Supplement Zone - Issue 13

HOLD THE ONIONS

Desiccated liver tablets are an ‘old-school’ bodybuilding supplement, I guess you could say. In the ’80s, bodybuilders used desiccated
liver as a protein supplement because it’s high in essential amino acids and B vitamins. Desiccated liver tablets were popular at the same time as those huge amino tablets were. Although both desiccated liver and those amino tablets were really popular back in the 80s, most bodybuilders now have access to much more effective protein and amino acid options, such as whey protein concentrates, isolates, and casein powders. Actually, those huge amino tablets are still very popular in Europe and other parts of the world outside North America, but they don’t have access to all the same supplements we do here in North America. You can still fi nd desiccated liver in Universal’snAnimal Pak tablets, but I don’t think they’ve updated that formula too much since it launched back in 1983!

BETAINE BREAKDOWN

Betaine is a trimethyl derivative of the amino acid glycine and is a component of many foods, including wheat, spinach, beets, and shellfish. Some of the physiological functions attributed to betaine include acting as an osmo-protectant, which means it can help protect cells against dehydration by acting as an osmolyte and increasing the water retention of cells. Other studies suggest that betaine supplementation may lower plasma homocysteine concentrations and reduce inflammation. In addition, betaine also acts as a methyl donor that can synthesize creatine in skeletal muscle. Because of these physiological effects, betaine has recently been studied for its ergogenic properties. Multiple studies have shown that short-term support muscular strength. Research shows that betaine supplementation appears to reduce lactate accumulation in the blood and helps maintain cellular hydration in cells. Research also suggests that enhanced muscle oxygen consumption occurs when supplementing with betaine. One of the more recently published studies on betaine examined its effects on circulating endocrine hormone levels and muscle-signaling proteins after an acute exercise session. Twelve trained men underwent two weeks of supplementation with either betaine (2.5 grams per day) or a placebo. Circulating growth hormone (GH), IGF-1, cortisol, and insulin were measured. Vastus lateralis samples were analyzed for signaling proteins. Betaine versus placebo supplementation approached a significant increase in GH, significantly increased IGF-1, and significantly decreased cortisol. Betaine supplementation also influenced muscle-signaling proteins after exercise. The results of this study suggest that betaine supplementation can support both the anabolic endocrine profile and the corresponding anabolic signaling environment, suggesting an increase in protein synthesis! Every month, more and more research becomes available on this exciting ingredient. Look for the popularity of betaine to take off over the next year.

Coenzyme Q10 for power

According to Mark Gilbert of FitnessInventor.com, new research shows that coenzyme Q10 (aka ubiquinol) can increase muscle power development in young, healthy, highly trained elite athletes. That means you! The research suggests coenzyme Q10 can change the composition of muscle from slow-twitch (the type of muscle that has more endurance capacity and less strength) to fast twitch (the type that generates more power but doesn’t have as much endurance). Researchers gave men 300 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 every day for six weeks while another group trained without it. When the study results were tallied up, those taking coenzyme Q10 ended up increasing power output by 30 percent more than the group not taking it! The research on this supplement is now getting strong enough to make it a legitimate addition to serious athletes’ supplement regimens. If research can confirm these results, you’ll probably start seeing this ingredient in far more supplements. Unfortunately, coenzyme Q10 is quite expensive, which may limit its use to pro athletes, for whom every edge counts. The good news is that coenzyme Q10 is found in tuna, salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, herring, and red meat (especially organs). Vegetables and fruits contain low quantities; berries have 3.4 milligrams per gram, oranges have 1.4 milligrams per gram, and apples contain 1.3 milligrams per gram. To make matters worse, frying vegetables lessens coenzyme Q10 by roughly 14–32 percent.