulin sensitivity through multiple angles
•Provides an anabolic effect with our without insulin
•Reduces markers of metabolic stress to exercise and speeds recovery from training
•Decreases post workout soreness
•Increases androgen receptor density
•Elevates IGF-1 levels
•Increases Nitric Oxide synthesis
•Inhibits Nitric Oxide breakdown
•Enhances nutrient delivery to muscle cells
•Increases muscle carnosine levels
•Buffers hydrogen ions
•Increases muscular endurance
•Allows for increased training volume
•Neuro-protective
•Mood elevating
References
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2.Garlick PJ. 2005. The role of leucine in the regulation of protein metabolism. J Nutr. Jun;135(6 Suppl):1553S-6S.
3.Anthony JC, Land CH, Crozier SJ, Anthony TG, MacLean DA, Kimball SR, Jefferson LS. 2002. Orally administered Leucine enhances protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats in the absence of increases in 4E-BP1 or S6K1 posphorylation. Diabetes. 51: 928-936.
4.Kimball SR, Jefferson LS. 2001. Regulation of protein synthesis by branched-chain amino acids. Curr Opin Nutr Metab Care. 4:39-43.
5.Nagasawa T, Kido T, Yoshizawa F, Ito Y, Nishizawa N. 2002. Rapid suppression of protein degradation in skeletal muscle after oral feeding of leucine in rats. J Nutr Biochem. Feb;13(2):121-127.
6.Hong SO, Layman DK. 1984. Effects of leucine on in vitro protein synthesis and degradation in rat skeletal muscles. J Nutr. Jul;114(7):1204-12.
7.Drummond MJ, Rasmussen BB. 2008. Leucine-enriched nutrients and the regulation of mammalian target of rapamycin signalling and human skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. May;11(3):222-6.
8.Drummond MJ, Dreyer HC, Fry CS, Glynn EL, Rasmussen BB. 2009. Nutritional and contractile regulation of human skeletal muscle protein synthesis and mTORC1 signaling. J Appl Physiol. Apr;106(4):1374-84.
9.Suryawan A, Jeyapalan AS, Orellana RA, Wilson FA, Nguyen HV, Davis TA. 2008. Leucine stimulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs by enhancing mTORC1 activation. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. Oct;295(4):E868-75.
10.Tipton KD, Ferrando AA, Phillips SM, Doyle D Jr, Wolfe RR. 1999. Postexercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids. Am J Physiol. Apr;276(4 Pt 1):E628-34.
11.Bolster DR, Vary TC, Kimball SR, Jefferson LS. 2004. Leucine regulates translation initiation in rat skeletal muscle via enhanced eIF4G phosphorylation. J. Nutr. 134: 1704-1710.
12.Zanchi NE, Nicastro H, Lancha AH Jr. 2008. Potential antiproteolytic effects of L-leucine: observations of in vitro and in vivo studies. Nutr Metab (Lond). Jul 17;5:20.
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15.Broad EM, Maughan RJ, Galloway SD. 2008. Carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism during exercise after oral carnitine supplementation in humans. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. Dec;18(6):567-84.
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JS. 2008. Effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on muscle oxygenation responses to resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res. Jul;22(4):1130-5.
17.Spiering BA, Kraemer WJ, Vingren JL, Hatfield DL, Fragala MS, Ho JY, Maresh CM, Anderson JM, Volek
JS. 2007. Responses of criterion variables to different supplemental doses of L-carnitine L-tartrate. J Strength Cond Res. Feb;21(1):259-64.
18.Kraemer WJ, Spiering BA, Volek
JS, Ratamess NA, Sharman MJ, Rubin MR, French DN, Silvestre R, Hatfield DL, Van Heest JL, Vingren JL, Judelson DA, Deschenes MR, Maresh CM. 2006. Androgenic responses to resistance exercise: effects of feeding and L-carnitine. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Jul;38(7):1288-96.
19.Kraemer WJ, Volek
JS, French DN, Rubin MR, Sharman MJ, Gómez AL, Ratamess NA, Newton RU, Jemiolo B, Craig BW, Häkkinen K. 2003. The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery. J Strength Cond Res. Aug;17(3):455-62.
20.Rubin MR, Volek
JS, Gómez AL, Ratamess NA, French DN, Sharman MJ, Kraemer WJ. 2001. Safety measures of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation in healthy men. J Strength Cond Res. Nov;15(4):486-90.
21.. Volek
JS, Kraemer WJ, Rubin MR, Gómez AL, Ratamess NA, Gaynor P. 2002. L-Carnitine L-tartrate supplementation favorably affects markers of recovery from exercise stress. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. Feb;282(2):E474-82.
22.Jiang XZ, Liu YQ, Zhang YZ, Zhang LM, Li J, Li YF. 2009. Neonatal fluoxetine exposure induced depression-like behaviors in the adult Kunming mice and the antidepressant-like effect of agmatine. Yao Xue Xue Bao. Jul;44(7):716-21.
23.Raghavan SA, Dik**** M. 2004. Vascular regulation by the L-arginine metabolites, nitric oxide and agmatine. Pharmacol Res. May;49(5):397-414.
24.Morrissey JJ, Klahr S. 1997. Agmatine activation of nitric oxide synthase in endothelial cells. Proc Assoc Am Physicians. Jan;109(1):51-7.
25.Ko WC, Liu IM, Chung HH, Cheng JT. 2008. Activation of I(2)-imidazoline receptors may ameliorate insulin resistance in fructose-rich chow-fed rats. Neurosci Lett. Dec 19;448(1):90-3.
26.Wade CL, Eskridge LL, Nguyen HO, Kitto K, Stone LS, Wilcox GL, Fairbanks CA. 2009. Immunoneutralization of Agmatine Sensitizes Mice to Mu Opioid Receptor Tolerance. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. Aug 14.
27.Halaris A, Plietz J. 2007. Agmatine : metabolic pathway and spectrum of activity in brain. CNS Drugs. 21(11):885-900.
28.Qiu WW, Zheng RY. 2006. Neuroprotective effects of receptor imidazoline 2 and its endogenous ligand agmatine. Neurosci Bull. 22(3):187-91.
29.Van Thienen R, Van Proeyen K, Vanden Eynde B, Puype J, Lefere T, Hespel P. 2009. Beta-alanine improves sprint performance in endurance cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc. Apr;41(4):898-903.
30.Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Faigenbaum AD, Ross R, Kang J, Stout JR, Wise JA. 2008. Short-duration beta-alanine supplementation increases training volume and reduces subjective feelings of fatigue in college football players. Nutr Res. Jan;28(1):31-5.
31.Hoffman J, Ratamess NA, Ross R, Kang J, Magrelli J, Neese K, Faigenbaum AD, Wise JA. 2008. Beta-alanine and the hormonal response to exercise. Int J Sports Med. Dec;29(12):952-8.
32.Derave W, Ozdemir MS, Harris RC, Pottier A, Reyngoudt H, Koppo K, Wise JA, Achten E. 2007. beta-Alanine supplementation augments muscle carnosine content and attenuates fatigue during repeated isokinetic contraction bouts in trained sprinters. J Appl Physiol. Nov;103(5):1736-43.
33.Kendrick IP, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Kim CK, Dang VH, Lam TQ, Bui TT, Smith M, Wise JA. 2008. The effects of 10 weeks of resistance training combined with beta-alanine supplementation on whole body strength, force production, muscular endurance and body composition. Amino Acids. May;34(4):547-54.
34.Tipton KD, Jeukendrup AE, Hespel P; International Association of Athletics Federations. 2009. Nutrition for the sprinter. J Sports Sci. 25 Suppl 1:S5-15.
35.Stout JR, Cramer JT, Mielke M, O'Kroy J, Torok DJ, Zoeller RF. 2006. Effects of twenty-eight days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on the physical working capacity at neuromuscular fatigue threshold. J Strength Cond Res. Nov;20(4):928-31.
36.Harris RC, Tallon MJ, Dunnett M, Boobis L, Coakley J, Kim HJ, Fallowfield JL, Hill CA, Sale C, Wise JA. 2006. The absorption of orally supplied beta-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis. Amino Acids. May;30(3):279-89.
37.Baguet A, Koppo K, Pottier A, Derave W. 2009. beta-Alanine supplementation reduces acidosis but not oxygen uptake response during high-intensity cycling exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. Oct 16.
