By Steve Blechman

Research has shown that supplementation of the nutrient betaine can boost testosterone. A new review article was published September 4, 2023 in the International Journal of Impotence Research entitled: “Do “testosterone boosters” really increase serum total testosterone? A systematic review.” The article said: “Our findings indicate that most fail to increase testosterone.” One exception was “betaine, which can be considered effective for male athletes.” The review article cited two studies in young athletes that showed “a significant increase in total testosterone.” One of the studies used a 2,500mg/day dose for two weeks, while the other used 2000mg/day for 14 weeks during the football season.

Another study published March 22, 2022, in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition “examined the effects of short-term betaine supplementation and muscle endurance, plasma lactate, testosterone and cortisol levels, and the testosterone to cortisol T/C ratio in response to acute resistance exercise (RE).”

It was a double-blind crossover study with 10 adolescent male handball players who consumed either placebo (maltodextrin) or betaine (2.5 grams) daily for two weeks taken after meals. “Betaine powder and maltodextrin were identical in appearance and taste and were not distinguishable by the participants or investigators.”

“Betaine supplementation enabled participants to perform more repetitions during the bench press and leg press and also reduced post exercise lactate concentration. We also observed that betaine amplified the testosterone responses and dampened the cortisol response to a single session of RE compared to placebo. Moreover, in comparison to baseline values betaine supplementations led to an increase in resting testosterone and T/C ratio,” researchers said.

The researchers reported “short term betaine supplementation significantly changed the indices of endocrine function in adolescent males. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to investigate the interaction between betaine supplementation and the acute steroid hormone response to RE. We observed that betaine administration for 14 days resulted in significant increase in plasma testosterone responses,” after a bout of high intensity resistance training. Let's dive in to the the best post workout supplements for muscle growth.

PUMP UP WITH BETAINE

Betaine, also known as trimethylglycine, is a natural osmolyte like creatine. It is important in maintaining cellular hydration. As an osmolyte, betaine enhances muscle cell swelling, stimulating protein synthesis and decreasing protein breakdown, resulting in muscle growth. Betaine also has been shown to increase growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Betaine supplementation (2.5 grams) reduced fatigue and increased power and strength after 15 days of high-intensity, high-volume bench press and squat training. Natural betaine, also at 2.5 grams per day, improved arm muscle size and increased body composition – increasing lean body mass and lowering body fat. Other studies have shown 7.8 percent rise in IGF-1 levels and a 6.1 percent drop in the muscle catabolic hormone cortisol. Taken together, betaine is an excellent post-workout supplement when combined with leucine and creatine. For further muscle growth benefits, take the electrolytes potassium and magnesium citrate post-exercise. Potassium and magnesium citrate enhance hydration and muscle cell volume as an osmolyte, working synergistically with creatine and betaine to enhance muscular recovery and muscle growth. Potassium citrate is also an acid buffer. High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets result in low-grade, chronic acidosis, enhancing muscle breakdown and muscle wasting. Potassium and magnesium citrate can buffer acidosis and preserve muscle mass when following a high-protein, acid-forming diet.

CREATINE MONOHYDRATE BOOSTS POWER, STRENGTH, MUSCLE AND RECOVERY!

Creatine is an extremely popular sports supplement that increases strength, power, and lean muscle mass. Creatine monohydrate is the gold standard and most researched form of creatine. In 1992, as Twinlab’s Vice President of Product Development and Marketing (1974-2001), I was the first to bring to the retail market creatine monohydrate (as Creatine Fuel). While there are several different forms of creatine available today, creatine monohydrate has been shown to be the most cost-effective! Creatine increases power output during high-intensity sprints and improves endurance capacity by allowing athletes to exercise at a faster pace. Creatine also promotes muscle adaptations to training and stimulates muscle growth. Creatine can stimulate muscle growth by enhancing IGF-1, muscle cell formation and increasing protein synthesis. Creatine can also inhibit the production of the muscle-wasting protein myostatin. Myostatin acts by inhibiting the growth of muscles – it prevents them from growing too large. By inhibiting myostatin, creatine can promote the growth of skeletal muscle. The blockade of myostatin has the potential as a treatment for various muscle-wasting disorders such as sarcopenia and loss of muscle during aging. Research has shown that creatine monohydrate combined with leucine can reduce the negative effect of myostatin and enhance muscle growth. So, it makes scientific sense to combine leucine with creatine monohydrate to maximize recovery, protein synthesis and muscle growth.

LEUCINE ENHANCES POST-WORKOUT ANABOLISM AND RECOVERY

Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Leucine is an activator and is the most effective amino acid for regulating mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). Leucine, not BCAAs, is the most important chemical that turns on the mTOR pathway, so it is likely that consuming leucine after exercise would be more effective than consuming BCAAs.

mTOR is the master growth regulator in the body that is critical for muscle protein synthesis and promotes muscle growth. It also regulates many fundamental cell processes in the body.

mTOR forms two protein complexes in the body known as mTOR1 (mTORC1) and 2 (mTORC2). As a muscle growth regulator, mTORC1 controls the balance between anabolism and catabolism, suppressing catabolism of skeletal muscle and promotes enhanced muscle protein synthesis and muscle cell growth. Unlike mTORC1 which controls cell growth, mTORC2 controls cell proliferation and phosphorylation and activation of AKT, which promotes insulin/P13K signaling and glucose uptake.

A new major breakthrough study published February 2023 in the journal Amino Acids confirms what I have reported for many years, that pure leucine intake triggers and enhances mTORC1 in humans. “Eight young healthy, recreationally active males ingested 2 grams of leucine.” The researchers, “used immunofluorescence methods to investigate the role of dietary leucine on the postprandial regulation of mTORC1.”

Leucine triggered and promoted mTOR translocation, altering S6 phosphorylation levels, which augments protein translation and protein synthesis within muscle cell.

The researchers acknowledged that, “the ability of leucine to activate mTORC1 and peripheral regions favors an enhanced rate of MPS, as this is the intracellular space thought to repeat with machinery that facilitates the anabolic process.”

Leucine promotes recovery by stimulating the mTOR pathway to increase protein synthesis to repair injured tissue. Leucine, one of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), is the most important chemical that turns on the mTOR pathway, so it is likely that consuming leucine after exercise would be more effective (and cheaper) than consuming BCAAs. The addition of isoleucine and valine may hinder the benefits of leucine due to competition for transport into muscle cells. The BCAAs share the same active transport system into cells and muscle cells. Indeed, isoleucine and valine have been shown to inhibit absorption of leucine. In the March 2018 issue of the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, it was reported that men fed 6 grams of whey protein supplemented with leucine, isoleucine and valine observed less protein synthesis than whey protein supplemented with just leucine. Also, research has shown that valine can cause insulin resistance in muscle, which is detrimental to muscle growth and enhances the accumulation of body fat. Also, many athletes consume glutamine supplements because they may boost the immune system. A Belgium study, however, found that glutamine suppresses the mTOR pathway and could interfere with muscle protein synthesis. Yes, glutamine is antagonistic to leucine when it comes to turning on protein synthesis! A dipeptide of alanine and glutamine called Sustamine also fails to turn on mTOR. The science supporting glutamine as a muscle-building, performance-enhancing supplement is quite lacking.

ADVANCED MOLECULAR LABS (AML) POST WORKOUT FOR ENHANCED MUSCLE GROWTH & RECOVERY

For maximum benefits, take 1 scoop of AML Post Workout immediately after a resistance-training workout (on an empty stomach) before eating a post-workout meal. When taking AML Post Workout, you will have support for improved muscle growth from multiple pathways and faster recovery time after your workout.

To enhance muscle growth and recovery after high-intensity exercise, take post-workout nutrients such as leucine (5 grams), creatine monohydrate (5 grams) and betaine (2.5 grams) as present in AML Post Workout (on an empty stomach) before a post-workout meal; providing all the essential amino acids required for muscle protein synthesis.

For best performance results, one hour before your workout, take AML Pre Workout or AML Pre Workout X-Treme. Also, stack AML NITRATE NO3 BOOSTER with AML Pre Workout products.

©Published by Advanced Research Media, Inc. 2023

©Reprinted with permission from Advanced Research Media, Inc. 2023

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