NutraBio PRE: Our Top-Rated Pre Workout Supplement

Since their inception, NutraBio has been committed to quality, excellence, and effectiveness, helping you train Without Compromise.

NutraBio PRE Workout

NutraBio recently upgraded their top-selling pre workout PRE, and now more than ever it’s our #1 pre workout.

We’ve seen this time and again from the brand with their extensive line of products including Intra Blast and the award-winning 100% Whey Protein Isolate.

Training Carb-Free? Then Train with NutraBio PRE

Although we’re huge proponents of using carbohydrates before training, which is why we love the carb-loaded PRE Extreme, many simply want to go carb-free when working out, but they want to keep it intense. For that reason, NutraBio’s flagship pre workout has been here all along in its zero-carb glory – and is now up to its fifth edition, somehow getting more packed each and every time.

So today, we’re spotlighting the predecessor to PRE Extreme that recently got a bit of an “upgrade”. NutraBio PRE is everything you want in a pre workout, and with the doses to match!

A pre workout you can trust – with lab tests to prove it

It’s a fully disclosed formula, uses no artificial colors, and there are some fantastic flavors including the new Blue Razz (especially given how massive the formula is)! Best of all, since we originally published the first version of this article, NutraBio began 3rd party testing all of their product batches, making this our most trusted pre workout (and most trusted brand in general).

More info on NutraBio’s loaded Pre Workout is below, but before we get there, take a moment to check the best deal (thanks to our coupons) and sign up for alerts from PricePlow:

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PRE V5 Ingredients

When looking to formulate THE pre workout on the market, NutraBio held nothing back. What follows is a tour-de-force of a supplement packing 22 clinically-backed ingredients all dosed according to the research.

Get ready boys and girls, this is a BIG one!

  • Power, Strength, & Endurance Complex

    • L-Leucine (3.5g)

      NutraBio Pre v5 Ingredients

      NutraBio PRE is our top non-exotic stim pre workout for a good reason, this sucker is LOADED!

      Leucine is the most well-known and researched of the three BCAAs. In addition to its ability to stimulate protein synthesis, leucine also can reduce muscle damage brought on by exercise, accelerate recovery time, and improve lean muscle mass.[1,2,3]

      In addition, leucine is a ketogenic amino acid, which means it contributes to ketones that can be used for energy, as opposed to spiking your blood sugar. This is another reason why it’s our favorite BCAA, and it’s good to see well-dosed here.

    • CarnoSyn Beta Alanine (3.2)

      Known far and wide for its tingling sensations, beta alanine is a valuable endurance boosting compound, particularly if you perform a lot of high rep work. Beta alanine increases carnosine levels in skeletal muscle which improves your muscles’ ability to buffer acidic ions.[4,5] The end results of this are better endurance, and less “burning” in your muscles while training.

      Just be warned, the 3.2g dose will bring some serious tingles if you’re not used to supplementing with BA daily.

    • Creatine Monohydrate (3g)

      The true “king” of creatines is monohydrate. This is the first supplement many people ever used, and it continues to be a staple for lifters to this day. Creatine increases lean muscle mass, strength, power, and muscular endurance. It also offers some cognitive benefits and hydration support too.

      PRE includes the recommended 3g dose so that there’s no need to add more to your pre workout, as is the case with some many other products on the market. But note that we’re getting even more creatine further down just in case! Done and done.

    • Betaine Anhydrous (2.5g)

      Betaine

      Beatine isn’t just for power, it also enhances the effects of creatine.

      Betaine is a metabolite of choline that functions as an osmolyte and methyl donor in the body. As such, it protects against dehydration and converts homocysteine to methionine, which is a precursor for creatine.

      Studies show that betaine can enhance power and strength, and may even enhance endogenous creatine production too.[6,7,8]

      Just like creatine, this is a full clinical dose – the studies cited actually used 2.5g, and once again, you’re good to go here.

    • DL Malic Acid (1.7g)

      Malic acid plays a key role in the Krebs cycle where it aids in the conversion of carbs, proteins, and fats into usable energy. Lack of malic acid can impair Krebs cycle function, which means you’ll fatigue quicker.

      Unlike may companies which include citrulline malate, NutraBio is including separate doses of malic acid and a whopping dose of L-Citrulline up ahead.

      Also note that malic acid helps with the flavoring!

