Glutamine
February 19, 2009 by About Supplements
Filed under Body Building Supplements
Glutamine
What is it?
The ‘non-essential’ amino acid glutamine has been getting a great deal of attention over the past few years in sport nutrition publications and scientific journals and for good reason. Though it might not be considered “essential,” glutamine appears to have many potential benefits for people interested in gaining new muscle and/or preserving that hard earned muscle.
What is it supposed to do?
Glutamine is required for countless functions in the human body from immune system function, to liver function, to gastrointestinal integrity, to name only a few. Supplement companies have taken to adding glutamine to various products and athletes have taken to adding glutamine to their diet.
For more detailed information, including effectiveness, dosages, possible side effects as well as independent science based reviews of over 60 ingredients for gaining muscle mass we recommend the well respected Will Brink’s supplement review module found in his complete BodyBuilding Revealed program.
Visit this site for further details:
www.Bodybuildingrevealed.com/ingredients
6-oxo
February 19, 2009 by About Supplements
Filed under Body Building Supplements
6-OXO
What is it?
6-oxo (androst-4-ene-3,6,17-trione) is a naturally occurring compound with anti aromatase/anti estrogen properties. It’s produced in the human body or can be produced synthetically.
What is it supposed to do?
6-oxo is believed to decrease estrogen and increase testosterone via its effects on the enzyme (aromatase) which converts testosterone to estrogen. The mechanism of 6-oxo appears to be what’s known as an irreversible suicide inhibitor of the enzyme. As the name implies, once bound to the aromatase enzyme, the process cannot be reversed, hence the term “irreversible suicide inhibitor.” Translated, 6-oxo binds to the enzyme and prevents it from doing its normal function, which is to produce estrogen from androgens (testosterone, etc.) . As most people know, excess estrogen (in particular estradiol) can lead to negative effects such as increased bodyfat, water retention, gynecomastia (bitch tits), reduced libido, as well as other clinical conditions best avoided. Increased estradiol is often found in steroid users, aging men, as well as other populations.
6-oxo appears to increase testosterone- and keep estrogen in check- by altering a key feedback loop in how the body regulates testosterone production. Exactly how the body regulates various hormones is a very complex topic beyond the scope of this section. Suffice it to say, it primarily involves what’s called the Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis (HPTA) which works via overlapping negative feedback loops. Estradiol is key in this system. Estradiol is suppressive to testosterone production. High estradiol sends the signal there is high testosterone, and T production is reduced. Lower estrogen, and the body thinks T is low, and sends the signal to produce more T. Reducing estrogen levels is a way to fool the HPTA into producing more T, via an increase in the gonadotropins: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) That’s the basic mechanism, which has been greatly over simplified. Bottom line is: 6-oxo may allow for a more favorable testosterone/estrogen ratio by alerting the “set point” for these two hormones. 6-oxo is not an anabolic/androgenic steroid, is not a pro-hormone, and does not work via androgen receptors or as an anabolic compound directly.
For more detailed information, including effectiveness, dosages, possible side effects as well as independent science based reviews of over 60 ingredients for gaining muscle mass we recommend the well respected Will Brink’s supplement review module found in his complete BodyBuilding Revealed program.
Visit this site for further details:
www.Bodybuildingrevealed.com/ingredients
L-Carnitine
February 19, 2009 by About Supplements
Filed under Diet - Weight Loss Supplement Reviews
L-Carnitine
What is it?
L-Carnitine is an amino acid like substance the body synthesizes from the amino acid Lysine. The vitamins B-6, niacin, C, with iron and the amino acid methionine are required for production of carnitine in the body. The major dietary source of carnitine comes from animal meats, especially red meats (i.e. steak from cows, lamb and sheep). Carnitine has many functions in the human body, but is best known for its ability to shuttle long chain fatty acids across the membrane of cells so they can be burned (oxidized) for energy by the mitochondria.
Mitochondria are often referred to as the “power house” of cells where energy is produced. The actual process of how carnitine shuttles fatty acids to the mitochondria is fairly complex and detailed. Suffice to say, it involves several enzymes and steps before the fats you want to burn end up being utilized by the mitochondria. So, the carnitine shuttle system is essential for the body to be able to burn fats as energy, and this information can be found in any decent biochemistry text book.
What is it supposed to do?
As the above section mentions, carnitine is sold in hopes that it will help the body shuttle more fatty acids into cells to be used as energy rather than stored as abdominal blurring blubber. The idea is that taking in additional carnitine will supposedly help the body burn more fat for energy and make dieting more effective. Carnitine is also sold as a sports supplement for increasing energy and may have several medical uses. The concept is pretty straight forward, but does it actually work?
For more detailed information, including effectiveness, dosages, possible side effects as well as independent science based reviews of over 60 weight loss ingredients we recommend the well respected Will Brink’s supplement review module found in his complete Fat Loss Revealed program.
Visit this site for further details: