Okay, so I'm reading my new stuff magazine, and I see one of those ads from ########## peddling their protein and creatine (fluffily named nitro-#### and cell-####), with the usual anecdotal man who transformed his body. I usually ignore the ads, but I happened to notice that their ad claimed that their creatine is, and I quote, "over 19 times better than regular creatine!" I think to myself, "How in the name of moses can they make this ridiculous claim?"
On their website, studies are quoted (which they funded, of course) that claims that subjects using their special creatine gained 19 times more mass than did those using regular creatine. A little more digging revealed the reason for the supposed superiority:
"The combination of precisely 75 grams of pharmaceutical-grade dextrose, 200 mg of alpha lipoic acid, and 10 grams of pure, micronized creatine found in CELL-#### ..."
They go on to justify the addition of these compounds:
For the 70g of dextrose:
"The transport of creatine is mediated by the amount and efficiency of circulating insulin, the most powerful, anabolic hormone in the body... In ... studies, subjects took creatine with more than twice the amount of dextrose found in most creatine formulas on the market today and experienced a 60 percent greater creatine retention compared to subjects taking creatine with water."
For the 200 mg alpha lipoic acid:
"Research conducted in Germany indicates that alpha lipoic acid may help move sugar into the muscle where it can be used as energy during exercise. This research shows that alpha lipoic acid has a similar function as the powerful anabolic hormone insulin. Alpha lipoic acid also acts as a potent antioxidant which has been suggested to aid in the reduction of muscle damage and the greater amount of oxidation associated with exercise. Alpha lipoic acid also plays a key role in energy production required by the muscles during resistance training."
As to 10g of creatine instead of 5g:
"[Our] researchers advocate that 10 grams of creatine and 75 grams of dextrose is the precise amount needed to improve the lesser muscle creatine storage that is associated with smaller, more frequent servings of creatine (the traditional 5 grams per serving). The result is the absorption of a greater amount of creatine into the muscles."
They sum it up by saying "CELL-#### significantly outperforms regular creatine monohydrate because its formula results in greater uptake and storage of creatine and other vital key nutrients. "
My question boils down to this: Is there any merit to any of this?
-Calkid
On their website, studies are quoted (which they funded, of course) that claims that subjects using their special creatine gained 19 times more mass than did those using regular creatine. A little more digging revealed the reason for the supposed superiority:
"The combination of precisely 75 grams of pharmaceutical-grade dextrose, 200 mg of alpha lipoic acid, and 10 grams of pure, micronized creatine found in CELL-#### ..."
They go on to justify the addition of these compounds:
For the 70g of dextrose:
"The transport of creatine is mediated by the amount and efficiency of circulating insulin, the most powerful, anabolic hormone in the body... In ... studies, subjects took creatine with more than twice the amount of dextrose found in most creatine formulas on the market today and experienced a 60 percent greater creatine retention compared to subjects taking creatine with water."
For the 200 mg alpha lipoic acid:
"Research conducted in Germany indicates that alpha lipoic acid may help move sugar into the muscle where it can be used as energy during exercise. This research shows that alpha lipoic acid has a similar function as the powerful anabolic hormone insulin. Alpha lipoic acid also acts as a potent antioxidant which has been suggested to aid in the reduction of muscle damage and the greater amount of oxidation associated with exercise. Alpha lipoic acid also plays a key role in energy production required by the muscles during resistance training."
As to 10g of creatine instead of 5g:
"[Our] researchers advocate that 10 grams of creatine and 75 grams of dextrose is the precise amount needed to improve the lesser muscle creatine storage that is associated with smaller, more frequent servings of creatine (the traditional 5 grams per serving). The result is the absorption of a greater amount of creatine into the muscles."
They sum it up by saying "CELL-#### significantly outperforms regular creatine monohydrate because its formula results in greater uptake and storage of creatine and other vital key nutrients. "
My question boils down to this: Is there any merit to any of this?
-Calkid