Can a single drug-free product really produce the kind of extreme
muscle growth you can visibly see week to week? Gains of up to 30lbs of
rock hard muscle in a matter of just a few months? Along with dramatic
increases in strength? Up until recently, we would have said these
claims are absolute marketing hype but researchers (and even many
competitive bodybuilders) are saying this innovative formula by
BioQuest may do all of this and more. So to fully evaluate these bold
statements, we've hired veteran sports supplement researcher and
product expert, Anssi Manninen, who is the Senior Science Editor at
Muscular Development magazine. Anssi has dug deep into the science
behind MyoZene and reveals here, his in-depth findings.
As modern science delves deeper into the mysteries of
muscular development,
we learn that there are many complex mechanisms involved in muscle
synthesis, which have never truly been addressed before in a single
supplement. For one, science has recently figured out how to
dramatically increase insulin to the level necessary to optimize amino
acid uptake directly into muscle tissue, which in turn triggers new
muscle growth. At the same time, researchers have created new, highly
anabolic
"engineered proteins" which are so rapidly
absorbed that they can completely bypass the digestion process
entirely, resulting in the fastest and most complete uptake into muscle
tissue possible. Put another way, this combination of insulin and super
proteins is about as close as we can get to shooting an injection of
highly anabolic aminos directly into muscle tissue at the very moment
when the body is primed for
significant muscle growth.
To properly understand the significance of these emerging technologies,
we must first appreciate the rare and precious muscle-building
opportunity that presents itself--very briefly--after vigorous,
sustained exercise. During the vast majority of your day, there are
strict limits on how much protein your body can utilize. However, there
is one precious anabolic window during which the normal rules of
protein assimilation are suspended. This almost unlimited "fueling-up
window" occurs in the two hours or so after an intense workout. During
these two hours, glycogen- and amino acid-starved muscles are screaming
for more fuel. However, technological limitations of protein design
have severely limited our abilities to fully take advantage of this
precious window of opportunity. More specifically, with even the purest
whey isolates, the protein digestion process takes just too long to
truly maximize the anabolic reactions that occur immediately following
high-intensity training.
For years, bodybuilders and nutritionists have implemented this strategy by using
fast-acting whey combined with dextrose, after training. It was an excellent concept and in fact, does contribute heavily to
promoting muscle growth,
but does it truly maximize the critical anabolic processes taking place
at this crucial time? As good as it seemed, emerging research suggests
that concept may have only been scratching the surface. The key is to
raise insulin to a truly anabolic level, while flooding the muscles
with the proper matrix of
muscle-building amino acids. It is this exact sequence that activates muscle genes and ignites dramatic muscle growth. That has been the objective of
post-workout nutrition
all along but only recently has research identified the precise
nutritional factors needed to fully accomplish this goal. Fortunately,
one company has been quick to recognize the significant applications
and tremendous potential this research has for bodybuilding. BioQuest
appears to be the first to engineer a product, utilizing these new
developments, to specifically act within the highly anabolic
post-workout muscle-growth window. That formulation,
MyoZene, is powered by a
premium protein
previously unavailable to athletes. This protein, which is the
centerpiece of its formulation, is the first of its kind that has
undergone such a high degree of hydrolysis that it is rapidly absorbed
directly into the bloodstream, actually bypassing the standard
digestion process. This is important for two reasons:
1) it strongly augments the insulin response
2) it allows the critical anabolic amino acids to be transported to
muscle tissue fast enough to impact muscle gene expression and ignite
muscle synthesis during the critical post-workout window.
The significance of the role of the insulin response in this equation
is not to be understated. It is clearly the key to igniting protein
synthesis and getting the critical amino acids transported to the
muscle cells where they can form new muscle tissue. It is also the
reason why some hardcore bodybuilders abuse insulin by directly
injecting large doses immediately after training. Insulin
administration can reportedly produce "rapid and noticeable [muscle]
growth...almost immediately after starting insulin therapy" according
to steroid expert Bill Llewellyn.(1) Of course, due to the obvious
drawbacks to injecting insulin, athletes are now focused on nutritional
interventions to elevate post exercise insulin levels. Simply put,
without adequate insulin levels you can not build serious muscle mass.
The
MyoZene formula
is actually the first I've seen that contains an ultra-potent matrix of
insulinotropic factors engineered to unleash a large surge of anabolic
insulin. These two technologies work synergistically to create the
ideal environment for promoting extreme muscle growth. In short, the
introduction of
MyoZene marks the arrival of an entirely new science of ultra-precision-targeted muscle cell nutrition, repair, and growth.
Ultra-Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Fires Up a "Perfect Storm" of Muscle Cell Synthesis and Growth
MyoZene's protein is what truly sets it apart from any other product I've ever seen. In fact, its specialized
premiumform of ultra-hydrolyzed whey protein
has never before been used in any over the counter supplement according
to representatives from the supplier that makes it. This
highly complex hydrolysis process actually mimics our own digestive
actions, thus making it a vastly superior way to utilize dietary
proteins. According to the manufacturer, who I spoke to
directly, the protein molecules have been enzymatically cut down into
the fastest-acting
di- and tripeptides with a lower
average molecular weight than anything this industry has ever seen
before. At the same time, this unique hydrolyzation process leaves the
superior amino profile of whey protein completely intact. These
ultra-low molecular weight peptides in
MyoZene
are then rapidly taken up by the gut and released into the bloodstream
where they transport the aminos directly into muscle tissue. Equally
important is the fact that this ultra-hydrolyzed protein also
significantly increases insulin secretion which further
enhances transport of amino acids into the muscle tissue,
where protein synthesis is stimulated. Obviously, these are the PRECISE
mechanisms that ignite muscle synthesis and when implemented
immediately following intense resistance exercise, can truly optimize
this critical post-workout "anabolic cascade" resulting in
extreme muscle growth.
To highlight this point, a recent study at the Copenhagen Muscle
Research Center was implemented to determine the effects different
protein-containing solutions have on insulin response and amino acid
availability in healthy humans.(2) Four different solutions of 600
milliliters were used in this study. The glucose solution (control)
contained only glucose, and the three additional solutions contained
the same quantity of glucose and protein, but proteins were derived
from different sources. This study indicated that:
1.
Ingestion of glucose and protein hydrolysate
results in synergistic and fast increases in blood insulin. In fact,
protein hydrolysates stimulated an increase in blood insulin that was
two and four times greater than that produced by the intact
(non-hydrolyzed) milk protein solution and glucose solution,
respectively.
2.
Protein hydrolysates
are absorbed at a faster rate from the small intestine than are intact
milk proteins, as reflected by the rapid increase in the blood
concentration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in peripheral blood.
3.
Whey protein hydrolysate
elicited the greatest availability of amino acids during the three-hour
postprandial (occurring after a meal) period. This difference was
attributed to the rapid increase in blood amino acids evoked during the
first 40 minutes of the digestive period, during which the increase was
about 37% greater after the ingestion of whey protein hydrolysate
solution than that after ingestion of the intact milk protein solution.
The authors suggested that the association of high levels of blood
amino acids and insulin might explain a superiority of protein
hydrolysates over intact proteins in promoting better nitrogen
utilization (i.e., greater anabolism), especially when administered in
combination with high-glycemic carbohydrates.
More recently, Dr. Kaastra and co-workers determined
the extent to which the combined ingestion of high-glycemic carbs and a
protein hydrolysate (rich in small peptides), with or without
additional free leucine, can increase insulin levels during
post-exercise recovery.(3) Fourteen male athletes were subjected to
three randomized crossover trials in which they performed 2 h of
exercise. Thereafter, subjects were studied for 3.5 h during which they
ingested carbs only, carbs + protein hydrolysate, or carbs + protein
hydrolysate + free leucine in a double-blind fashion. The results
revealed that blood insulin responses were 108% and 190% greater in the
carbs + protein hydrolysate and carbs + protein hydrolysate + leucine
trial, respectively, compared with the carbs only trial. This study
also indicates that addition of free phenylalanine, as applied in
earlier studies, is not necessary to obtain such high post-exercise
insulin responses.
Similarly, a brand new study at the Maastricht University examined
blood insulin responses after co-ingestion of protein hydrolysate (rich
in small peptides) with and without additional free leucine with a
single bolus of high-glycemic carbohydrate.(4) Again, subjects
participated in 3 trials in which blood insulin responses were
determined after the ingestion of beverages of different composition:
carbs only, carbs + protein hydrolysate, or carbs + protein hydrolysate
+ free leucine. The result indicated that blood insulin responses were
66% and 221% greater in the healthy controls in the carbs + protein
hydrolysate and carbs + protein hydrolysate + free leucine trials,
respectively, compared with those in the carbs only trial. In other
words, this study also demonstrated that co-ingestion of a protein
hydrolysate with additional leucine strongly augments insulin secretion
after the consumption of a single bolus of carbohydrate.
Collectively, this research points towards the conclusion that
post-exercise
drinks containing fast-acting insulinotropic protein hydrolysates,
leucine, and high-glycemic carbs may well be the most potent
muscle-building strategy currently available. There is simply no other type of
sports supplement that so strongly influences all of the key anabolic processes, including insulin response, and amino acid uptake.
However, until the recent introduction of
MyoZene,
most all protein hydrolysate based products sold in the sports
nutrition industry have actually contained very low amounts of peptides
and the majority being in the form of large (slow-acting) oligopeptides
which are of little use in promoting post-exercise anabolism. In other
words, there is a simple form of hydrolyzed protein (i.e low degree
hydrolysis) and a much more complex high-degree form (as in MyoZene).
The difference between these two is truly night and day and only the
latter has a significant effect on anabolism. In my humble opinion, the
ideal protein for the post-exercise drinks is a whey protein
hydrolysate with a very high degree of hydrolysis (as contained in
MyoZene). Such a hydrolysate (providing a mixture of small
peptides and free amino acids) is absorbed ultra-rapidly and produces
strong pharmacological effects (e.g., insulin secretion, increased
IGF-1, and immediate muscle protein synthesis).
"The Ultimate Post-Workout Supplement for Boosting Anabolic Response"
"To
me, the perfect post workout drink would augment recovery, boost the
anabolic response of training, decrease skeletal muscle catabolism,
increase cellular hydration, decrease oxidative stress, maintain and
enhance the immune system and improve performance. I know what you're
thinking... There is no way a post exercise drink could do all of that
and be affordable. Well, my friends, yes it is possible and it has been
done. BioQuest has created the ultimate post workout drink called
MyoZene.
MyoZene
was scientifically engineered to be the most advanced post-exercise
nutrition based on the work of leading scientists from all over the
world. It contains the highest quality nutrients that work
synergistically to accomplish my goals for the perfect post-workout
supplement. If you are serious about your training, then
I would highly recommend MyoZene for your post workout nutrition."
--Jeffrey R. Stout, Ph.D.
Jeffrey Stout, Ph.D. is a Fellow of the American College of Sports
Medicine and a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
In 2001, he was named the leading young scientist of the year by the
National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has served as
advisor to major supplement companies, including Met-Rx, GNC and EAS
and has authored numerous peer reviewed books and articles on
supplementation for strength and endurance athletes.
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A Significant Dose of Extra Leucine Further Amplifies Muscle Anabolism
In addition to the ultra-hydrolyzed proteins and high-GI carbs,
MyoZene
contains an ultra-potent dose of the key branched-chain amino acid
leucine, which acts as a nutrient signal to stimulate muscle protein
anabolism. After exercise, recovery of muscle protein synthesis
requires dietary protein or branched-chain amino acids to increase
tissue levels of leucine.(5) A well-controlled study by Dr. Koopman and
colleagues examined post-exercise muscle protein synthesis and whole
body protein balance following the combined ingestion of high-glycemic
carbohydrate with or without whey protein hydrolysate and/or
leucine.(6) The results revealed that the co-ingestion of leucine even
further increases the net protein balance, compared with carbohydrate
and whey protein hydrolysate ingestion. The authors concluded that,
"the additional ingestion of free leucine in combination with protein
and carbohydrate likely represents an effective strategy to increase
muscle anabolism following resistance exercise."
More recently, Dr. Crowe and co-workers investigated the effects of
leucine supplementation on the exercise performance of well-trained
athletes.(7) The subjects underwent testing before and after six weeks
of supplementation with either leucine or placebo. The results revealed
that leucine supplementation significantly improved endurance
performance and upper body power. Researchers suggested that the
performance-enhancing effects of leucine were likely related to a
reduction in skeletal muscle damage with training and/or an increase in
skeletal muscle protein anabolism.
A Crucial Evolutionary Leap Forward in Protein Supplementation Science

With the introduction of
MyoZene,
we see the beginning of an evolution in the application and theory of
protein supplementation in support of muscle growth. Where formerly the
emphasis was on massive amounts of protein consumption administered
indiscriminately throughout the day, now we have more of an emphasis on
the "when" and "how" of protein consumption. A precision-targeted
technology tailored to the body's natural rhythms of repair and growth
makes perfect sense, and is, in fact, poised to usher in a new era of
truly prodigious standards of muscle mass increase. Clearly,
ever-swifter protein uptake and utilization, coupled with more
efficient insulin response and activity, are essential aspects of
superior muscle function and growth. MyoZene is the first
high-performance nutritional matrix created entirely as a reflection of
this philosophy.
As an editor of a leading
bodybuilding magazine, this is an area that I have studied intimately
over the years and it is with the utmost enthusiasm that I can
recommend MyoZene as a legitimate muscle enhancement agent based on
precise and proven scientific principles. When consumed immediately
following intense resistance exercise, there is no question MyoZene
will activate the key anabolic mechanisms needed for rapid and dramatic
muscle growth. As a result,
MyoZene is a product that will help promote significant visible gains in lean mass.