Can a Clinically-Dosed Pre-Workout Enable More Strength, a Better Pump, and Higher Energy?

With a supplements market so saturated with pre-workouts, what aspects make one stand out from all the others? Quality ingredients dosed as optimally as possible is the path Nutrex has taken with all-in-one pre-workout OUTLIFT.

Nutrex is one of the FIRST company’s to use a clinically-dosed pre-workout formula in OUTLIFT – which is why they’ve taken to calling it the “OG” – it includes 10 “potent and advanced ingredients at full effective doses.” Every single serving includes six grams of BCAAs (branch-chain amino acids).

Nutrex claims that their OUTLIFT pre-workout can help users “beat [their] personal records in the gym” and “set the stage for faster recovery” post-workout. So let’s dive deep into OUTLIFT and see if the science supports what Nutrex offers.

Nutrex OUTLIFT

This clinically-dosed pre-workout includes eight grams of citrulline, 3.2 grams of beta-alanine, and three grams each of creatine monohydrate and L-leucine, among other BCAAs. There are five different flavors available in 20 or 30-serving tubs.

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Editor’s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.

What’s In Nutrex OUTLIFT?

Nutrex OUTLIFT’s ingredient list includes the following per serving:

Citrulline Malate — 8 grams
Beta-Alanine — 3.2 grams
Creatine Monohydrate — 3 grams
L-Leucine — 3 grams
Taurine — 2 grams
L-Isoleucine — 1.5 grams
L-Valine — 1.5 grams
Caffeine Anhydrous — 350 milligrams
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine — 150 milligrams
Black Pepper Extract — 5 milligrams

BCAAs in a pre-workout are relatively common in high-end pre-workouts. However, not all supplement companies’ dosing is the same for each ingredient. Ideally, the dosing in the pre-workout you choose has peer-reviewed research supporting those amounts.

Clinically Dose to Boast?

Below is a breakdown of what some of the latest research has to say about each ingredient in Nutrex OUTLIFT and if their dosing is on par with what has been shown to be most effective:

Citrulline Malate — Eight Grams

While there is a need for additional studies to deterministically prove the optimal dose of citrulline malate, eight grams is tested as “the most common approach” as recently as 2021. (1)

A critical review in the European Journal of Applied Physiology stated that citrulline malate is associated with “enhanced blood flow to active musculature” and increased production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — the coenzyme that transfers energy to cells. (2)

Beta-Alanine — 3.2 Grams

A 2015 position stand by the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN) stated that “beta-alanine attenuates neuromuscular fatigue…and preliminary evidence indicates that beta-alanine may improve tactical performance.” That’s exactly the kind of effect one would hope to have from a pre-workout. (3)

JISSN stated four to six grams in a multi-ingredient taken for two to four weeks can show improvements in performance. However, dividing that into doses as low as 1.6 grams can reduce paraesthesia (tingling), a reported side effect.

Creatine Monohydrate — Three Grams

Creatine monohydrate is a densely researched ingredient with regard to physical performance. A 2017 position stand by JISSN reported “low-dose creatine (0.1 g/kg/day) combined with protein supplementation (0.3g/kg/day) increased lean tissue mass and upper body strength.” (4)

L-Leucine & L-Isoleucine — Three & 1.5 Grams

Sports Medicine states L-Leucine “may improve both mental and physical performance” when consumed before or during endurance exercise. The recommended dosage ranges from 14 to 45mg/kg (99mg/lb) body weight/day, depending on activity level. (5)

As many foods contain L-Leucine, including ham, fish, lamb, poultry, dairy products, fruit, cereals, and more, the three grams in Nutrex OUTLIFT is an amount that users can reasonably adjust their diets to without needing to make significant changes. (6)

While L-Leucine can improve physical performance, L-Isoleucine is critical for “growth, immunity, protein metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and glucose transportation,” as well as improving the immune system. (7)

Taurine — Two Grams

The bang for your buck might be most noticeable in the dosing of taurine in Nutrex OUTLIFT. A 2021 systematic review in Frontier in Physiology found that consuming one gram of taurine “before or after exercise can decrease lactate levels.” Additionally, a much lower dose of 0.05 grams “before performing strength enhancing exercises can decrease muscular fatigue.” (8)

L-Valine

A 2019 double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study in Nutrients found that valine, in combination with arginine and serine, can “reduce the feeling of fatigue during exercise.” That is obviously a desirable benefit for a pre-workout to deliver, so Nutrex OUTLIFT including 1.5 grams of L-Valine is close to the 2.2 grams used in the study. (9)

[Read More: The Best Upper Body Exercises and Workouts]

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness further supports L-Valine in combination with L-Leucine and L-Isoleucine — what Nutrex OUTLIFT provides — in a 2:1:1 ratio of 2-10 g/day as “the most optimal regimen for post-exercise muscle recovery and/or muscle function after high-intensity resistance exercise.” (10)

Caffeine Anhydrous — 350 milligrams

“Caffeine anhydrous may be considered suitable pre-exercise caffeine sources for high-intensity exercise,” according to the European Journal of Sport Science, and the reasons are a boon use in a pre-workout. (11)

In the controlled trial, the placebo group (i.e., those who did not ingest caffeine anhydrous) saw reductions in their sprint and total work capacity compared to the group that consumed a 300-milligram dose of caffeine anhydrous. The caffeine anhydrous group saw “significant improvement” in their work capacity.

N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine — 150 milligrams

L-Tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine and “may counteract decrements in neurotransmitter function and cognitive performance,” per the Journal of Psychiatric Research. However, the conservative dosing in Nutrex OUTLIFT can likely avoid the adverse effects that higher doses of L-Tyrosine can have on cognitive functioning. (12)(13)

Nutrex OUTLIFT

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Can The ‘OG’ Of Clinically-Dosed Pre-Workouts OUTLIFT the Competition?

Putting Nutrex OUTLIFT through its paces and its dosing falls reasonably in line with the recommended doses used in recent scientific research. While not all of the ingredients have position stands on their dosing, several of them do, including Beta-Alanine and Creatine Monohydrate.

The potency of ingredients Nutrex OUTLIFT uses that don’t have position stands on dosing are within reach of the appreciable results that have been shown to be desirable for physical performance. Put simply, Nutrex OUTLIFT is well-balanced and research-supported.

It is always best to consult your physician before making any significant changes to your supplement program, including your choice of pre-workout. Still, Nutrex OUTLIFT would be a favorable option to add to your cart when you’re ready to improve your training.

References

Gough, L. A., Sparks, S. A., McNaughton, L. R., Higgins, M. F., Newbury, J. W., Trexler, E., Faghy, M. A., & Bridge, C. A. (2021). A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance. European journal of applied physiology, 121(12), 3283–3295. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6
Adenosine triphosphate – American Chemical Society. (2023). Retrieved 17 February 2023, from https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/a/adenosine-triphosphate.html
Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Stout, J. R., Hoffman, J. R., Wilborn, C. D., Sale, C., Kreider, R. B., Jäger, R., Earnest, C. P., Bannock, L., Campbell, B., Kalman, D., Ziegenfuss, T. N., & Antonio, J. (2015). International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12, 30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
Kreider, R. B., Kalman, D. S., Antonio, J., Ziegenfuss, T. N., Wildman, R., Collins, R., Candow, D. G., Kleiner, S. M., Almada, A. L., & Lopez, H. L. (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14, 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
Mero A. (1999). Leucine supplementation and intensive training. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 27(6), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199927060-00001
Rondanelli, M., Nichetti, M., Peroni, G., Faliva, M. A., Naso, M., Gasparri, C., Perna, S., Oberto, L., Di Paolo, E., Riva, A., Petrangolini, G., Guerreschi, G., & Tartara, A. (2021). Where to Find Leucine in Food and How to Feed Elderly With Sarcopenia in Order to Counteract Loss of Muscle Mass: Practical Advice. Frontiers in nutrition, 7, 622391. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.622391
Gu, C., Mao, X., Chen, D., Yu, B., & Yang, Q. (2019). Isoleucine Plays an Important Role for Maintaining Immune Function. Current protein & peptide science, 20(7), 644–651. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389203720666190305163135
Chen, Q., Li, Z., Pinho, R. A., Gupta, R. C., Ugbolue, U. C., Thirupathi, A., & Gu, Y. (2021). The Dose Response of Taurine on Aerobic and Strength Exercises: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 700352. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.700352
Tsuda, Y., Yamaguchi, M., Noma, T., Okaya, E., & Itoh, H. (2019). Combined Effect of Arginine, Valine, and Serine on Exercise-Induced Fatigue in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Nutrients, 11(4), 862. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040862
Arroyo-Cerezo, A., Cerrillo, I., Ortega, Á., & Fernández-Pachón, M. S. (2021). Intake of branched chain amino acids favors post-exercise muscle recovery and may improve muscle function: optimal dosage regimens and consumption conditions. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 61(11), 1478–1489. https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.21.11843-2
Trexler, E. T., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Roelofs, E. J., Hirsch, K. R., & Mock, M. G. (2016). Effects of coffee and caffeine anhydrous on strength and sprint performance. European journal of sport science, 16(6), 702–710. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1085097
Jongkees, B. J., Hommel, B., Kühn, S., & Colzato, L. S. (2015). Effect of tyrosine supplementation on clinical and healthy populations under stress or cognitive demands–A review. Journal of psychiatric research, 70, 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.08.014
van de Rest, O., Bloemendaal, M., de Heus, R., & Aarts, E. (2017). Dose-Dependent Effects of Oral Tyrosine Administration on Plasma Tyrosine Levels and Cognition in Aging. Nutrients, 9(12), 1279. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9121279