Pre-workout is a generic term for a range of bodybuilding supplement products used by athletes and weightlifters to enhance athletic performance. [1] Supplements are taken to increase endurance, energy, and focus during a workout. [1] Pre-workout supplements contain a variety of ingredients such as caffeine and creatine, differing by capsule or powder products. [2] [3] The first pre-workout product entered the market in 1982, and since then the category has grown in use. [4] Some pre-workout products contain ingredients linked to adverse effects. [2] Although these products are not regulated, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers to be cautious when consuming them. [5]
In 1982, Dan Duchaine formulated the first pre-workout, called Ultimate Orange, in Venice, California. Ultimate Orange was commonly used among bodybuilders. [4]
Between the late 1990s and early 2000s, consumers alleged that an active ingredient in Ultimate Orange, called Ephedra, caused high blood pressure, strokes, seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart attacks. [2]
The risk of using Ephedra gave rise to creatine. [6] Creatine is a supplement that was used by a lot of athletes in the 1992 Olympics where it gained most of its popularity from.
Creatine was considered a form of pre-workout in the late 1990s until the early 2000s where it was then later used with a mixture of other supplements. [7] Creatine was negatively received when it was first introduced to the public until the last decade where it is now one of the most used supplements. [8]
In the early 2000s, supplement companies created more potent forms of pre-workout that caused the blood flow in muscles to increase temporarily, giving lifters a better “pump." [2] These more potent supplements are called Arginine AKG, Arginine Malate, and Citrulline. [2]
In 2005, chemist Patrick Arnold formulated a pre-workout which contained a new ingredient called DMAA (dimethylamylamine). [9] The product Jack3d gained notoriety for its potency, but its high concentrations of DMAA were suspected of causing shortness of breath, chest pain, and an elevated risk of heart attacks. [2] Jack3d was banned in 2012 by the FDA. [2]
Pre-workout supplements are available in different forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, powders, and bars. [10] A number of common ingredients are used. There is considerable overlap between the ingredients used in pre-workout blends and other supplements intended for weight loss, improving mood, life extension, or as purported nootropics or aphrodisiacs, although certain ingredients tend to be found only in products intended to assist in bodybuilding or athletic training. Some ingredients such as caffeine, creatine and β-alanine are found in nearly all pre-workout blends, but each branded product is a "proprietary blend" with an average of 18 different ingredients, the exact composition and proportions of which can vary widely between different products. [11] [12]
Pre-workout supplements are sold in a variety of retailers. The top-selling brands of pre-workout supplements in 2019 included Pre JYM Pre Workout by JYM Supplemental Science, ENGN Shred Pre Workout by EVLUTION Nutrition, and C4 Original Pre Workout by Cellucor. [1] These brands were the top three in the overall bestseller category on leading bodybuilding informational website bodybuilding.com and Sports Illustrated. [1] [66] Some variations on common pre-workout products include sugar-free, creatine-free and stimulant-free options. The market size for pre-workout products was a $2.7 billion industry in 2008. [67] In 2022 the market size for pre-workout had grown to $14.2 billion. [68]
Lack of regulation can mean that the ingredients used to prepare the product may not be of high quality and purity. This can mean the dose stated on the ingredients does not match the actual composition of the blend. Plant extracts in particular are often adulterated or of varying quality, but may be assumed by manufacturers to be pure and consistent. Also, protein powders used to prepare the blend may sometimes be contaminated with melamine, a plastic precursor which is sometimes added to produce false positive results for nitrogen content. Up to 50% of pre-workout blends analysed in one study were found to be contaminated with melamine. [69] [70]
An increase in muscle endurance is primarily attributed to the large amounts of caffeine in pre-workout supplements. [71] [72] [73] The ingested caffeine acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist, which serves to reduce overall pain experienced by the consumer and allowing them to work for longer periods of time. [72] Pre-workout also increases the amount of carbohydrates in the body which are used to increase energy in the body. [74]
Pre-workout has shown to decrease the time it takes for muscles to recover from intense exercise, allowing athletes to reduce time between training sessions. The improvement in muscle recovery is associated with the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) found in pre-workout, [75] particularly, glutamine. [76]
Pre-workout has shown to make athletes feel more energetic during exercise, but the higher energy levels are based on subjective judgement and there is little quantitative proof of an increase in energy. [77] Caffeine's role in enhancing the improvement in perceived energy is observed through the large amounts of caffeine typically found in pre-workout supplements. [78] Caffeine also increases calcium release which allows for stronger muscle contractions during high intensity workouts. [79]
Studies also show that the caffeine in pre-workout improves focus and alertness in athletes as observed through a decrease in reaction-time in different settings. [80] [77]
Various adverse effects may occur according to the pre-workout product and dose of supplement consumed. [10] Some potential side effects of taking pre-workout could include nausea and skin irritation. [81] Other adverse effects have been shown to arise when the product contains ingredients such as synephrine and caffeine. Synephrine is often used as a weight loss supplement and commonly found in pre-workout. Synephrine has been found to cause heart problems and other cardiovascular issues. [82] Caffeine is also a common ingredient found in pre-workout which may cause an increase in blood pressure. Another issue that may arise is a higher risk in cardiac and liver related diseases due to the high concentration of caffeine in these types of products. [83]
The FDA has minimal control when regulating dietary supplements like pre-workout. Product manufacturers are responsible to verify that dietary supplements are safe for consumption. [84] Financial limitations prevent the FDA from testing dietary supplements before they enter the marketplace. [84] Once a supplement is available for sale, the FDA is responsible to document and monitor manufacturer reports of adverse effects. [5] Manufacturers are obligated to report documented adverse effects to the FDA. [5]
The FDA recommends speaking with a healthcare professional before using dietary supplements. Ingredients in pre-workout can have negative side effects or contraindications with other medications. [5] Taking dietary supplements may have life-threatening consequences if taken with pre-existing health conditions. [5] Federal laws state that a supplement does not have to be declared safe by FDA standards when labeled. [5] Most supplement businesses hire third-party companies to identify the contents of their supplement to ensure it enhances athletic performance. This also aids in assuring that a product’s labeled ingredients are free from illegal substances. [10]
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