    • Creatine MagnaPower (500mg)

      Creatine Magna Power

      Albion’s Creatine Magna Power

      Creatine MagnaPower is a chelated magnesium bonded form of creatine that touts improved solubility over creatine monohydrate, and theoretically works “better” due to the better mixability. While no study has conclusively proven this, we’ll take the extra 500mg creatine as bonus since we got the full 3g monohydrate dose up top!

      Meanwhile, since so few people get enough magnesium in their normal diets, we’ll gladly take some of the extra magnesium — so long as it isn’t too much… which it isn’t here!

  • Nitric Oxide Pump Matrix

    • L-Citrulline (6g)

      If you hadn’t figured it out yet, NutraBio isn’t messing around with any of their dosing here. We get a full 6g of pure L-Citrulline per scoop of PRE. Citrulline improves oxygen uptake and performance during high-intensity exercise, and it prolongs endurance via ammonia elimination.[9,10,11] We love this ingredient in pre workouts and the dosing here especially!

      This is your primary pump ingredient, but definitely not the only pump ingredient — two more on the way:

    • Agmatine (1g)

      NutraBio PRE Work

      NutraBio PRE enhances every facet of your performance by supplying all the right doses of the right ingredients you need headed into a tough workout.

      Agmatine is a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator in the brain that can enhance focus and decrease pain sensitization. It also doubles as an arginase inhibitor, meaning that the tremendous surge in nitric oxide you got from the 6g of citrulline will continue unimpeded throughout your workout and for a good while after too.[12,13]

      This has been the underrated pump ingredient (at least when at 1-1.5g) with Team PricePlow lately.

    • Nitrosigine (750mg)

      While regular L-Arginine has gone by the wayside as an accepted N.O. booster, Nitrosigine has stepped to the forefront is an enhanced form of arginine that has been shown to elevate N.O. levels in the body and keep them elevated for up to 2 weeks following supplementation.[14]

      The three ingredients above make for a huge 1-2-3 nitric oxide amplification system. They’re all great ingredients, and they’re all dosed insanely well. If you have trouble in the pumps department, it’s time to give this a shot!

  • Focus & Stim Matrix

    • L-Tyrosine (1.5g)

      L-Tyrosine

      For the best effects from tyrosine, choose the regular L-Tyrosine version!

      BOOM! Look at that tyrosine dose!

      We’ve been pretty adamant for awhile that L-Tyrosine is a more effective form of tyrosine compared to the oft-used N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, and we’re glad NutraBio is including it at such a robust dose.

      Tyrosine serves as the to thyroxine in the body and for the production of important neurotransmitters including dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.[15] With higher levels of these neurotransmitters you’ll experience better focus and concentration, as well as less anxiety.

      Yes, yes, and yes!

    • Choline Bitartrate (500mg)

      Just in case that tyrosine wasn’t enough…

      Choline bitartrate is one of the lesser bioavailable and cheaper forms of choline in the market. Choline supplements increases levels of acetylcholine in the body, which enhances memory and cognition, and strengthens the mind-muscle connection. We’ve covered this nootropic ingredient before too, and while this isn’t our preferred form of choline, the huge L-Tyrosine dose makes up for it, and the addition of huperzine a little further down should also help with acetylcholine production.

    • Caffeine (350mg total)

      NutraBio PRE Intra Blast Jump

      Stack PRE and Intra Blast for the ultimate 1-2 workout combo to ignite your performance.

      PRE isn’t lacking for energy one bit. Each serving provides a rather stout 350mg caffeine from a combination of anhydrous (250mg) and dicaffeine malate (133mg yielding 100mg). This might seem like a LOT of caffeine for some of you, but fear not, there’s some help to tame the energy surge up next.

    • TheaPure Theanine (300mg)

      An amino acid present in tea leaves, theanine is best known for its relaxing qualities. It produces GABA to reduce the feelings of stress, and it also enhances the cognitive effects of caffeine.[16,17] The dose here is what will really turn heads, as 300mg is a fairly large amount of theanine, and may end up taking too much “pop” out of PRE.

      We enjoy theanine most when it’s dosed less than caffeine, which we have here.

    • Huperzine A (100mcg)

      The final part of PRE’s focus and stim matix is the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Huperzine A. This potent nootropic prolongs the life and extends the focus-boosting properties of acetylcholine by inhibiting the enzyme that degrades it.[18,19] The end result is more acetylcholine that lasts longer, making for better cognition and mood.

