Morphogen Nutrition VOLUGEN Gets a New Formula for Nick Walker's Signature Series

What happens when a Mr. Olympia co-owns the brand making his pre-workout? You get Morphogen Nutrition VOLUGEN Grit x Glory. Nick Walker cut the creatine, doubled the betaine, and kept 10 grams of pure L-citrulline for high-rep pump work.

Nick Walker won the Mr. Olympia title in September 2026, and he did it as a co-owner of Morphogen Nutrition rather than a sponsored athlete. Now his name is on a tub. The Nick Walker Signature Series edition of Morphogen Nutrition VOLUGEN, branded Grit x Glory, is a reworked version of the brand's stimulant-free pump pre-workout, and according to Morphogen, Nick changed what's inside it.

Nick put it simply on the PricePlow Podcast: "I'm not a stim guy". He's unsurprisingly a pump guy, and he hasn't used creatine in years.

Nick Walker's VOLUGEN: Creatine Out, 2X Betaine In

So his version of VOLUGEN makes two formula changes: creatine is out, and betaine anhydrous doubles from 2,500mg to 5,000mg. Everything else carries over, including 10 grams of L-citrulline, 5 grams of NNB Nutrition's ElectroPrime hydration complex, VasoDrive-AP lactotripeptides, and a choline-driven focus stack. There's no caffeine.

That leaves a formula that approaches the pump from several directions. Citrulline supports nitric oxide production, VasoDrive-AP works through a separate pathway tied to blood vessel tone, and betaine, taurine, and glycerol support cell hydration and fullness. Velvet Bean, Alpha-GPC, and citicoline handle drive and focus.

We got the backstory straight from Nick and Morphogen founder Ben Hartman in Episode #238 of the PricePlow Podcast, where Hartman explained why the creatine came out. Below, we break down every ingredient in the signature formula and exactly what changed, but first, check PricePlow for VOLUGEN availability and sign up for Morphogen Nutrition news alerts:

Morphogen Nutrition VOLUGEN Ingredients

Each two-scoop (27.1g) serving provides the following (one scoop delivers exactly half of each amount):

• L-Citrulline - 10,000mg

  L-Citrulline leads the formula with a full 10 grams. Your kidneys convert citrulline into L-arginine, which your blood vessels use to produce nitric oxide (NO), the signaling molecule that relaxes vessel walls and increases blood flow to working muscle. Citrulline raises arginine levels and NO synthesis more effectively than arginine itself, because the gut and liver don't extract much of it before it reaches circulation.^[1]

  For performance, a meta-analysis of 12 studies found a small but statistically significant benefit of citrulline on high-intensity strength and power outcomes.^[2] Most of that research used a single 8g dose of citrulline malate.^[3] Standard 2:1 citrulline malate is only about two-thirds citrulline by weight, so VOLUGEN's 10 grams of pure L-citrulline deliver nearly twice the citrulline of those protocols.

  The closest dose match used pure L-citrulline, too. In a six-week trial in resistance-trained men, 8g of L-citrulline per day improved upper-body repetitions to failure compared to placebo and raised nitric oxide metabolites, though one-rep max strength didn't change.^[4] More work per set is exactly what you want from a pump ingredient, and citrulline is the base the rest of VOLUGEN's blood flow stack builds on.

• Betaine Anhydrous - 5,000mg

  This is the ingredient Nick's version doubles. Betaine anhydrous, also known as trimethylglycine (TMG), is a methyl donor and an organic osmolyte, meaning it helps cells regulate their water content under stress. Researchers classify betaine alongside creatine as an organic osmolyte hypothesized to promote the blood engorgement and cell swelling you feel as a pump.^[5] So even with creatine gone, doubling betaine keeps that cell hydration angle in the formula.

  The strongest performance evidence comes from a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies with 317 participants. Taking betaine for at least seven days significantly improved maximal strength, driven mainly by the lower body, and vertical jump also improved once a low-quality study was excluded.^[6] Pooled effects on upper-body strength, sprint power, and muscular endurance weren't significant, so lower-body strength is where betaine's case is strongest.

