On May 9, 2024, NNB Nutrition announced that they have become the sole distributor of the new cutting edge DL185™ dileucine peptide supplement ingredient,[1] formerly known as RAMPS. This is a patent-pending leucine dipeptide molecule that can outperform its branched-chain amino acid precursor, leucine, in stimulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS).
NNB is proud to announce that the initial exclusivity period for dileucine is over, and open distribution of the ingredient has begun.
NNB Nutrition has announced open distribution of DL185 Dileucine, after an exclusive period with MuscleTech in their Peptide 185 supplement.
What is Dileucine?
Most readers are familiar with leucine, the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that’s a key regulator of the mTOR pathway, which is critical for activating muscle protein synthesis in an effort to build skeletal muscle.[2-5]
Dileucine is a peptide bond of two leucine molecules,[6] and research shows that various peptide metabolites are responsible for a great deal of the anabolic effects of BCAAs.[6] More peptides in circulation generally means more efficient muscle production.
DL185 promotes the following benefits, with research shown below in the next section:
- 60% greater muscle protein synthesis activation versus leucine
- 90% more leucine in the muscle within 30 minutes of consumption
- Increased muscle protein synthesis without exercise* *(we don’t recommend avoiding exercise, but note for injuries and rest days)
Dileucine Research: Muscle Building and Comparisons to Leucine
There have now been a few studies published regarding dileucine, with more on the way:
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2021: Initial Dileucine Study Demonstrates Greater Anabolic Effect Than Leucine
In a double-blind, randomized, crossover study published in 2021, researchers tested healthy young men, giving them 2 grams of leucine or 2 grams of dileucine peptide (the morning after they had all received identical dinners and had been abstaining from exercise), then measured numerous markers.[7]
As expected, the researchers saw that dileucine supplementation raised dileucine blood levels more than leucine. But what was more interesting was that they also saw a significantly greater fractional synthesis rate (FSR) in the dileucine group, whereas there was no significant difference in muscle breakdown.[7]
The big story with dileucine is how it can increase fractional synthesis rate (FSR) significantly more than an equivalent amount of standard leucine.[7]
This means that dileucine’s net anabolic effect was greater than leucine’s. Dileucine actually increased MPS by about 160% compared to baseline, and about 60% more than leucine![7]
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ISSN 2023 Presentation: 2g Dileucine vs. Leucine in Resistance-Trained Males
Effects of 10-weeks of Dileucine supplementation on athletic performance[8]
Another study was presented at the 2023 ISSN (International Society of Sports Nutrition) conference, where 32 resistance-trained males (average age 28) were recruited and given either 2 grams of dileucine, 2 grams of leucine, or placebo (2 grams of resistant starch) for 10 weeks.[8,9]
They trained 4 times per week, hitting every major muscle group with 3-4 sets at 6-10 reps.[8,9] The researchers found that dileucine improved maximum lower body strength and number of reps until failure more than leucine or placebo.[8]
Update: This study has now been formally published in 2024 — see below.
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University of Toronto: 2g Dileucine + 1g Leucine vs. 6g 2:1:1 BCAA vs. Collagen
A third randomized, double-blind, crossover study, which has been presented in Toronto but not yet published, used isotope tracking to show that dileucine increased leucine retention far greater than BCAA or collagen.[10] It also significantly reduced muscle breakdown in response to a whole-body resistance training regimen, whereas BCAA did not.[10]
In this poster presentation, dileucine significantly reduced muscle breakdown in response to whole-body resistance training, while BCAA did not.[10]
PricePlow will be first to provide coverage when these poster presentations are published in peer-reviewed journals — these are just a hint of what’s to come.
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2024: New Study Publication Validates Dileucine’s Effectiveness
The scientific foundation supporting dileucine continues to grow stronger. In December 2024, researchers published groundbreaking findings in the prestigious journal PLOS ONE demonstrating that dileucine supplementation can enhance resistance training adaptations more effectively than standard leucine.[11]
The 10-week study examined 32 resistance-trained males who supplemented with either 2 grams of dileucine monohydrate, 2 grams of leucine, or a placebo while following a structured training program. The results showed that the dileucine group achieved significantly greater increases in leg press strength compared to placebo, with improvements ranging from 5.8 to 73.2 kg. Additionally, the dileucine group demonstrated superior muscular endurance, completing more repetitions to failure compared to the leucine group. Notably, while both leucine and placebo groups showed some improvements, only dileucine supplementation led to statistically significant enhancements in lower body strength and performance.[11]
To learn more about this groundbreaking research, read our article titled “New Dileucine Research: 2024 Study Shows NNB Nutrition’s DL185 Improves Strength“.
The History of DL185 Dileucine Peptide
We first heard about dileucine on Episode #078 with Ralf Jaeger on the PricePlow Podcast, who mentioned some upcoming excitement about the ingredient at the 34:50 mark in the episode. Dr. Jaeger is with Ingenious Ingredients (ING2), who developed and patented the ingredient.
Explanation: The body is “lazy”… but not when it comes to making dileucine
What struck our attention in that podcast is when he mentioned that the body is generally “lazy” with its energy, and never goes out of its way to do something unless there’s a very good biological reason. Yet it does go out of its way to form dileucine from leucine, which leads us to strongly believe that there is something incredibly important to the molecule.
MuscleTech Peptide 185 on the PricePlow Podcast
Raza Bashir of MuscleTech and Shawn Wells of Ingenious Ingredients join the PricePlow Podcast for Episode #123 to discuss the new dileucine ingredient in Peptide 185!
MuscleTech was then given an exclusive first-to-market opportunity with the ingredient, producing their Peptide 185 supplement with incredible fan-fare and repeated sell-outs. Peptide 185 is labeled as DL-185™ dileucine (L-leucyl-L-leucine monohydrate), which is branding that they plan to maintain.
One of the best discussions on Peptide 185 and DL185 dileucine is again on the PricePlow Podcast, this time in Episode #123 with MuscleTech’s Raza Bashir and NNB’s Shawn Wells, who give an incredible breakdown of the ingredient, its mechanisms, and the excitement surrounding it.
Iovate/MuscleTech confirmed that Peptide 185 will remain on the market, but with NNB’s announcement, Iovate’s exclusive period is over, and NNB now has open distribution.
You can read NNB Nutrition’s official press release for more information.[1] We have a few great formulation ideas for DL185, so contact us if you’d like to consult in forming some novel uses.
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