  • Electrolyte & Hydration Optimizer

    • Taurine (2g)

      NutraBio Mark Glazier Zane

      NutraBio Founder Mark Glazier alongside NutraBio athlete Zane Hadzick together at the Olympia 2017 crushing it!

      An incredibly useful amino acid, taurine performs a number of vital functions in the body, specifically in regards to your muscles, brain, and heart. As an osmolyte, taurine supports cellular hydration, which goes to enhancing endurance.[20] Additionally, taurine also works with caffeine to improve focus and mental performance.[21]

    • Calci-K (525mg)

      Calcium, potassium, and phosphorus are highly important electrolytes for performance and overall function. Calci-K provides a highly bioavailable source of these three electrolytes to replace any minerals lost during intense training.

    • Sodium Phosphate (189mg)

      Sodium is another crucial electrolyte and for those of you training intensely, you’re probably not getting in enough sodium. This mineral is crucial to hydration, performance, and overall function. Sodium gets demonized a lot in the media, but for the hard-training athlete you need it!

Our NutraBio PRE Review!

One of the best formulated pre workouts ever? Absolutely!

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Flavors Available

NutraBio Mike Curls

Want to get pumps like NutraBio athlete Mike Occhipinti? NutraBio PRE ensures you’ll always have a massive pump.

NutraBio PRE comes in five different flavors:

  • Green Apple
  • Raspberry Lemonade
  • Tropical Fruit Punch
  • Watermelon
  • Unflavored
  • Blue Raspberry – Reviewed below!

The new Blue Raspberry Flavor

In December 2017, NutraBio launched their first-ever blue raspberry flavor, and this is the bluest natural blue we’ve ever seen – made from spirulina, which is healthy in its own right!

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What about NutraBio Pre Extreme?!

In the opening of this post, we discussed the carbohydrates in PRE Extreme. NutraBio’s power duo, Ben and Dan, went on the record explaining the differences between these two versions:

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Long story short: Pre Extreme has added yohimbine and high-quality carbs, for a bit more money!

Changes in V5 from V4

NutraBio Pre V5 Blue Raspberry

Yes, Pre V5 has some great updates… but let’s be real, it’s all about this Blue Razz flavor!!!

On February 12, 2018, we updated this post to reflect the changes between V4 and V5 (as well as proudly mention the third-party lab tests in the intro). Here’s what’s changed:

  • Beta-Alanine increased from 2.5 grams to 3.2 grams (the daily clinical dose)
  • 1.5 grams of L-Tyrosine replaces 1.2 grams of N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (more effective and better dosed)
  • Choline Bitartrate increased from 300mg To 500mg
  • Taurine increased from 1.5 grams to 2 Grams
  • 1.2 grams of DL-Malic Acid included (as opposed to “citrulline malate”… more on this from NutraBio soon)

Takeaway

NutraBio

Pure Supplements. Pure Results. Click the image to see our NutraBio product listings!

There’s a reason NutraBio PRE Workout continues to dominate our list of Top 10 Pre Workouts. The proof is right there for you to see. Well dosed, effective as hell, and free of any/all questionable stims makes PRE a must have!

But at the same time… you know we still like those carbs pre workout for the most epic training sessions, and if you do too, then get back on over to the Pre EXTREME page for even more intense workouts!

NutraBio PRE Workout – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

Get Price Alerts

No spam, no scams.

Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.

Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.

About the Author: Mike Roberto

Mike Roberto

Mike Roberto is a research scientist and water sports athlete who founded PricePlow. He is an n=1 diet experimenter with extensive experience in supplementation and dietary modification, whose personal expertise stems from several experiments done on himself while sharing lab tests.

Mike's goal is to bridge the gap between nutritional research scientists and non-academics who seek to better their health in a system that has catastrophically failed the public.