  

  At 5g, VOLUGEN doubles the 2.5g daily dose used in most performance trials, though it's well within the 500mg to 9,000mg daily range researchers have studied.^[7] Higher intakes load quickly. In a small pilot study, 6g per day for two weeks raised serum betaine nearly five-fold in resistance-trained men, but levels returned to baseline within about four days of stopping.^[8] Because the research relies on daily intake, consistency matters more than timing, and VOLUGEN's label accounts for that with a morning serving on non-training days.

• ElectroPrime® (Glycerol (65%), Magnesium Citrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate) - 5,000mg

  ElectroPrime is NNB Nutrition's shelf-stable hydration complex, pairing stabilized glycerol with electrolytes, and we covered it in depth in our ElectroPrime breakdown. The label lists it at 65% glycerol, so this serving supplies roughly 3,250mg of glycerol, plus the electrolytes behind the label's 140mg of potassium, 45mg of magnesium, 50mg of calcium, and nearly all of its 440mg of sodium.

  Once absorbed, glycerol spreads through the body's fluid compartments and creates an osmotic gradient that increases water reabsorption in the kidneys, so you hold onto more of the fluid you drink. Enhanced fluid retention is the most consistent finding in the glycerol research, while performance results vary between studies.^[9] In one double-blind study in trained men, glycerol taken with water two hours before cycling in the heat lowered heart rate, increased forearm blood flow, and boosted work output by 5% in a closing all-out effort.^[10]

  The dose deserves context. Hyperhydration protocols call for around 1.2g of glycerol per kilogram of bodyweight in a large volume of fluid, far more than a pre-workout scoop provides.^[11] In VOLUGEN, ElectroPrime plays a supporting role, adding a few grams of glycerol and a solid dose of sodium alongside betaine and taurine for fluid balance and fullness. Mix it with the full 12 to 16oz of water the label calls for.

• Taurine - 2,000mg

  

  Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid concentrated in muscle and brain tissue. Like betaine, it's an organic osmolyte involved in cell volume regulation, and it helps modulate calcium levels inside cells.^[12]

  A 2025 meta-analysis of 23 randomized trials found that a single dose of taurine produced small-to-moderate improvements in exercise performance, most apparent in aerobic endurance, strength and power, and agility tasks.^[13] Results for muscular endurance and anaerobic capacity were inconsistent, and there was no clear dose-response within the common 1g to 6g range, which points to a threshold effect rather than "more is better". At 2g, VOLUGEN sits comfortably in that range, adding performance support of its own while reinforcing the formula's cell hydration theme.

• Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens) Extract (Seed) (std. min. 98% L-DOPA) - 750mg

  Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens) is a tropical legume whose seeds naturally contain about 4% to 6% L-DOPA.^[14] L-DOPA is the direct precursor your brain uses to make dopamine, the neurotransmitter tied to motivation, drive, and reward, which makes it VOLUGEN's stimulant-free answer to the intensity caffeine usually provides.

  This extract is standardized to at least 98% L-DOPA, so it's essentially concentrated L-DOPA. As labeled, 750mg works out to roughly 735mg of L-DOPA per two-scoop serving (about 367mg per scoop), the amount you'd get from roughly 12 to 18 grams of whole Mucuna seed. That's a substantial dose.

  Most human research on Mucuna comes from neurodegenerative disease studies rather than sport. That work shows Mucuna-derived L-DOPA absorbs quickly: in a double-blind crossover study, a Mucuna seed preparation reached peak blood L-DOPA levels faster than a standard pharmaceutical L-DOPA/carbidopa dose.^[15] In men undergoing infertility screening, Mucuna seed powder improved blood levels of dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.^[16] Exercise trials are lacking, so the drive benefit rests on L-DOPA's well-established role as a dopamine building block.

  

  Because it's this concentrated, take the label seriously. Don't stack VOLUGEN with other L-DOPA or Mucuna products, and talk to your doctor before using it if you take any medication. The warning panel specifically names MAOIs.

