BLUK-Ingredients and Benefits

 

L-Citrulline Malate (2:1) | 8,000 mg

L-citrulline is an amino acid naturally found in watermelon that plays an important role in kidney function. It's become a popular ingredient in pre-workout supplements due to its ability to boost nitric oxide levels [1]. When nitric oxide production increases, blood flow improves, allowing nutrients and oxygen to replenish muscle tissue more efficiently. Ultimately, this translates to greater muscle pumps and heightened energy levels.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the ergogenic effects of L-citrulline malate, the citrulline salt of malic acid, such as:

  • Improving strength, aerobic performance, and muscle endurance [2, 3]
  • Elevating nitric oxide levels even more than equivalent doses of L-arginine [4]
  • Enhancing muscle anabolism and reducing muscle catabolism [5]
 

Beta-Alanine | 4,000 mg

Beta-alanine is a beta-amino acid that combines with L-histidine to form a dipeptide known as carnosine. Supplementing with beta-alanine has been shown to increase muscle carnosine levels, which are quickly depleted during intense exercise [6].

Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide that functions as a buffer in muscle cells, thereby attenuating the accumulation of acidic byproducts of muscular exertion (e.g. lactate and hydrogen ions) [7]. Hence, bolstering muscle carnosine levels—via beta-alanine—allows you to push yourself longer and harder in the gym.

Pre-workout supplements almost always contain beta-alanine but in inefficacious doses. We made sure to include a full clinical dose of beta-alanine (4,000 mg) in every scoop of BULK Pre-Workout. Relevant evidence-based benefits of beta-alanine include:

  • Delaying the onset of neuromuscular fatigue during intense exercise [8]
  • Increasing overall muscle strength [9] 
  • Improving muscle endurance and total work capacity [10]
  • Reducing and combatting the formation of dysfunctional proteins and promoting the formation of healthy proteins [11]
  • Significantly increasing lean muscle mass as part of a diligent resistance-training program [12]

*Note that beta-alanine causes a benign tingling sensation known as paresthesia while the body acclimates to higher carnosine levels. This effect is harmless and gradually lessens with consistent use.
 

BetaPure™ Betaine Anhydrous | 2,500 mg

Betaine, also known as trimethylglycine, is a naturally occurring metabolite that serves as a methyl donor and osmolyte in the body. Though the mechanisms are not entirely understood, betaine supplementation has shown promise in enhancing power output and, to a lesser extent, endurance capacity in athletes [13, 14, 15]. 

It is plausible that betaine supplementation promotes athletic performance by maintaining cellular hydration and reducing homocysteine levels, thereby encouraging healthy cardiovascular function and blood flow [16].
 

Taurine | 1,300 mg

Taurine is another staple pre-workout ingredient with diverse benefits for athletes and gym-goers. For one, taurine is a potent nootropic that confers synergy with caffeine to promote focus and reduce brain cell inflammation and oxidative stress [17, 18]. 
 

Taurine can also enhance physical performance via increased blood flow to skeletal muscle tissue [19, 20]. Greater blood flow to muscle tissue encourages a favorable milieu for muscle function and recovery during training. 

Additionally, taurine supplementation has been shown to improve performance in endurance athletes [21].

 L-Tyrosine | 1,000 mg

L-tyrosine is a conditionally essential amino acid that serves as a precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters that govern motivation and reward. 

Research shows that supplementing with L-tyrosine can significantly enhance cognitive performance, especially under acutely stressful situations (such as intense training) [22]. 

L-Tyrosine has also been shown to improve “cognitive flexibility,” meaning it can help you adapt to changing cognitive demands without letting extraneous thoughts take over [23].
 

AlphaSize® Alpha-GPC | 300 mg

Alpha-GPC (glycerylphosphorylcholine) is a popular nootropic supplement and a bioavailable source of choline, an essential micronutrient for cholinergic transmission and, by extension, cognitive function. 

Alpha-GPC is primarily found in the brain and is one of the two major storage forms of choline in the cytosol (interior space of cells), along with phosphocholine [24].


This ingredient can enhance physical and mental performance by increasing acetylcholine and growth hormone production [25, 26, 27]. The former is important for focus and mental acuity, while the latter promotes fatty acid oxidation and reduces muscle tissue breakdown. 

As such, alpha-GPC (as patented AlphaSize®) is one of the key ingredients in Bulk Pre-Workout.