Flex 'em
Looks can be deceiving. A quick glance at the majority of pre workout packaging on the market confirms one thing: most companies plump for a colorful presentation. Glimmering neons, bold flashes – to many gym goers, it seems, they equal ‘energy.’
What’s striking about GAT Sports’ Nitraflex, then, is how it really isn’t that striking, from the get-go Nitraflex looks to offer a ‘no nonsense’ approach.
It’s also a supplement which tries to straddle two target audiences. Not only does it aim to deliver the energy that is a given for all pre-workouts, it also claims to increase strength and testosterone. As we’ll find out later, it also tries to muscle into fat burning territory.
So … does it pull it off?
Available in eight flavors, a special mention has to go to the genius that got a Pina Colada variety green lit.
We’ll look at the ingredient list in detail later. First, the scores.
This formula is ringing a few bells. Sadly, those bells are alarm bells. The alarm bells that sound when you’re dealing with a staggering THREE proprietary blends.
For those not in the know, a proprietary blend is a series of ingredients listed as one large quantity. The problem is that whilst each component might be cataloged, the individual amounts aren’t.
To be effective, pre workouts need to get their dosages right (with either too little OR too much often being undesirable.) Proprietary blends demand a lot of your trust then.
The issue is, they CAN hand manufacturers an opportunity to stack their products with lots of cheap, ineffective filler. We don’t know about you, but we prefer to know exactly what we’re paying for, and in what measure.
In terms of what’s in Nitraflex, there are things we like (citrulline malate, caffeine, theanine,) and some things we don’t so much (beta alanine, l-argenine.) There’s also a fair few that just seem out of place in a pre workout (more on that which later.)
With its undisclosed dosages, Nitraflex will have to call for back up in this round.
In terms of what’s in Nitraflex, there are things we like (citrulline malate, caffeine, theanine,) and some things we don’t so much (beta alanine, l-argenine.) There’s also a fair few that just seem out of place in a pre workout (more on that which later.)
With its undisclosed dosages, Nitraflex will have to call for back up in this round.
The going rate for Nitraflex is as bewildering as its many flavors and formats. You can pick up 300mg (30 servings) of Black Cherry for $34/£24. Or get the same amount for $92/£64.99 (!) You could buy seven servings for $10.99, or you could try eight for $12.23. You can even plump for a single serving sampler pack of all eight flavors for $13.99.
Confused? Us too.
The information available online certainly presents GAT Sports as a reliable manufacturer, with their US-based site being cGMP and SOP approved.
Their website also helpfully lists each of the one thousand plus authorized retailers, although these are only in the US and Puerto Rico.
We did notice a reference to ‘decades of experience,’ whilst another source states that the company was founded in 2012, however. Presumably those decades were spent at some other company before they founded Nitraflex. Their claim that Nitraflex is clinically tested is also dubious, and they offer nothing to actually back this up.
Most reviews for Nitraflex lean more towards the positive, with the majority reporting decent muscle pumps and increased energy and stamina generally.
A handful describe some nausea after use and complain of the taste. Which to be fair isn’t that uncommon with pre-workouts, especially if there is the dreaded ‘Black Cherry’ flavor. But a good score in this round.
Operating out of Monroe, Connecticut, German American Technologies (GAT) produce and sell a frankly dizzying variety of workout supplements, from t-boosters to thermogenics. Information on GAT Sports is perhaps a touch on the thin side, although generally they seem well presented and genuine enough.
They seem to focus quite heavily on celebrity endorsement, with both male and female bodybuilders and physique champions preferred (having said that, of course, endorsements aren’t always strictly reliable.)
One scoop dissolved in 10 ounces of water, 30 minutes before workout, with the same amount in the morning of ‘off’ days.
Some reviewers have reported nausea, anxiety, irritability and insomnia. The beta alanine present could cause parasthesia.
The product is readily available on Amazon, SVN Canada and from GAT Sports website, among others. Plenty of options.
As mentioned above, GAT Nitraflex contains three large proprietary blends, all listed as one gigantic 7,240 mg dose. Let’s dive in …
Two listings for two very similar ingredients. L-citrulline is an amino acid found in watermelons. When the organic acid malate is added to it, the compound citrulline malate is formed.
Thought to reduce lactic acid and ammonia, and stimulate blood flow, increasing muscle pumps during workout. The malic acid will also improve endurance.