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References

  1. Norton, L. E., & Layman, D. K. (2006). Leucine regulates translation initiation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after exercise. The Journal of nutrition, 136(2), 533S-537S.
  2. Shimomura, Y., Inaguma, A., Watanabe, S., Yamamoto, Y., Muramatsu, Y., Bajotto, G., … & Mawatari, K. (2010). Branched-chain amino acid supplementation before squat exercise and delayed-onset muscle soreness.International journal of sport nutrition, 20(3), 236
  3. Howatson, G., Hoad, M., Goodall, S., Tallent, J., Bell, P. G., & French, D. N. (2012). Exercise-induced muscle damage is reduced in resistance-trained males by branched chain amino acids: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 9(1), 20.
  4. Hobson, R. M., Saunders, B., Ball, G., Harris, R. C., & Sale, C. (2012). Effects of ß-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis. Amino acids, 43(1), 25-37.
  5. Stout, J. R., Cramer, J. T., Zoeller, R. F., Torok, D., Costa, P., Hoffman, J. R., et al. (2007). Effects of ß-alanine supplementation on the onset of neuromuscular fatigue and ventilatory threshold in women. Amino acids,32(3), 381-386.
  6. Apicella, J. M., Lee, E. C., Bailey, B. L., Saenz, C., Anderson, J. M., Craig, S. A., et al. (2013). Betaine supplementation enhances anabolic endocrine and Akt signaling in response to acute bouts of exercise.European journal of applied physiology, 113(3), 793-802.
  7. Trepanowski, J. F., Farney, T. M., Mccarthy, C. G., Schilling, B. K., Craig, S. A., & Bloomer, R. J. (2011). The effects of chronic betaine supplementation on exercise performance, skeletal muscle oxygen saturation and associated biochemical parameters in resistance trained men. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 25(12), 3461-3471.
  8. Lee, E. C., Maresh, C. M., Kraemer, W. J., Yamamoto, L. M., Hatfield, D. L., Bailey, B. L., et al. (2010). Ergogenic effects of betaine supplementation on strength and power performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr,7(1), 27
  9. Bailey, S. J., Blackwell, J. R., Lord, T., Vanhatalo, A., Winyard, P. G., & Jones, A. M. (2015). L-citrulline supplementation improves O2 uptake kinetics and high-intensity exercise performance in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 119(4), 385-395.
  10. Suzuki, T., Morita, M., Kobayashi, Y., & Kamimura, A. (2016). Oral L-citrulline supplementation enhances cycling time trial performance in healthy trained men: Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled 2-way crossover study. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 13(1), 6.
  11. Hickner, R. C., Tanner, C. J., Evans, C. A., Clark, P. D., Haddock, A., Fortune, C., … & Mccammon, M. (2006). L-citrulline reduces time to exhaustion and insulin response to a graded exercise test. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 38(4), 660-666.
  12. Gao, Y., Gumusel, B., Koves, G., Prasad, A., Hao, Q., Hyman, A., & Lippton, H. (1995). Agmatine: a novel endogenous vasodilator substance. Life sciences, 57(8), PL83-PL86.
  13. Keynan, O., Mirovsky, Y., Dekel, S., Gilad, V. H., & Gilad, G. M. (2010). Safety and Efficacy of Dietary Agmatine Sulfate in Lumbar Disc-associated Radiculopathy. An Open-label, Dose-escalating Study Followed by a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial. Pain Medicine, 11(3), 356-368.
  14. Kalman, D. S., Feldman, S., Samson, A., & Krieger, D. R. (2015). A clinical evaluation to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of an inositol-stabilized arginine silicate dietary supplement in healthy adult males. Clinical pharmacology: advances and applications, 7, 103.
  15. Pietz J, Landwehr R, Kutscha A, Schmidt H, de Sonneville L, Trefz FK. Effect of high-dose tyrosine supplementation on brain function in adults with phenylketonuria. J Pediatr. 1995;127(6):936-943. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8523192
  16. Owen, G. N., Parnell, H., De Bruin, E. A., & Rycroft, J. A. (2008). The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional neuroscience, 11(4), 193-198.
  17. Giesbrecht, T., Rycroft, J. A., Rowson, M. J., & De Bruin, E. A. (2010). The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutritional neuroscience, 13(6), 283-290
  18. Malkova, L., Kozikowski, A. P., & Gale, K. (2011). The effects of huperzine A and IDRA 21 on visual recognition memory in young macaques. Neuropharmacology, 60(7), 1262-1268.
  19. Kitisripanya, N., Saparpakorn, P., Wolschann, P., & Hannongbua, S. (2011). Binding of huperzine A and galanthamine to acetylcholinesterase, based on ONIOM method. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine,7(1), 60-68.
  20. Zhang, M., Izumi, I., Kagamimori, S., Sokejima, S., Yamagami, T., Liu, Z., & Qi, B. (2004). Role of taurine supplementation to prevent exercise-induced oxidative stress in healthy young men. Amino acids, 26(2), 203-207
  21. Gwacham, N., & Wagner, D. R. (2012). Acute effects of a caffeine-taurine energy drink on repeated sprint performance of American college football players. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 22(2), 109-116.

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