Supplement Review: "VolcaNO"

I figured it was time, yet again, for a supplement review, and today's pick certainly has a tall order to fill. VolcaNO, by Force Factor, supposedly does the following (Description from GNC.com):

"You’ve undoubtedly heard of L-citrulline, creatine, and agmatine, but you’ve likely never seen all three in a single pre-workout supplement. That’s because VolcaNO is one of the first of its kind- different from any formula ever developed. The unrelenting combination of red-hot muscle-building power ingredients is what sets VolcaNO apart from the competition.

As soon as you take VolcaNO, the rock-crushing blends get to work igniting the production of nitric oxide in your body. Like gasoline poured on a fire, L-citrulline is the primary catalyst for nitric oxide creation in VolcaNO. As your body produces more nitric oxide, your endurance will start to climb, and your strength and power will increase to help you blast through to your last rep. 

The second core ingredient in VolcaNO is CON-CRET®, a revolutionary form of creatine. Creatine delivers serious energy and power to help you get the results you want in the gym. It usually comes in bulky powders that require you to drink a lot of water right before your workout, but CON-CRET is ultra-concentrated, finally making it possible to get the strength, endurance, and muscle gains you’re craving, without that sloshy, bloated feeling.

Rounding out the formula agmatine, and for good reason. Naturally synthesized by your body, this super-ingredient is quickly becoming a key part of many weightlifters’ routines. 

The benefits of VolcaNO boil down to a simple equation: smart science plus cataclysmic ingredients equal an unbeatable transformation in the gym. VolcaNO sets a new standard for pre-workout supplements. When you feel the raw power ready to erupt inside you, you’ll understand why VolcaNO is the most intense nitric oxide booster you’ve ever tried." [1]

If that's not a lot of hype, then the sky isn't blue!

Seriously, though, VolcaNO's creators make a number of claims that only beg for skepticism. But let's not jump to any conclusions just let. As usual, we must let the research speak.

What Are These "Red-Hot Muscle-Building Power Ingredients?"

VocaNO contains the following: 

• arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG)
• L-Citrulline
• Agmatine Sulfate
• L-Norvaline
• Creatine HCl
• L-Methionine
• L-Glycine

I'll investigate each of these ingredients in order.

arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG) [2]

AAKG supposedly causes an increase in nitric oxide production, leading to increased vasodilation during weight training. In other words, it should result in you getting a better "pump" and improved blood flow while lifting weights. It should come as little surprise that better blood flow will result in the increased delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to your muscles. These benefits, however, are nothing but theoretical as of now. Little research actually exists that shows AAKG actually results in increased nitric oxide production, let alone increased vasodilation. One study by Willoughby et al. revealed that AAKG had no observable effects on heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow, nitric oxide metabolites, or asymmetric dimethyl arginine beyond what could be attributed to resistance training alone. It should be interesting to note that the body has self-regulatory feedback systems. When the body detects abnormally high levels of nitric oxide, it immediately begins a cascade of events whereby nitric oxide levels are reduced.

In short, AAKG is NOT "proven" to do much of anything. Any benefits are speculative at best.

L-Citrulline [3]

L-citrulline is an amino acid found naturally in food--particularly in watermelon. It is often used for Alzheimer's, dementia, fatigue, muscle weakness, sickle cell, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, bodybuilding, increased energy, and improved athletic performance--insufficient evidence exists to support its effectiveness with regards to any of the aforementioned. In terms of improved athletic performance specifically, some evidence actually reveals that L-citrulline leads to quicker exhaustion from exercise!

Agmatine Sulfate [4]

Agmatine is considered a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. Evidence thus far reveals that it has potential to be used in the treatment of drug addiction and neuropathic pain. It may also protect the brain from toxins and strokes. Most of the research on agmatine has been done with animals, and what few human trials we do have reveal that agmatine may be effective when injected; however, there is insufficient evidence for its effectiveness as an oral supplement. 

Agmatine actually does not pair well with L-citrulline due to some neurological effects that result from their combination. Something else to keep in mind is the fact that agmatine may inhibit the production of nitric oxide--the very substance that VolcaNO is advertised to produce!

L-Norvaline [5]

L-norvaline is purported to inhibit the production of arginase (an arginine inhibiting enzyme). L-arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide, thus it is proposed that L-norvaline will lead to an uninhibited increase in nitric oxide; however, no evidence as of yet exists to suggest that this is in fact the case.

Creatine HCl [6]

Creatine hydrochloride is yet another "new and improved" form of creatine. However, like most permutations of good old creatine monohydrate, creatine hydrochloride is in fact no better than its monohydrate cousin. The chemical structure that distinguishes creatine hydrochloride from monohydrate is negated by stomach acid, which breaks creatine hydrochloride into the basic creatine molecule. On the plus side, creatine hydrochloride is more water soluble than creatine monohydrate (However, to be honest I've never had much issue mixing creatine monohydrate in liquid). On the negative side, creatine hydrochloride is more expensive per serving than creatine monohydrate.

Some of the purported benefits of creatine hydrochloride, such as no need for a loading phase, no water retention, etc. are backed up by little evidence. There is in fact no need to "load" creatine monohydrate. Moreover, water retention is in fact one of the positives of creatine--without water retention, creatine would not be effective.

L-Methionine [7]

L-methionine is an amino acid found naturally in meat, fish, and diary, and it plays an important role in several cell functions. It is possibly effective for preventing liver damage in the instance of acetaminophen overdose, but insufficient evidence exists to demonstrate its effectiveness at treating various other ailments.

L-Glycine [8]

L-glycine may work for treating schizophrenia, leg ulcers, and stroke. Little evidence, however, exists to suggest that it is effective at doing much else.

The Overall Verdict

There is little solid, peer reviewed evidence that suggests any of VolcaNO's ingredients will do what its manufacturers promise. Some of the ingredients are benign, while others actually cancel each other out. The effectiveness of nitric oxide producing supplements is still speculative. Thus far we only have some shining consumer reviews--however, the question of whether these reviews are representative of legitimate physiological effects or of psychological effects (aka, placebo) is still up in the air. 

The only possibly effective ingredient--in my book at least--would be the creatine hydrochloride, which for all intents and purposes is likely just as effective as creatine monohydrate. I think you would do well, however, to simply take creatine monohydrate. Most of the research to date on creatine has been done with creatine monohydrate, and said research has revealed little but effective results. Creatine monohydrate is also dirt-cheap compared to creatine hydrochloride.

Oh, and by the way, though creatine can be effective when taken pre-workout, research by Antonio J., and Ciccone V. demonstrates that creatine is way more effective when taken immediately post-workout [9].

Here's what I suggest you do. Skip the VolcaNO, and just take some caffeine pre-workout. Plenty of evidence suggests that caffeine effectively enhances workout performance (the same cannot be said for VolcaNO). 

Coffee is literally my answer for everything.