The fancy ads in magazines in the early 2000’s were epic! You might have seen very sophisticated men wearing white lab coats holding glass beakers and other nifty devices. You would often see loud claims of specific ingredients blown out of proportion -- which enticed the innocent reader, baiting and reeling them in for the purchase.
Now, albeit the ads were outlandish and sensational, some products in this category of supplementation had merit. Some of these post-workout formulas were very close to being spectacular products, but the science back then wasn’t as thorough and consistent as it is today. You see, back then, it was common practice to super-saturate formula’s with excessive amounts of dextrose or glucose to facilitate insulin signaling to induce nutrient uptake.
The idea was to ignite a strong insulin surge through a bolus sugar load, which in turn would transport creatine, glucose, & protein straight into starved muscle cells.
This seemed great on paper for the time -- in fact, it even produced great gains for true ectomorphic-somatotypes...a.k.a. “Hard-Gainers.”
However, the rest of the population gained about 10 lbs in 3-4 days of straight water-retention! Even worse, after the 3-4 days of rapid water retention, you then started to replace the water-weight gains with fat tissue accrual. This unfortunately happens from excess sugars storing into fat cells, or causing high insulin levels driving dietary fat into adipose sites.
I personally responded well to these sugary, creatine cocktails, but know that most people got watery and fat, so I wanted to make these potential “powerhouse” drinks do everything they should have done 15 years ago.
I chose very precise ingredients for this formula because I am a picky son of a gun. I wanted a formula that would potentiate insulin production, yet NOT flood the body with excessive carbohydrates. You see, insulin is an interesting growth promoting compound, as it can grow all tissues. Therefore you must be prudent with your nutrition protocol when insulin levels are elevated.
-Pharmaceutical grade L-Leucine (AjiPure™)
-Cluster Dextrin™
-4-hydroxyisoleucine (Promilin™)
1.) Possesses a synergistic effect with 4-hydroxy-isoleucine + L-Leucine for augmenting an insulin response.
2.) Formulas back in the day were overloaded with simple sugars -- oftentimes making people bloated & fat.
3.) Excessive carbs are NOT needed to spike insulin for creatine uptake, and the upcoming whey protein shake that should follow CreRiboVOL.
4.) Allow athletes to utilize CreRiboVOL during contest prep/dieting or off-season/gaining since the carb count is minimal.
5.) I don’t wish to be like other companies and cheapen up my products with worthless fillers or excessive carbohydrates.
I remembered a little gem that is highly overlooked by the name of D-Ribose. This glucose derivative is unique in that it doesn’t really skew your blood sugar levels like straight glucose. It’s main purpose in CreRiboVOL is to replenish A denosine T ri Phosphate ( ATP) stores in skeletal muscle and heart muscle.
In fact, ribose displays cardioprotective properties and may alleviate ischemia ( blood-restriction) conditions in the heart muscle which is pretty neat. CreRiboVOL uses the tried and true BioEnergy™ Ribose brand in a hefty dose of 5 grams in each serving. 4-Hydroxy-IsoLeucine ( Promilin™) - This constituent of Fenugreek seeds displays strong insulinotropic effects that coincides perfectly with the small amount of Cluster Dextrin™ in each scoop of CreRiboVOL.
There was a fascinating study comparing 200 mg 4-HydroxyIsoLeucine + 3.5 grams creatine monohydrate to the standard 75 grams of fattening dextrose sugar + 3.5 grams creatine monohydrate. The results revealed that the 4-HydroxyIsoLeucine + creatine group gained the same amount of lean body mass (LBM) as the creatine + dextrose group in 8 weeks. This means you will reap the mass gaining benefits of creatine without accruing unnecessary water retention and body fat that goes along with sugar-loaded formula’s.
4-Hydroxy-IsoLeucine Benefits:
Do I really need to talk about how proven and effective Creatine Monohydrate is? I feel bad for novices or even veterans that buy into the “next best creatine” ads, thinking it will somehow outperform what is stood the test of time -- Creatine Monohydrate. Remember C reatine Ethyl Ester ( CEE)? Crap, pure and utter crap! It was instantaneously converted into the worthless byproduct creatinine which does our muscle cells no good!
Then they produced amino acid bonded creatines, or mineral chelated creatines, and the list goes on. All of these inferior creatine’s were companies failed attempts at trying to be innovative and reinvent the wheel by flashing new marketing to consumers. Like all of you have heard --”If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I wanted to use a simple micronized creatine made by Creapure®. The dose is a husky 10 grams per scoop, but that is what will give you optimal results from my experience.
Next I wanted to augment not only insulin, but protein synthesis via mTOR ignition. Whey protein could do this, but it will bog down your digestion in conjunction with CreRiboVOL. Since the L-Leucine is precisely what triggers mTOR response from the whey protein, we will cut to the chase and use 5 grams of Pharmaceutical Grade AjiPure ™ L-Leucine.
I won’t even try to convince anyone that straight up dextrose or maltodextrin at a low dose of 10 grams couldn’t get the job done regarding pulsing insulin initiation, however I am a big proponent of FEELING GOOD when I eat or drink products and am nitpicky. Therefore I say the heck with cheap dextrose or maltodextrin, and let’s use the absolute best -- Cluster Dextrin™. Even 10 grams of dextrose could cause gastrointestinal disorders like nausea, cramping, bloating etc… Cluster Dextrin ™ due to its molecular structure will absorb and bypass through the small intestine in lightening speed. Cluster Dextrins ™ low osmolality yields rapid gastric-emptying, which equates to “ getting in and getting out” and feeling ready for your next meal without feeling bogged down.