There’s a catch though. The optimal dose of l-citrulline and its malate compound is between 6,000 and 8,000 mg. Considering Nitraflex’s three proprietary blends combined add up to just over 7,000 mg, it’s difficult to believe there’s enough of either here to be very effective.
Another naturally occurring amino acid, found in protein-rich foodstuffs like chicken, red meat, and nuts, mixed with malic acid.
When your body absorbs l-argenine, it produces nitric oxide, widening the blood vessels and improving blood flow.
Unfortunately l-argenine has a poor absorption rate when taken orally. Although it plays an important role in nitric oxide production, just stuffing yourself with it isn’t necessarily what your body is expecting, and you’ll ultimately be wasting your time.
Ironically, a bigger citrulline dose would have produced the desired result here more effectively.
Found in almonds, grapes and blueberries, some research indicates that pterostilbine might reduce cholesterol and blood glucose [1]. And…that’s about it.
In other words, its inclusion in a pre workout is probably about as useful as a handbrake in a canoe.
Worst of all, as its part of a proprietary blend, you don’t know how much of it you’re actually shelling out for.
Not really an ingredient we’d recommend for a pre workout. Another naturally occurring amino acid, beta alanine has been shown to marginally delay the onset of fatigue.
The problem is that beta alanine has become notorious for causing acute parasthesia (better known as severe pins and needles,) in doses over 1g.
This may not pose a health threat as such, but it’s sure going to piss you off when you’re trying to focus on your workout.
Again, of course, there’s no way of knowing how much alanine is actually in Nitraflex. Suck it and see, then. Or not…
An apparently anti-oxidant compound thought to improve memory and reaction time, DMAE has been negatively linked with birth defects in infants [2].
Consequently, we definitely do NOT recommend ingesting this in any quantity if you are a woman trying to conceive.
A non-essential amino acid, there is some evidence that tyrosine improves cognitive ability and can help to reduce stress. Despite this, there’s currently little research into its long term effects.
Much like pterostilbine in the first blend, tyrosine could hardly be called a ‘go to’ ingredient for a pre workout.
More familiar ground with this one. One of the most studied pre workout ingredients going, caffeine can boost athletic performance and endurance by up to 3%. It also reduces the onset of fatigue by allowing the working muscles to draw on fat reserves for energy (an effect known as glycogen sparing.)
Strangely, caffeine is one of only two ingredients found in Nitraflex whose individual dosage is listed: 350mg per serving.
Given that the performance enhancing qualities of caffeine peak at around 200-250mg, this is too much, and will probably cause some jitters.
To be fair to GAT Sports, the inclusion of l-theanine is a good idea, as it has a well documented synergistic relationship with caffeine that can actually bolster its effects and reduce side effects such as jitters.
However, some research [3] suggests that there needs to be a specific ratio of dosages for this to truly occur (around one part caffeine to two parts theanine.)
Again, there’s no way of telling if this is or isn’t the case with Nitraflex…
Another confusing ingredient. Also known as alpha-yohimbine, there are plenty that claim rauwolscine (which is found in certain plant roots) is a very effective fat burner.
There are two issues here: firstly, some manufacturers seem keen to replace the recently banned yohimbine with the similar rauwolscine. To date, however, there’s been very little research into its effects. A case of throwing (your) good money after bad, perhaps?
And secondly, isn’t Nitraflex supposed to be a pre workout, and not a fat burner?
The last of Nitraflex’s three proprietary blends contains just the one ingredient:
Calcium fructopyranose borate (CFB) – A relatively new name on the supplement scene, CFB is a compound of calcium, fructose and boron.
Although boron has long been identified as a useful t-booster, this compound is considered new and relatively untested. We advise caution.
Niacin – Last but not least, niacin. Along with caffeine, this is the only listed ingredient with a specified dosage: 25mg, or 125% of your recommended daily intake.
Also known as vitamin B3, niacin is an important cholesterol regulator. Excessive dosages, though (say, a quarter above the FDA approved limit,) can cause problems relating to the liver and gut, and has been linked with glucose intolerance [4].
So, all in then, an overdosed ingredient that will not directly benefit your workout. Great..
It may have many, many ingredients, but more is not necessarily more.
Put bluntly, this product comes across as a bit of a mess, seemingly unsure as to what it’s trying to do and for whom.
No less than three proprietary blends, meanwhile, is no way to gain a distinction on this site. Could always be worse, but it’s definitely ‘Back in Training’ for Nitraflex.
