Proccor Ultra Octane – Pumps, Performance, and Recovery

Proccor has just released a new stimulant free pre workout titled Ultra Octane that packs in everything needed for enhanced performance, pumps, and recovery.

When we last encountered Proccor, they had just released a revamped version of their powerhouse pre workout Pre-Rx 2.0.  Now that the public has had a chance to digest the awesomeness that was Pre-Rx, it’s time to see what you can stack it with. The wizards at Proccor have crafted a new stim-free pre workout for those who don’t want the energy rush that was in Pre-Rx.

Ultra Octane is a clinically dosed stim-free pre workout that carries pumps, performance and recovery aid all without the slightest hint of caffeine or yohimbine. It’s a great option as a standalone pre workout or could even be used in conjunction with Pre-Rx should you decide to really amp up your training.

The breakdown is just ahead, but first, take a moment to check the best deal and sign up for PricePlow alerts:

Ultra Octane Ingredients

Right off the bat, you’ll notice there are several similarities between Pre-Rx and Ultra Octane, which makes sense if you think about it. It’s not just stimulants that makes a great pre workout, it’s also well-dosed ergogenics like beta alanine, citrulline malate, and creatine, all of which you’ll find here.

Enough of the preamble though, let’s get to it:

• L-Citrulline DL Malate (6g)

  

  Ultra Octane carries a transparent label that bears several similar ingredients to Pre-Rx, but there’s still a few things to keep things fresh.

  What better way to start of a performance and pump driven pre workout than with the ultimate nitric (N.O.) booster Citrulline Malate, a.k.a. CitMal. This ingredient is formed from a combination of the amino acid L-Citrulline and Malic Acid (malate).

  Once ingested, L-Citrulline is converted to arginine which then is used to elevate N.O. production in the body. This is due to citrulline superior bioavailability and effectiveness in increasing N.O. production compared to supplemental L-Arginine.^[1]

  Greater N.O. production helps to produce pronounced vasodilation resulting in much stronger muscle pumps. Additionally, CitMal also boosts endurance and performance by enhancing ATP production since Citrulline is used in the Krebs Cycle.^[2,3,4]

  We are thrilled when we see a 6-8g of CitMal to reap the full clinically-studied benefits of this ingredient, and that’s just what Proccor gives us in Ultra Octane. Looks like things are off to a good start for this new pump and performance supp!

• Creapure® (3g)

  Creatine comes in many trendy forms these days, from Creatine HCL to Magnesium Creatine Chelate (MCC). However, none has ever truly surpassed the gold standard and value that is Creapure® Micronized Creatine Monohydrate. Manufactured by AlzChem Performance, Creapure® Creatine is recognized as the benchmark for quality in terms of purity for creatine monohydrate.

  When it comes to its uses, creatine hardly needs any explanation. It’s one of the most studied and effective supplements anyone could use when looking to improve athletic performance. Numerous studies have proven creatine to:

  • Increase power and strength^[5,6]
  • Support lean mass gains^[7,8]
  • Decrease fatigue^[9]
  • Improve cellular hydration^[10,11]

• Beta Alanine (2g)

  

  Beta Alanine Boosts Exercise Performance, plain and simple.

  Ultra Octane is all about enhancing your athleticism and performance, and what pre workout would be complete without the ultimate endurance booster, Beta Alanine. BA is a powerful amino acid that binds to histidine in the body and forms the mighty intracellular buffer, carnosine.^[12]

  Similar to Citrulline Malate, Beta Alanine helps to remove lactic acid buildup in muscles during exercise which yields several benefits. First, it increases endurance, which allows you to work out longer and get in those “money” reps during a training session. Second, it significantly reduces the “burning” sensation that hits your muscles when doing longer rep sets. Lastly, Beta Alanine improves your work capacity, strength and power output.^[13,14,15]

• L-Taurine (2g)

  Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid stored primarily in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle of the body. Typically, we frown upon seeing this ingredient if it’s anywhere near a protein powder label, but in a pre workout it’s a great inclusion.

  In skeletal muscle, taurine pulls in additional nutrients and water into muscle cells.^[16] This additional water improves hydration levels that leads to greater endurance, drastically reduced DOMS, and “water-based” pumps.^[17]

• L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (1g)

  

  LCLT is the form of L-Carnitine that you want if you’re into building muscle

  Carnitine supplements have been widely used across the fitness industry for a number of years. The problem, however, is that standard L-Carnitine basically shows no results unless you’re deficient in carnitine, i.e. the elderly and vegetarians.^[18,19]

  But, there’s hope! L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (LCLT) is a much more bioavailable form of the the amino acid L-Carnitine that has some solid research showing it’s useful application for a more diverse population.

  LCLT enhances endurance and blood flow while reducing damage to muscle fibers from exercise and decreasing muscle soreness.^[20,21,22] Furthermore, LCLT increases the density of androgen receptors in muscle cells^[24,25], which means your anabolic hormones (i.e. testosterone and growth hormone) work more efficiently. This ultimately helps you get more out of your workouts.

• L-Tyrosine (1g)

  No pre workout is complete without the helpful addition of some very important focus boosters. Without it, you’re likely to just go through the motions of your workout without getting the most bang for your time bucks. For this reason, Proccor has included the potent focus-booster, L-Tyrosine.

  L-Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that increases the production of two important neurotransmitters in the body, noradrenaline and dopamine. The two neurotransmitters work to enhance focus, cognition, and overall mood while also reducing signs of stress and anxiety.^[25,26]

• Agmatine Sulfate (750mg)

  

  The Agmatine Pathway is complex, but that’s because it’s really more of a neurotransmitter / neuromodulator than just a “nitric oxide booster”

  Agmatine is an excellent ingredient to include alongside our primary N.O. booster, Citrulline Malate. It basically functions as a pump “extender” that helps prolong, or extend, Arginine’s life in the body. Basically, agmatine inhibits arginase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down arginine.^[27] So, the longer arginine levels stay elevated in the body, the longer and greater the nitric oxide production will be.

  When used alongside in conjunction with a powerful N.O. booster like CitMal, you’ll notice significantly denser and longer lasting pumps to go along with improved circulation, increased vasodilation, and greater endurance.

• VitaCholine® (500mg)

  Also appearing in Pre-Rx is VitaCholine®, a patented form of choline bitartrate manufactured by Balchem.^[28] Choline supplements are frequently used to help improve focus and cognition, since it forms the backbone of the “learning transmitter” acetylcholine.^[29] It also helps develop a strong “mind-muscle” connection when exercising. However, choline also carries some performance-enhancing benefits as well.

  During intense exercise, choline levels are quickly depleted, thus leading to reduced performance.^[30,31] Supplementing with choline prior to your workout bolsters your choline reserves and thereby enables you to perform at your peak output throughout the duration of your athletic endeavor..

Flavors Available

Unlike Pre-Rx which at the time of release only had one flavor available, Ultra Octane is currently available in two flavors: Lemon Lime and Jolly Green Apple.

No artficial colors or dyes

As with all of Proccor’s other supplements, this only contains natural flavors and there’s no artificial colors – a trend we love seeing!

Takeaway

Just as we saw with Pre-Rx, Ultra Octane is an incredibly well-dosed pre workout offering that is sure to deliver everything you’d need in a pre workout, stims or no stims. We’ve recently been hit with a number of stim free pre workouts that could seriously even give their stim-heavy counterparts a run for their overall effectiveness.

We’ll have to take a real close look at our Top Pre Workouts list and possibly find room near the top of the stim-free category to add Ultra Octane.

References

1. Curis E., et. al; “Citrulline and the gut;”; Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care; September 2007
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20386132
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22251130
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12145119
5. Netreba, A; [Creatine as a metabolic controller of skeletal muscles structure and function in strength exercises in humans].; Ross Fiziol; 2006
6. Bemben, M; The effects of supplementation with creatine and protein on muscle strength following a traditional resistance training program in middle-aged and older men.; Neuromuscular Lab, Dept. Health & Exercise Science, U. Oklahoma; 2010
7. Chilibeck, P; Effect of creatine ingestion after exercise on muscle thickness in males and females.; College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan; 2004
8. Hoffman, J; Effect of creatine and beta-alanine supplementation on performance and endocrine responses in strength/power athletes.; Dept. of Health and Exercise Science, The College of New Jersey; 2006
9. Anomasiri, W; Low dose creatine supplementation enhances sprint phase of 400 meters swimming performance.; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; 2004
10. Häussinger D, Lang F. Cell volume and hormone action. Trends Pharmacol Sci. (1992)
11. Häussinger D, et al. Cellular hydration state: an important determinant of protein catabolism in health and disease. Lancet. (1993)
12. Hill, CA et al.; Amino Acids; “Influence of beta-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity ;” February 2007
13. Baguet, A et al.; Journal of Applied Physiology; “Important role of muscle carnosine in rowing performance;” July 2010;” 2005
14. Roger C. Harris; et al.; “The effect of a supplement containing β-alanine on muscle carnosine synthesis, ventilatory threshold and exercise capacity in Korean cyclists, during 12 weeks combined endurance and weight training“
15. Kendrick IP, et al. The effects of 10 weeks of resistance training combined with beta-alanine supplementation on whole body strength, force production, muscular endurance and body composition. Amino Acids. (2008)
16. Hoffmann, E.K., I.H. Lambert, and S.F. Pedersen, Physiology of cell volume regulation in vertebrates. Physiol Rev, 2009. 89(1)
17. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24383513
18. Carnitine status of lactoovovegetarians and strict vegetarian adults and children>
19. Carnitine function and requirements during the life cycle
20. Volek JS, Judelson DA, Silvestre R, Yamamoto LM, Spiering BA, Hatfield DL, Vingren JL, Quann EE, Anderson JM, Maresh CM, Kraemer WJ. Effects of carnitine supplementation on flow-mediated dilation and vascular inflammatory responses to a high-fat meal in healthy young adults. Am J Cardiol,2008 Nov 15;102(10):1413-7
21. Kraemer WJ, Spiering BA, Volek JS, Ratamess NA, Sharman MJ, Rubin MR, French DN, Silvestre R, Hatfield DL, Van Heest JL, Vingren JL, Judelson DA, Deschenes MR, Maresh CM. Androgenic responses to resistance exercise: effects of feeding and L-carnitine. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2006 Jul;38(7):1288-96
22. Ho JY, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Fragala MS, Thomas GA, Dunn-Lewis C, Coday M, Häkkinen K, Maresh CM.l-Carnitine l-tartrate supplementation favorably affects biochemical markers of recovery from physical exertion in middle-aged men and women. Metabolism, 2009 Dec 30
23. Kraemer WJ, Spiering BA, Volek JS, Ratamess NA, Sharman MJ, Rubin MR, French DN, Silvestre R, Hatfield DL, Van Heest JL, Vingren JL, Judelson DA, Deschenes MR, Maresh CM. Androgenic responses to resistance exercise: effects of feeding and L-carnitine. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Jul;38(7):1288-96.
24. Parandak K, Arazi H, Khoshkhahesh F, Nakhostin-Roohi B. The effect of two-week L-carnitine supplementation on exercise -induced oxidative stress and muscle damage. Asian J Sports Med. 2014 Jun;5(2):123-8.
25. Deijen JB, Orlebeke JF; Effect of tyrosine on cognitive function and blood pressure under stress . Brain Res Bull. (1994)
26. Dollins AB, et al; L-tyrosine ameliorates some effects of lower body negative pressure stress . Physiol Behav. (1995)
27. Demady DR, et. al. Agmatine enhances the NADPH oxidase activity of neuronal NO synthase and leads to oxidative inactivation of the enzyme. Mol Pharmacol. 2001 Jan;59(1):24-9.
28. http://www.balchem.com/fhn/vitacholine%E2%84%A2-essential-every-body
29. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22071706
30. Buchman AL, Jenden DJ, Roch M. Plasma free, phospholipid-bound and urinary free choline all decrease during a marathon run and may be associated with impaired performance. J Am Coll Nutr 1999;18(6):598-601.
31. Conlay LA, Wurtman RJ, Blusztajn JK, Lopez-Coviella I, Maher TJ, Evoniuk GE. Decreased plasma choline concentrations in marathon runners. NEJM 1986 October 2;315:892.