ZMA 24 Hour is a product from UK based company Applied Nutrition. This product states that it can contribute to normal testosterone levels and the immune system This review will aim to examine the ingredients in this product to see if it can support the claims made

Magnesium Aspartate

Magnesium has been found to be used for 300 biochemical reactions in the body (1). It has been found to maintain muscle function (2), support a healthy immune system (3), keep the heart beat steady (4), and help strengthen bones (5). It has also been found to maintain blood glucose levels (6) and aid in the production of energy and protein.

Valerian Root Extract

Valerian root extract has been noted for its benefits in several areas including sleep. In a review of literature (7), it was found that 80% of participants reported improved sleep compared to a placebo, this is due to its mild tranquiliser qualities. Other benefits of Valerian root extract include a reduction in anxiety which is caused by an increase in a chemical in the brain called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA regulates the body’s nerve cells and reduces anxiety. Decreased anxiety levels results in a direct reduction in blood pressure. (8)

Zinc

Zinc is an inorganic compound. It has been identified as a factor for many enzymes responsible for the synthesis, storage and release of insulin (9), with increases in lean body mass while fat mass either remains stable or decreases, depending on the degree of baseline zinc deficiency (10). With this evidence is has been shown that this ingredient is important for the growth and development of body tissues as well as this a variety of biological processes including wound healing and muscle cramps (11) have been found.

Passion flower extract

The suggest benefits of passion flower extract include the treatment of anxiety, stomach aches, sleep problems and liver problems. However there is a lack of evidence to suggest this ingredient can help reduce these issues (12).

Vitamin B6

The active form of vitamin B6 is known as P-L-P (13), which is stimulated by exercise (14). During exercise the body relies on the liver to produce glucose via glycogenolysis, for which vitamin b6 is essential for, and is an integral part of the glycogen phosphorylase enzyme and thus will provide energy to the bodies’ muscles (15).

Gelatin

Gelatine is a protein which is made from amino acids glycine and proline. The suggested benefits of gelatin have been to boost metabolism and increase satiety, however there is insufficient evidence to reinforce these claims.

Microcrystalline Cellulose

Micro Crystalline Cellulose is a non-active ingredient which is made up of refined wood pulp. This substance doesn’t degrade during digestion and is preferable in tablets due to it being able to form hard but dissolve quickly.

Magnesium Stearate

Magnesium stearate does not induce any nutritional benefits. The main reason for this substance being in the supplement is that it is a lubricant for the machinery that manufactures the product.

Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide does not provide any nutritional benefits and is used as a whitening agent and a thickener in supplements.

This product contains ingredients that can possibly help promote sleep and reduce anxiety. This product should be consumed post workout. This product has no banned substances when referring to the WADA prohibited list when observing the label / ingredients posted on the website.

*NOTE – This product has not been tested in a laboratory and may contain other substances that may not appear on the label

1 – Ryan, M. F. (1991). The role of magnesium in clinical biochemistry: an overview.Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: An international journal of biochemistry in medicine, 28(1), 19-26.

2 – Dørup, I., Skajaa, K., Clausen, T., & Kjeldsen, K. (1988). Reduced concentrations of potassium, magnesium, and sodium-potassium pumps in human skeletal muscle during treatment with diuretics. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.), 296(6620), 455.

3 – Tam, M., Gomez, S., Gonzalez-Gross, M., & Marcos, A. (2003). Possible roles of magnesium on the immune system. European journal of clinical nutrition,57(10), 1193-1197.

4 – White, R. E., & Hartzell, H. C. (1989). Magnesium ions in cardiac function: regulator of ion channels and second messengers. Biochemical pharmacology,38(6), 859-867.

5 – Okuma, T. (2001). Magnesium and bone strength. Nutrition, 17(7), 679-680.

6 – Paolisso, G., Scheen, A., d’Onofrio, F., & Lefèbvre, P. (1990). Magnesium and glucose homeostasis. Diabetologia, 33(9), 511-514.

7 – Bent, S., Padula, A., Moore, D., Patterson, M., & Mehling, W. (2006). Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American journal of medicine, 119(12), 1005-1012.

8 – Benke, D., Barberis, A., Kopp, S., Altmann, K. H., Schubiger, M., Vogt, K. E., … & Möhler, H. (2009). GABA A receptors as in vivo substrate for the anxiolytic action of valerenic acid, a major constituent of valerian root extracts. Neuropharmacology, 56(1), 174-181.

9 – Hashemipour, M., Kelishadi, R., Shapouri, J., Sarrafzadegan, N., Amini, M., Tavakoli, N., … & Poursafa, P. (2009). Effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in prepubertal obese children. Hormones (Athens), 8(4), 279-285.

10 – Prasad, A. S. (1991). Discovery of human zinc deficiency and studies in an experimental human model. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 53(2), 403-412.

11 – Kugelmas, M. (2000). Preliminary observation: oral zinc sulfate replacement is effective in treating muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 19(1), 13-15.

12 – Akhondzadeh, S., Naghavi, H. R., Vazirian, M., Shayeganpour, A., Rashidi, H., & Khani, M. (2001). Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: A pilot double‐blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, 26(5), 363-367.

13 – Ubbink, J. B., Vermaak, W. J., van der Merwe, A., & Becker, P. J. (1993). Vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6, and folate nutritional status in men with hyperhomocysteinemia. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 57(1), 47-53.

14 – Manore, M. M. (2000). Effect of physical activity on thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 requirements. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 72(2), 598s-606s.

15 – Manore, M. N., Leklem, J. E., & Walter, M. C. (1987). Vitamin B-6 metabolism as affected by exercise in trained and untrained women fed diets differing in carbohydrate and vitamin B-6 content. The American journal of clinical nutrition,46(6), 995-1004.