Matrix Nutrition Hyper Gainz

Matrix Anabolic Hyper Gainz is a product from UK based company Matrix Nutrition. This product states that it can trigger tissue growth and accelerate muscle growth. This review will aim to examine the ingredients in this product to see if it can support the claims made.

Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate, (CM) is defined as a nitrogenous organic acid that occurs naturally in humans and aids in the supply of energy to cells in the body, (1). The majority of CM, 95%, can be located in the skeletal muscle with the rest distributed to the brain, heart and smooth muscles.

Creatine has been found to increase the replenishment of ATP stores in the skeletal muscles (2). It is attributed to a greater rate of phosphocreatine resynthesis during the rest periods. Higher sprint speeds reported (3). There have been numerous theories proposed as to why creatine is a benefit to short term high intensity exercise (4). One theory is that the increased amount of phosphocreatine, (PCr), can be used as an immediate buffer to ATP which reduces the dependence of glycolysis which delays the production of lactate and hydrogen ions during exercise thus prolonging the activity by delaying the onset of fatigue, (5).

HMB

HMB or otherwise known as β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate is a chemical component of leucine. HMB has been found to help reduce the breakdown of protein within the muscle (6, 7), however it seems to be less effective as leucine in protein synthesis (8). It is feasible to assume that HMB can help muscle wastage in athletes when they are in out of season, however more research is needed to understand this. 

Carnitine

L-Carnitine is a dipeptide made from the essential amino acids lysine and methionine. L-Carnitine plays an important role in fat metabolism by allowing long chained fatty acids to pass through the mitochondrial membrane (9, 10). 

Beta-Ecdysterone

Beta-Ecdysterone is a naturally occurring steroid found in plants and insects. Due to the lack of androgenicity however there is much greater than anabolic androgenic steroids. One study found there to be no effect on lean muscle mass when compared to a placebo (11). There are a lack of studies on this ingredient and more is needed to elucidate the effects.

D-Aspartic Acid

Aspartic acid is a non-essential amino acid, and is a building block for proteins.

L-Glutamine

Glutamine is a naturally non-essential neutral amino acid that helps with the transport of nitrogen between tissues. Heavy exercise has shown a reduction of glutamine in the blood (12). The amount of glutamine in the muscle is known to be related to the rate of protein synthesis (13) and glycogen synthesis (14) in the first few hours of recovery period of exercise.

Phenylalanine 

L-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid which is a precursor of melanin (15), dopamine (16) noradrenalin and thyroxine (17).

Leucine, Lysine, Valine

Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine are all Branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s). They are essential for protein synthesis which is stimulated after exhaustive exercise (18) as well as the critical metabolic process in muscle (19,20). The metabolic roles of Leucine include energy production and the modulator of muscle protein synthesis via the insulin signalling pathway. There is a reason to suggest that it helps maintenance of muscle mass during weight loss (21). Leucine has also been shown to help in the direct maintenance of glucose homeostasis by improving the redistribution of glucose via the glucose – alanine cycle (22).

Sucralose

Sucralose is a sweetener that is calorie free. This ingredient is used in many products and is used to make the product taste sweeter and does not have any nutritional benefit. 

The amount of ingredients within this supplement can help achieve muscle gain and tissue gain. However due to the ingredient Beta-Ecdysterone included within this supplement it cannot be recommended that this supplement be used as it could potentially be a banned substance. This product should be consumed during or post workout. This product includes Beta-Ecdysterone and cannot be recommended for use.

1 – Balsom, P. D., Soderlund, K., & Ekblom, B. (1994). Creatine in humans with special reference to creatine supplementation. Sports Medicine. 18(4), 260 – 280.

2 – Greenhaff, P.L., Bodin, K., Soderlund, K., Hultrnan, E. (1994). The influence  of  oral  creatine supplementation  on  muscle phosphocreatine  resynthesis  following  intense  contraction in man. American Journal of Physiology, 266(5), 725-730.

3 – Jones, A. M., Atter, T., & Georg, K. P. (1999). Oral creatine supplementation improves multiple sprint performance in elite ice-hockey players. Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 39, 189-196.

4 – Hultman, E., Soderland, K., Timmons, J. A., Cederblad, G. & Greenhaff, P. L. (1996). Muscle creatine loading in men. Journal of Apllied Physiology. 81(1), 232-237.

5 – Casey, A., Constantin – Teodosiu, D., Howell, S., Hultman, E., & Greenhaff, P. L,. (1996). Creatine ingestion favourably affects performance and muscle metabolism during maximal exercise in humans. American Journal of Physiology. 271(1), 31-37.

6 – Wilson, J. M., Lowery, R. P., Joy, J. M., Walters, J. A., Baier, S. M., Fuller, J. C., … & Duncan, N. M. (2013). β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate free acid reduces markers of exercise-induced muscle damage and improves recovery in resistance-trained men. British Journal of Nutrition, 110(03), 538-544.

7 – Hoffman, J. R., Cooper, J., Wendell, M., Im, J., & Kang, J. (2004). EFFECTS OF [beta]-HYDROXY [beta]-METHYLBUTYRATE ON POWER PERFORMANCE AND INDICES OF MUSCLE DAMAGE AND STRESS DURING HIGH-INTENSITY TRAINING. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 18(4), 747-752.

8 – Nissen, S. L., & Sharp, R. L. (2003). Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94(2), 651-659.

9 – Siliprandi, N., Sartorelli, L., Ciman, M., & Di Lisa, F. (1989). Carnitine: metabolism and clinical chemistry. Clinica Chimica Acta, 183(1), 3-11.

10 – Müller, D.M., Seim, H., Kiess, W., Löster, H. & Richter, T. (2002) Effects of Oral l-Carnitine Supplementation on In Vivo Long-Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation in Healthy Adults Metabolism, Volume 51, issue 11, (pp. 1389-1391)

11 – Wilborn, C. D., Taylor, L. W., Campbell, B. I., Kerksick, C., Rasmussen, C. J., Greenwood, M., & Kreider, R. B. (2006). Effects of methoxyisoflavone, ecdysterone, and sulfo-polysaccharide supplementation on training adaptations in resistance-trained males. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 3(2), 1. 

12 – Parry-Billings, M., Budgett, R., Koutedakis, Y., Blomstrand, E., Brooks, S.., Williams, C.,  & Newsholme, E. A. (1992). Plasma amino acid concentrations in the overtraining syndrome: possible effects on the immune system. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 24(12), 1353-1358.

13 – Rennie, M. J., Edwards, R. H. T., Krywawych, S., Davies, C. T., Halliday, D., Waterlow, J. C., & Millward, D. J. (1981). Effect of exercise on protein turnover in man. Clin Sci, 61(5), 627-639.

14 – Bowtell, J. L., Gelly, K., Jackman, M. L., Patel, A., Simeoni, M., & Rennie, M. J. (1999). Effect of oral glutamine on whole body carbohydrate storage during recovery from exhaustive exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 86(6), 1770-1777.

15 – Boylen, J. B., & Quastel, J. H. (1962). Effects of L-phenylalanine and sodium phenylpyruvate on the formation of melanin from L-tyrosine in melanoma.

16 – Kapatos, G., & Zigmond, M. (1977). DOPAMINE BIOSYNTHESIS FROM L‐TYROSINE AND L‐PHENYLALANINE IN RAT BRAIN SYNAPTOSOMES: PREFERENTIAL USE OF NEWLY ACCUMULATED PRECURSORS1, 2.Journal of neurochemistry, 28(5), 1109-1119.

17 – National Library of Medicine’s Medical Subject Headings online file (MeSH, 1999)

18 – Coker, R. H., Miller, S., Schutzler, S., Deutz, N., & Wolfe, R. R. (2012). Whey protein and essential amino acids promote the reduction of adipose tissue and increased muscle protein synthesis during caloric restriction-induced weight loss in elderly, obese individuals. Nutr J, 11(1), 105.

19 – Hulmi, J. J., Lockwood, C. M., & Stout, J. R. (2010). Review Effect of protein/essential amino acids and resistance training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy: A case for whey protein.

20 – Pasiakos, S. M., McLellan, T. M., & Lieberman, H. R. (2015). The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review. Sports Medicine, 45(1), 111-131.

21 – Volek, J. S., Volk, B. M., Gómez, A. L., Kunces, L. J., Kupchak, B. R., Freidenreich, D. J., … & Kraemer, W. J. (2013). Whey protein supplementation during resistance training augments lean body mass. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 32(2), 122-135.

22 – Hansen, M., Bangsbo, J., Jensen, J., Bibby, B. M., & Madsen, K. (2014). Effect of Whey Protein Hydrolysate on Performance and Recovery of Top-Class Orienteering Runners. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism.