Impel Nutrition Vain: 30 FULL Non-Stim Servings of Insane Vascularity

On the PricePlow Blog, we’re always excited to see young brands doing things right. New companies increase our product options and bring a fresh look to the table. Today we’re excited about a young brand with a monster take on stim-free pre workout supplements.

Meet Impel Nutrition, a brand with a MONSTER stim-free pump supplement… and public third-party lab tests to prove it!

Impel Nutrition was founded by CEO James Hendricks back in mid-2019. After two decades of using supplements and conducting ingredient research under his belt, James was frustrated with the amount of under-dosed and misleading products on the market and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Fueled by intense grit, motivation, and an incredible work ethic (and perhaps some caffeine!), James launched Impel Nutrition. The new brand is built on the very things he believes in —- an uncompromising drive to improve and a willingness to put in the work.

Impel is a brand for people who share these beliefs, not just in the gym but in life.

Vain – the brand’s strong pump pre-workout

Now this is how you do stim-free pre workouts. 30 full servings, and it could be your first chance at trying FitNox!

Every Impel Nutrition product has been built with these core dogmas in mind, delivering efficacious doses of scientifically-backed ingredients that help users reach their goals. Impel offers a few different formulas, each designed for a specific purpose. Today, we highlight Vain, the brand’s potent non-stimulant pre-workout that packs some serious muscle pumps. Using multiple standardized ingredients, Vain increases blood flow to a degree that brings “freaky fullness” to your training session.

30 scoops, 30 monster servings.

And it has 30 one-scoop servings – none of this “20 servings / 40 scoop” stuff you see on labels. We’re talking 30 big ones here – which is the first thing that caught our attention on the label.

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Impel Nutrition’s Vain Ingredients – 30 FULL serving scoops!

Each container of Vain contains 30 one-scoop servings, where one serving consists of the following:

• L-Citrulline – 5,000mg

  

  That’s right… none of that 20/40 stuff. Just 30 huge scoops of glory. Ready to try FitNox alongside Nitrosigine?!

  L-citrulline is a non-essential amino acid that’s both found in foods as well as produced naturally in the body. It acts as a major intermediate in two crucial bodily cycles: the urea cycle and nitric oxide (NO) cycle. Kidneys metabolize citrulline into L-arginine, an amino acid that serves as the main catalyst for ornithine synthesis in the urea cycle and NO in the NO cycle.^[1] The involvement of arginine, and citrulline by relation, in these two cycles sheds light on citrulline’s potential as a sports supplement.

  Arginine that enters the NO cycle interacts with an enzyme called NO synthase (NOS), yielding NO. Circulating NO induces vasodilation, opening up blood vessels to encourage superior blood flow and nutrient delivery in the body.^[1] Alternatively, arginine that reacts with arginine yields ornithine. This metabolic pathway increases urea and decreases ammonia, a byproduct of amino acid metabolism that is a key indicator of muscular fatigue.^[2]

  Leveraging citrulline to raise arginine levels influences both NO production and ammonia removal. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science perhaps best summarizes citrulline’s ability to improve blood flow and remove metabolic waste. In reviewing the findings of 13 different studies, this analysis found that citrulline significantly reduces perceived exertion and post-workout soreness.^[3] Higher levels of NO synthesis moves fresh, oxygen-rich blood through the body at faster rates, while ammonia removal maintains muscular efficiency. Citrulline attenuates muscular fatigue on two fronts, making it a powerful ergogenic aid. Additionally, increased vasodilation brings a noticeable pump effect in the gym, as blood rushes to the muscles being trained.

  

  The citrulline pathway we’re going for starts at the top right and goes down to the bottom right!

  With exogenous citrulline holding superior bioavailability compared to supplemental arginine,^[4] its inclusion in Vain is more than warranted. Not only does this ingredient ignite the muscle pumps that the label promises, but it also delivers legitimate performance benefits that can elevate your training. Clinical data suggest that 3 to 6 grams of citrulline is sufficient to yield these benefits,^[3] and at a strong 5 grams, Vain puts more than enough of this NO-boosting amino acid into action.

• GlycerPump 65% Glycerol – 3,000mg

  Moving from NO-based pumps to water-based pumps, next up is glycerol. This sugar alcohol improves hydration, helping the body hold additional water due to increases in osmotic pressure.^[5] Similar to how increased NO production pumps fresh blood in the body, this increase in osmotic pressure does the same with water — pumping water to muscles and creating a water-based pump effect. That’s not all it does, though.

  The hyperhydration encouraged by glycerol has tangible benefits, too, mainly in terms of endurance.

  

  When it comes to hydration, endurance, cell volumization, and heat tolerance, water is king. And this simple ingredient — glycerol — enables you to hold more water for better performance!

  In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Human Kinetics, researchers tested the effects of glycerol on aerobic and anaerobic ability. They split 40 volunteers (half of whom were college soccer players) into four groups: non-athletes given a placebo, athletes given a placebo, non-athletes given glycerol, and athletes given glycerol. Each group followed this procedure for 20 days. The non-athletes refrained from exercise for the 20-day period, while the two athlete groups performed a daily 20 minute shuttle run.

  After 20 days, the researchers found that the glycerol groups had significantly improved their aerobic performance compared to their baseline results prior to treatment.^[6] Additionally, these same individuals improved their times in a time trial race compared to the placebo group.^[6] Lastly, significant increases in anaerobic power were seen in the two glycerol groups, compared to the placebo groups.^[6] Across the board, glycerol supplementation helped improve athletic performance, due in large part to enhanced hydration.^[6,7] Boosting hydration can help you maintain athletic performance for longer,^[7] allowing you to continue training and achieve more gains.

  Vain contains 3,000 milligrams of GlycerPump (now known as GlycerSize), a standardized form of glycerol that’s 65% glycerol powder by weight. The rest of its contents are silicon dioxide, which adds stability to the ingredient by keeping it from clumping.

  With an efficacious dose of a high-quality glycerol variant, the contributions of this inclusion are much-appreciated.

• Nitrosigine (Inositol-Stabilized Arginine Silicate) – 1,500mg

  

  Move over L-arginine, Nitrosigine (inositol-stabilized arginine silicate) actually makes it work as originally desired!

  When discussing citrulline earlier, we mentioned that it’s far more bioavailable than arginine, despite the fact that the former converts into the arginine once metabolized. The issue is that dietary arginine falls victim to first-pass metabolism in the digestive tract. This significantly reduces the amount of arginine available for NO production and ammonia removal, making it an inefficient means of addressing either one of these areas. While this means supplementing with basic forms of arginine may not be advantageous, there are other variants of this amino acid that can be useful in supplements.

  Nutrition 21, one of the industry’s leading ingredient formulators, offers one such variant in Nitrosigine. This ingredient bonds arginine with inositol, a pseudovitamin that mirrors glucose in structure and is used to facilitate cellular signaling.^[8] This synergy circumvents the poor bioavailability issues tied to arginine alone. In a 2015 edition of Clinical Pharmacology, an evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of Nitrosigine found that the ingredient effectively increases blood arginine levels and salivary nitrites, both of which suggest stimulated NO production.^[9]

  A full dose in one scoop!

  

  Nutrition 21’s claims have stood the test of time with Nitrosigine, and we’re seeing it more and more often.

  Further studies support the enhanced bioavailability of Nitrosigine, specifically through the benefits it has in applications related to exercise. One particular study from a 2015 edition of the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition saw that subjects who took a 1,500-milligram dose of Nitrosigine prior to exercise for four days experienced increases in blood flow and perceived energy, and biomarkers of muscle recovery, in addition to reductions in perceived fatigue.^[10]

  Nitrosigine may even have an influence on cognition, too. In a 2016 study published in Nutrients, scientists tested the effects of short-term and long-term Nitrosigine supplementation on mental acuity. Subjects took 1,500 milligrams of the ingredient daily for either three or 14 days and were scored on mental sharpness (which was compared to baseline performance).^[11] The study authors found that Nitrosigine improved cognitive ability in both cases. Long-term supplementation improved scores by 28%, while the short-term group saw a 35% improvement.^[11]

  At the full 1,500 milligrams clinical dose, the presence of Nitrosigine in this formula brings additional NO production alongside some focus-enhancing nootropic effects, helping you get pumped-up and zoned-in.

• FitNox (Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Extract & Kaempferia Parviflora Extract) – 250mg

  In addition to using ingredients like citrulline and inositol-bound arginine silicate, there are other means of achieving higher levels of NO production. Nitrates and nitrites are two naturally-occurring compounds found in various fruits and vegetables that the body converts into NO.^[12] Consuming foods with high nitrate/nitrite content like beets and leafy greens presents another avenue to boost NO levels in the body.^[13]

  FitNox is a patented plant-based ingredient formulated by Glanbia Nutritionals that leverages three different plant extracts — Moringa oleifera, Punica granatum, Kaempferia parviflora —to enhance NO levels. Made using patent-pending Polar non polar Sandwich Technology (PNS Technology), FitNox is a highly bioactive, soluble, and pure ingredient that, research has shown, is quite potent.

  Massive increases in blood nitrate levels

  In a 2018 study published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements, 24 healthy male subjects underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of FitNox. Half of the individuals were given 250 milligrams of the ingredient, while the other half were given a placebo. The results were astounding. Those given FitNox displayed a 336% increase in blood nitrate levels within one hour,^[14] and experienced significant elevations in both nitrate and nitrite levels for as long as 10 hours post-ingestion.^[14]

  22 days: performance enhancement!

  

  FitNox has been shown to express some significant performance benefits! Image courtesy Glanbia Nutritionals

  These effects aren’t just seen following acute doses, either. For a 2017 study published in Sport Sciences for Health, researchers investigated the efficacy of FitNox as a means of improving physical endurance in subjects taking the ingredient daily for roughly three weeks. For 22 days, one group took 250 milligrams of FitNox per day, while the other received a placebo. They found that FitNox induced increases in plasma nitrates, yielding a 31% increase pre-exercise and a 45% increase post-exercise.^[15] They also found improvements in performance and reductions in muscular oxidative stress in volunteers given the nitrate-boosting ingredient, a direct result of higher NO levels.^[15] The researchers even noted 36% increases in dopamine concentrations, which is important considering the relationship this neurotransmitter has with positive mood and motivation.^[16]

  Want to try FitNox? Try VAIN

  A relatively new ingredient in sports supplements, FitNox certainly displays some promise, and we haven’t covered too many products with it. Vain delivers it at the 250 milligram dose used in clinical research, boosting nitrates and, in turn, NO, to complement the other vasodilating ingredients in the formula.

  

  Impel Nutrition’s James Hendricks on the right

• Pine Bark Extract (Pinus Massoniana) (std. min. 95% Proanthocyanidins) – 200mg

  Pine bark extract is an ingredient we commonly see in non-stimulant, pump-based formulas. This particular extract comes via Pinus massoniana, also known as Chinese red pine, a variant of pine bark that holds a strong antioxidant profile. Specifically, pine bark extract is known for three powerful antioxidants — polyphenolic monomers, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins — the last of which is regarded the main driver behind pine bark’s antioxidant activity.^[17]

  

  Can you guess what “GSD” stands for in the pre workout stack?

  Antioxidants are responsible for a variety of things in the body, most notably, scavenging free radicals. Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that are naturally generated in energy production, a byproduct of the creation of cellular energy.^[18] When free radicals build up in excess, these molecules can induce significant oxidative stress, damaging cells and interfering with numerous bodily processes. According to a 2016 study from Free Radical Biology and Medicine, one such disrupted process is blood flow.^[19] This study found that high levels of oxidative stress severely limits vasodilation and impairs blood flow in the body.^[19]

  Because exercise places significant demands on the metabolic process, it actually generates quite a bit of free radicals. Being able to attenuate their accumulation not only keeps the body healthy, but in this regard, keeps your muscles happy and your workouts efficient.

