IMPACT OF FOUR WEEKS OF A MULTI-INGREDIENT PERFORMANCE SUPPLEMENT ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH, BODY COMPOSITION, AND ANABOLIC HORMONES IN RESISTANCE-TRAINED YOUNG MEN

Kreipke, VC, Allman, BR, Kinsey, AW, Moffatt, RJ, Hickner, RC, and Ormsbee, MJ. Impact of four weeks of a multi-ingredient performance supplement on muscular strength, body composition, and anabolic hormones in resistance-trained young men. J Strength Cond Res 29(12): 3453-3465, 2015Although multi-ingredient performance supplements (MIPS) have increased in popularity because of their array of ergogenic ingredients, their efficacy and safety remain in question. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of supplementation with T+ (SUP; Onnit Labs, Austin, TX, USA), an MIPS containing long jack root, beta-alanine, and branched-chain amino acids, and other proprietary blends, on strength, body composition, and hormones in young resistance-trained men. Subjects were randomized to consume either T+ (SUP; n = 14; age, 21 +/- 3 years; body fat, 18.3 +/- 4.7%) or an isocaloric placebo (PL; n = 13; age, 21 +/- 3 years; body fat, 21.5 +/- 6.2%) for 4 weeks. Both groups underwent a progressive, 4-week high-intensity resistance training protocol. Before and after the training protocol, mood state, body composition, blood hormones (also collected at midpoint), and maximal strength were measured. SUP had significantly greater increases in bench press (SUP, 102 +/- 16 kg to 108 +/- 16 kg vs. PL, 96 +/- 22 kg to 101 +/- 22 kg; p < 0.001) and total weight lifted (SUP, 379 +/- 59 kg to 413 +/- 60 kg vs. PL, 376 +/- 70 kg to 400 +/- 75 kg; p < 0.001) compared with PL. Additionally, deadlift strength relative to total body mass (calculated as weight lifted/body mass; kg:kg) (2.08 +/- 0.18 to 2.23 +/- 0.16; p = 0.036) and lean mass (2.55 +/- 0.19 to 2.72 +/- 0.16; p = 0.021) increased significantly in SUP but not PL (2.02 +/- 0.30 to 2.15 +/- 0.36 and 2.56 +/- 0.31 to 2.70 +/- 0.36, respectively). No other significant differences were detected between groups for the remaining variables. Supplementing with SUP enhanced resistance training adaptations independent of hormonal status, and thus SUP use may warrant inclusion into peri-workout nutrition regimens. This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT01971723).