• VasoDrive AP® [Isoleucyl-prolyl-proline (IPP), Valyl-prolyl-proline (VPP) (Lactotripeptides from hydrolyzed milk casein)] providing 3.4mg Lactotripeptides - 508mg

  VasoDrive-AP is a casein hydrolysate that delivers two milk-derived tripeptides, isoleucyl-prolyl-proline (IPP) and valyl-prolyl-proline (VPP). Instead of adding more raw material for nitric oxide the way citrulline does, these lactotripeptides inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), which produces one of the body's main vessel-constricting signals. That gives VOLUGEN a second, independent blood flow pathway, and it's why we called VasoDrive-AP the original peptide pump ingredient in our VasoDrive-AP deep dive.

  In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in men with mild hypertension, one week of VPP and IPP raised peak forearm blood flow during a standard vascular function test about 44% above placebo, with no change in blood pressure, an effect the researchers tied to ACE inhibition.^[17] That trial used about 7.3mg of lactotripeptides per day, roughly double VOLUGEN's dose.

  The newest research is dose-matched and directly about the pump. According to supplier literature, 508mg of VasoDrive-AP provides 3.4mg of VPP and IPP, matching VOLUGEN's label. In a 2026 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in resistance-trained men, that same 3.4mg daily dose for four weeks increased post-exercise thigh circumference versus placebo, along with better post-exercise fatigue and next-morning training motivation scores.^[18] A 1.7mg group (the amount in one VOLUGEN scoop) reported better subjective pump scores. The research team was affiliated with the peptide's manufacturer and used daily intake, another reason to follow the label's off-day directions.

• GeniusPure® Alpha-GPC 90% (L-Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine) - 300mg

  

  Alpha-GPC (L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine) is a choline source and a precursor to acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter behind both attention and the signal from nerve to muscle. VOLUGEN uses NNB Nutrition's GeniusPure, a stabilized 90% alpha-GPC designed to avoid the clumping that has historically made the ingredient difficult to use in powders, as we explained in our GeniusPure breakdown.

  GeniusPure is also the form used in a 2024 double-blind crossover trial in resistance-trained men, where single doses of 315mg and 630mg improved Stroop test performance, a measure of focus and cognitive control, compared to placebo.^[19] VOLUGEN's 300mg lands right next to that lower dose, and we covered the full results in our GeniusPure clinical trial writeup.

  That trial didn't find differences in jump or bench throw performance, but multi-day dosing has shown physical benefits. In a seven-day trial, 250mg per day produced the largest improvements in countermovement jump velocity and power.^[20] Another study found that 600mg daily for six days increased isometric mid-thigh pull force compared to placebo.^[21]

• Citicoline Sodium (CDP-Choline) - 250mg

  Citicoline (cytidine diphosphocholine, or CDP-choline) is VOLUGEN's second choline source. After absorption, its two components, choline and cytidine, cross into the brain, where citicoline acts as a choline donor for both acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine, the main phospholipid in neuron membranes.^[22] Together with Alpha-GPC, it brings the formula's declared choline to 160mg per serving.

  The dose lines up with the research. In a 28-day randomized, double-blind trial in healthy women, 250mg of citicoline per day reduced errors on a sustained attention test compared to placebo, improving both omission and commission errors (500mg improved commission errors only).^[23] That trial used Kyowa's Cognizin, the form behind much of the modern citicoline research and the subject of our Cognizin guide. VOLUGEN's label lists generic citicoline sodium without naming a brand.

• AmentoPump® Amentoflavone (Selaginella tamariscina) Extract - 200mg

  

  AmentoPump supplies amentoflavone, a biflavonoid (two linked flavonoid units) from Selaginella tamariscina. It's the most experimental ingredient in VOLUGEN, but its mechanism fits a pump formula. In isolated rat aorta, amentoflavone purified from this same plant relaxed blood vessels through an endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-cGMP pathway.^[24] In an enzyme study, it also inhibited phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5), the enzyme that breaks down cGMP, though less potently than most of the related biflavones tested.^[25]

  That suggests a third angle on blood flow: citrulline helps make NO, VasoDrive-AP works on ACE, and amentoflavone may help preserve the cGMP signal that NO triggers. Fittingly, the label warns against combining VOLUGEN with PDE5 inhibitor medications or nitrates. The catch is that human trials are still lacking, and unformulated amentoflavone showed very low oral bioavailability in rats (around 0.06%).^[26] For now, AmentoPump is an emerging, mechanism-driven add-on rather than a foundation ingredient.