  In addition to improving blood flow via free radical scavenging, pine bark also has a more direct effect. In a 2011 study published in Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, pine bark extract was shown to stimulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).^[20] Activating nitric oxide synthase in the tissues that line the cardiovascular system, pine bark extract facilitates the reaction that produces NO.^[17]

  The extract used here is standardized to be 95% proanthocyanidins, meaning that this 200 milligram dose prioritizes pine bark’s main bioactive constituents. Getting additional antioxidants is rarely a bad thing, but pine bark also stimulates eNOS, which makes the ingredient fit here nicely.

• AstraGin (Astragalus Membranaceus & Panax Notoginseng (root) Extract) – 50mg

  

  AstraGin is a combination of Astragalus and Panax Notoginseng that’s been shown to increase ingredient absorption, especially of amino acids!

  To ensure the efficacy of the entire label, Vain leverages AstraGin, one of the industry’s premier bioavailability-boosting ingredients. Formulated by NuLiv Science, AstraGin has been shown to improve the bioavailability of various nutrients, including amino acids, creatine, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.^[20] AstraGin is not only generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA, but it’s also Informed-Sport/Informed-Choice certified, so it’s tested to be free of adulterants.

  50 milligrams of this absorption-boosting ingredient helps the body take in everything at work in this formula, which maximizes the vascularity gains it aims to deliver.

Vain is third-party tested, too!

Yes, Vain is packed with multiple ingredients that are backed by clinical data. Propelling things further, Impel Nutrition also engages in third-party lab testing to ensure each ingredient’s quality.

This is a brand you have to support. Showing a public lab 3rd party test – and they are not cheap.

Impel actually gets two separate tests for Vain. They conducted one for raw ingredients and another for the entire formula. While the law states brands must do this regardless, it does not state that they have to be posted publicly. Hendricks and team Impel go above and beyond, and want to guarantee the quality of each individual component that goes into a tub of Vain first, validating that what they’ve received from suppliers meets their demands.

After combining all the ingredients, the entire formula is tested in-whole, confirming that what’s stated on the label is verifiably contained in the tub.

As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” Impel Nutrition takes the necessary steps to guarantee that any product bearing its name is garbage-free, fully efficacious, and transparent. This level of quality assurance is something we see from top brands in the industry. By using third-party lab testing, Impel clearly has its sights set on joining those ranks.

You can find some of these lab results on ImpelNutrition.com.

Available Flavors

Here’s an updated list of all Vain flavors you can get your hands on:

Conclusion

Impel Nutrition was founded in 2019 for those who don’t just see sports supplements as a means of getting more out of an occasional workout. Impel makes products that help committed individuals looking to “fan their internal flame”, those who truly value their health and fitness and its impact on the rest of their life. Like CEO James Hendricks, Impel Nutrition is for people who take a no-compromise approach to hard work, family, and life.

How it’s done, son.

This ethos rings true when reading an Impel Nutrition label, too. Vain is formulated using effective ingredients backed by research, delivered at clinical doses. High-quality ingredients make high-quality products, the kind that hard-working, driven people deserve.

Vain, Impel’s pump pre-workout, relies on the brand’s ethos to introduce serious vascularity into your workout. This product uses a few of the industry’s top NO-producing ingredients, in addition to a highly-stable glycerol variant that moves water through the body, too. Importantly, Vain is stimulant-free, making it a great option for anyone who’s backing off stimulants a bit, those who train late at night, or users who just want some sick pumps.

Vain has one goal: vascularity. And each ingredient on the label serves a specific role in attaining that goal. Impel’s Vain helps drive you toward enhanced muscle pumps and superior workouts. If you want a serious 30 serving tub, Vain is for you. If you want to try FitNox, Vain is also for you. Now all you have to do is get behind the wheel!