MPA CreRiboVOL ™ is made for those DIETING, and also for those in an off-season MASS GAINING phase. Being that there is minimal carbs, the off-season athlete looking to increase weight can add additional carbs to MPA CreRiboVOL ™ in supplement or food form.
Proper digestion is everything when it comes to getting the most from your nutrition. The idea here is simple -- setup the perfect environment for optimal digestion and utilization of nutrients that will come right after ingesting CreRiboVOL.
Real quick -- Bromelain is derived from pineapple cores and is a proteolytic enzyme. It’s job is digesting protein, which is perfect for our following meal or whey protein shake that should come after consuming CreRiboVOL. This could possibly make your whey isolate or concentrate product work several times better. Bromelain will help breakdown and essentially “pre-digest” the whey into di & tri-peptides, which will absorb quicker and start the recovery process ASAP.
I want people to slam their CreRiboVOL either immediately after lifting heavy iron, or if folks are using an Intra-Workout drink and are already bloated and full of water -- wait 30 minutes after you finish your Intra-Shake. Since CreRiboVOL is virtually pre-digested, don’t wait longer than 15-20 minutes to consume either a whey protein shake or a whole-food meal. ---> You are setting up the perfect anabolic environment for utmost muscle recovery.
Rest assured I will only use clinically dosed ingredients, and the best quality ingredients too. I could save money and use non-patented or trademarked ingredients but I won’t dupe people just to earn a few extra bucks.
Remember, I use these products and precisely choose each and every ingredients I have first-hand seen results from. I hope people will start reaping the benefits of creatine again, without the accompanying bloat that used to come with such products.
-Matt Porter
Product Creator & Nutrition Coach
References:
1.)Takii H1, Ishihara K, Kometani T, Okada S, Fushiki T.
Enhancement of swimming endurance in mice by highly branched cyclic dextrin.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1999 Dec;63(12):2045-52.
2.)Kalogeropoulou D1, Lafave L, Schweim K, Gannon MC, Nuttall FQ. Leucine, when ingested with glucose, synergistically stimulates insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose. Metabolism. 2008 Dec;57(12):1747-52. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.09.001.
3.)Liu H 1, Liu R , Xiong Y , Li X , Wang X, Ma Y , Guo H , Hao L , Yao P, Liu L , Wang D , Yang X. Leucine facilitates the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle cells: involving mTORC1 and mTORC2. Amino Acids. 2014 Aug;46(8):1971-9. doi: 10.1007/s00726-014-1752-9. Epub 2014 May 8.
4.)Suryawan A 1, Jeyapalan AS , Orellana RA , Wilson FA, Nguyen HV, Davis TA
Leucine stimulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle of neonatal pigs by enhancing mTORC1 activation. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Oct;295(4):E868-75. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.90314.2008. Epub 2008 Aug .
5.) Dodd SL 1, Johnson CA, Fernholz K, St Cyr JA. The role of ribose in human skeletal muscle metabolism. Med Hypotheses. 2004;62(5):819-24.
6.)Caretti A 1, Bianciardi P, Marini M, Abruzzo PM, Bolotta A, Terruzzi C, Lucchina F, Samaja M.Supplementation of creatine and ribose prevents apoptosis and right ventricle hypertrophy in hypoxic hearts. Curr Pharm Des. 2013;19(39):6873-9.
7.) Pauly DF 1, Pepine CJ.
D-Ribose as a supplement for cardiac energy metabolism .J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Oct;5(4):249-58.
8.)Herrick J , St Cyr J Ribose in the heart. J Diet Suppl. 2008;5(2):213-7. doi: 10.1080/19390210802332752.
9.)Wagner S 1 , Herrick J , Shecterle LM , St Cyr JA .
D-ribose, a metabolic substrate for congestive heart failure.
Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 2009 Jun;24(2):59-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7117.2009.00033.x.
10.)St Cyr JA , Schneider JR.A sugar that benefits failing hearts. Int J Cardiol. 2009 Jan 24;131(3):398. Epub 2007 Nov 9.
10.)Casey A 1, Greenhaff PL.
Does dietary creatine supplementation play a role in skeletal muscle metabolism and performance? Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Aug;72(2 Suppl):607S-17S.
11.)Choi SS 1, Danielewska-Nikiel B, Ohdan K , Kojima I, Takata H, Kuriki T.
Safety evaluation of highly-branched cyclic dextrin and a 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme from Bacillus stearothermophilus.
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2009 Dec;55(3):281-90. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2009.07.011. Epub 2009 Aug 3.
12.)Takii H1, Ishihara K, Kometani T, Okada S, Fushiki T.
Enhancement of swimming endurance in mice by highly branched cyclic dextrin. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1999 Dec;63(12):2045-52.
15.)Insulin response to ingestion protein in diabetes. Berger S et al. Diabetes 1966.
4-Hydroxyisoleucine: effects of synthetic and natural analogues on insulin secretion. Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Mar 3;390(3):339-45.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Apr;288(4):E645-53. Epub 2004 Nov 23.
Leucine metabolism in regulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.
Nutr Rev. 2010 May;68(5):270-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00282.x.
25.)Sauvaire Y 1, Petit P, Broca C, Manteghetti M, Baissac Y, Fernandez-Alvarez J, Gross R, Roye M, Leconte A, Gomis R, Ribes G. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine: a novel amino acid potentiator of insulin secretion.Diabetes. 1998 Feb;47(2):206-10.
EFFECTS OF COMBINED CREATINE PLUS FENUGREEK EXTRACT VS. CREATINE
PLUS CARBOHYDRATE SUPPLEMENTATION ON RESISTANCE TRAINING
ADAPTATIONS. Lem Taylor , Chris Poole , Earnest Pena , Morgan Lewing , Richard Kreider , Cliffa Foster1 and Colin Wilborn