• SalidroPure™ (Fermented Salidroside 98.5%) - 20mg

  SalidroPure is NNB Nutrition's fermented salidroside, standardized to 98.5%. Salidroside is considered one of the main active compounds in Rhodiola rosea, but Rhodiola extracts contain relatively little of it.^[27] The plant has also become harder to source since being added to the CITES list that regulates international trade, which is the backstory behind NNB's SalidroPure.

  In a 2024 randomized, placebo-controlled study, 50 active young adults took 60mg of pure salidroside or placebo daily for 16 days. Salidroside improved oxygen uptake during high-intensity intermittent exercise and avoided the post-exercise rise in a muscle damage marker seen with placebo, while the placebo group's time-to-exhaustion performance and mood declined.^[27] VOLUGEN provides a third of that dose, so think of SalidroPure here as supporting fatigue resistance rather than a full research dose.

What's New, What's Changed

Compared to the VOLUGEN formula we covered in our 2025 ALPHAGEN and VOLUGEN breakdown, the Nick Walker Signature Series makes two changes:

• Creatine is out: The previous formula's 5,000mg of micronized creatine monohydrate is gone. Nick hasn't used creatine in six or seven years, and Hartman's reasoning is that creatine works through consistent daily use, which makes it a minor addition to a pre-workout.
• Betaine is doubled: Betaine anhydrous jumps from 2,500mg to 5,000mg. Morphogen says the 5 grams creatine used to occupy now go to the pump, with betaine covering cell hydration, strength output, and endurance.

Every other ingredient carries over at the same dose. The Signature Series tub gets new Grit x Glory label art and launches in a single flavor, Strawberry Lemonade, sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame potassium and colored with red beet root powder (hence the "No Artificial Colors" callout). Hartman said on the podcast that the signature VOLUGEN could grow to three flavors. If you still want creatine in your routine, it's easy to take on its own each day.

How to Use

• When to take it: Mix two scoops (27.1g) in 12 to 16oz of water 15 to 30 minutes before training, or in the morning on non-training days.
• Serving size: The tub's 30 servings are single scoops, which works out to 15 full two-scoop servings, and Morphogen suggests starting with one scoop to assess tolerance.

Who It's For

• Stim-free and evening trainees: Lifters who train late, are sensitive to caffeine, or want to cut back on stimulants. Morphogen positions VOLUGEN for exactly those situations.
• Pump-focused lifters: Nick trains with higher reps (12 to 20, depending on the body part) and rest-pause sets, and this formula is built for that kind of high-volume pump work.
• Nick Walker fans: Ready to support Mr. Olympia? This is the first supplement with his name on it, so go show your love!

Conclusion: Built for a Pump Guy

Ben Hartman, Founder and CEO of Morphogen Nutrition, returns for a third PricePlow Podcast appearance to discuss the brand's second rebrand, the Nick Walker equity partnership, the 10g L-Tyrosine return to AlphaGEN, and where the supplement industry is heading -- all in Episode #221.

VOLUGEN was already one of the more comprehensive stimulant-free pre-workouts available, and Nick Walker's version narrows its focus. Pulling creatine and doubling betaine leaves a formula built entirely around pumps and performance: 10 grams of pure L-citrulline, a dose-matched serving of VasoDrive-AP, 5 grams of betaine, ElectroPrime and taurine for hydration, and Alpha-GPC, citicoline, and Velvet Bean for focus and drive.

The tub also shows how the partnership works. Nick is a co-owner with a seat in Morphogen's product meetings, and his preferences (no stims, no creatine, all pump) show up directly on the label. Hartman walked us through the equity deal in Episode #221 of the PricePlow Podcast, and he says more Nick Walker Signature products are on the way, including a reworked six-capsule pump formula meant to pair with VOLUGEN.

One practical note: this formula carries a serious warning label and roughly 735mg of L-DOPA per full serving, so read the label, start with one scoop, and keep it stimulant-free as directed. If you're a pump guy too, check PricePlow for VOLUGEN availability and sign up for Morphogen Nutrition alerts so you catch the next Nick Walker drop: