Natural Power System 80 Review

System 80 is a product from Austrian based company Natural Power. The product is to be used for muscle gain. The claims on the website state that this product is a high quality muscle building supplement that is guaranteed success. This review will aim to assess the ingredients in this product to understand if and how it can do this.

Whey protein concentrate /soy protein/ Egg protein/Sodium caseinate

Whey, soy, egg protein and sodium caseinate helps aid muscle protein synthesis when combined with resistance training (1, 2). Other key features include increasing muscle mass (3), an increase in lean body mass (4) and greater recovery from exercise (5). Longer periods of supplementation have shown greater gains in fat free mass (6).

Muscle protein synthesis is increased due to high concentration of Leucine (BCAA) which is a signalling molecule needed to increase muscle protein synthesis (7). Consumption of  whey protein helps increase muscle mass due to a greater amount of peripheral nitrogen retention whereas soy protein has been found to have a greater effect on splanchnic protein synthesis (8).

The reason for greater recovery of exercise can be due to a post exercise insulin response (9, 10) which means glycogen resynthesis occurs rapidly so exercise can be prolonged, with greater training volume increased hypertrophy and decreased muscle damage.

Protein hydrolyzate

Wheat protein hydrolyzate has been found to absorb more rapidly than free form amino acids and intact proteins (11), which can lead to a greater delivery to muscles and a greater post exercise muscle protein synthesis after exercise (11). It has been shown that wheat protein hydrolyzate can increase insulin response dramatically and is ideal for recovery post exercise (12).

L-glycine

Glycine is one of the components of creatine which helps increase muscle growth and energy during exercise (13). When metabolised it acts as an amino acid and regulates blood sugar levels which can also control that amount of sugar released into the blood (14).

Guar gum

Guar gum is a dietary fibre that has been reported to decrease plasma cholesterol concentration (15) and increased satiety (16). However a meta-analysis found that although this product is safe no benefit has been found compared to a placebo (17).

Xanthan gum

Xanthan Gum is water soluble dietary fibres, which have been reported to reduce total cholesterol; however there seems to be insufficient evidence to confirm this theory. (18)

Sodium chloride

Sodium chloride is also known as salt.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Vitamin C is known to be a powerful antioxidant (19). Studies have suggested that it can increase endothelial nitric oxide by protecting it from oxidation and increase synthesis, another function that Vitamin C has suggested includes reducing blood pressure (20), however the only proven function of vitamin C is the prevention of scurvy (21).

Nicotinamide (niacin)

Niacin is otherwise known as vitamin B3 and is an antioxidant. Research studies have shown that niacin supplementation increases growth hormones in response to anaerobic exercise (22) as well as a reduction in fasting triglycerides (23). An increase in fasting insulin has been found due to a decrease in insulin sensitivity (24). Further research is needed for this supplement in order to understand the mechanisms.

DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate 50 % (vitamin E)

Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate is otherwise known as vitamin E and is an anti-oxidant (25). This means that it protects the muscles from free radicals, which causes muscle soreness and damage to the muscle tissue and fat cells (26). Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate can counteract these free radicals before damaging these parts of the body which can allow exercise to be prolonged (27).

Calcium D-pantothenate (pantothenic acid)

Calcium D-pantothenate (pantothenic acid) is otherwise known as vitamin B5 and is water soluble. This ingredient helps keep a healthy digestive tract (28) and uses vitamin B2 (29). Pantothenic acid has pantethine which has been found to lower cholesterol (30).

Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6)

The active form of vitamin B6 is known as P-L-P (31), which is stimulated by exercise (32). During exercise the body relies on the liver to produce glucose via glycogenolysis, for which vitamin b6 is essential for, and is an integral part of the glycogen phosphorylase enzyme and thus will provide energy to the bodies’ muscles (33).

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Riboflavin is a nutrient that has been found to help in fat metabolism via the electron-transport chain (34) and an antioxidant (35). It is also one of many nutrients that helps in the production of red blood cells. Levels of riboflavin has been found to diminish during exhaustive exercise (36).

Thiamine Mono-nitrate (Vitamin B1)

Thiamine is also known as vitamin B1 (37) is an essential role in carbohydrate metabolism and oxidation (38). The reported effect that have been found includes, a decrease in heart rate, blood glucose and lactate concentrations (39).

Folic Acid

Folic acid is also known as folate is a water soluble mineral that, along with other nutrients is necessary for red blood cell production (40). It can also help regulate nitric oxide levels in the blood (41).

Biotin

Biotin can also be know as vitamin B7 or Vitamin H. it has been found that it can contribute to metabolism and cell development (42) as well as providing energy during exercise (43)

Cyanocobalamin 0.1% (vitamin B12)

Research studies on vitamin B12 have found that it is required for red blood cell production (44), Protein synthesis and the repair and maintenance of tissue cells (45).

Acesulfame K

Acesulfame K is a sweetener that is calorie free. This ingredient is used in many products and is used to make the product taste sweeter.

Sucralose

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener.

This product should be used for people who want to gain muscle. This product has a vast amount of ingredients with the majority of these proven to be beneficial. It is advised that this product can be taken pre and post exercise due to the protein ingredients that will aid in muscle gain and a variety of b vitamins that will help with the repair, maintenance of body tissues and aiding in the metabolism of carbohydrates. This product has no banned substances when referring to the WADA prohibited list when observing the label/ ingredients posted on the website. This supplement is recommended not for people to lose weight but for people/athletes who want to prolong their exercise sessions.

*NOTE – This product has not been tested in a laboratory and may contain other substances that may not appear on the label  

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