Chris Poole

The effects of a commercially available botanical supplement on strength, body composition, power output, and hormonal profiles in resistance-trained males

BackgroundFenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a leguminous, annual plant originating in India and North Africa. In recent years Fenugreek has been touted as an ergogenic aid. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Fenugreek supplementation on strength and body composition.Methods49 Resistance trained men were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to ingest in a double blind manner capsules containing 500 mg of a placebo (N = 23, 20 ± 1.9 years, 178 ± 6.3 cm, 85 ± 12.7 kg, 17 ± 5.6 %BF) or Fenugreek (N = 26, 21 ± 2.8 years, 178 ± 6 cm, 90 ± 18.2 kg, 19.3 ± 8.4 %BF). Subjects participated in a supervised 4-day per week periodized resistance-training program split into two upper and two lower extremity workouts per week for a total of 8-weeks. At 0, 4, and 8-weeks, subjects underwent hydrodensiometery body composition, 1-RM strength, muscle endurance, and anaerobic capacity testing. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and are presented as mean ± SD changes from baseline after 60-days.ResultsNo significant differences (p > 0.05) between groups were noted for training volume. Significant group × time interaction effects were observed among groups in changes in body fat (FEN: -2.3 ± 1.4%BF; PL: -0.39 ± 1.6 %BF, p < 0.001), leg press 1-RM (FEN: 84.6 ± 36.2 kg; PL: 48 ± 29.5 kg, p < 0.001), and bench press 1-RM (FEN: 9.1 ± 6.9 kg; PL: 4.3 ± 5.6 kg, p = 0.01). No significant interactions was observed among groups for Wingate power analysis (p = 0.95) or muscular endurance on bench press (p = 0.87) or leg press (p = 0.61). In addition, there were no changes among groups in any clinical safety data including lipid panel, liver function, kidney function, and/or CBC panel (p > 0.05).ConclusionIt is concluded that 500 mg of this proprietary Fenugreek extraction had a significant impact on both upper- and lower-body strength and body composition in comparison to placebo in a double blind controlled trial. These changes were obtained with no clinical side effects.

Effects of Torabolic supplementation on strength and body composition during an 8-week resistance training program

Methods 47 Resistance trained men completed all phases of testing. Subjects were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to ingest in a double blind manner 75 g of dextrose (N = 15, 20 ± 1.1 yrs, 177 ± 6 cm, 87 ± 11 kg, 16 ± 5.6 %BF), 75 g of dextrose/5 g creatine in powdered form (N = 14, 21 ± 4 yrs, 181 ± 7.1 cm, 89 ± 12 kg, 18 ± 5.5 %BF) or 900 mg BIOCREAT/3.5 g creatine capsules (N = 17, 21 ± 2 yrs, 179 ± 6 cm, 85 ± 10 kg, 15 ± 6 %BF). Subjects participated in a supervised 4-day per week periodized resistance-training program split into two upper and two lower extremity workouts per week for a total of 8-weeks. At 0, 4, and 8-weeks, subjects were tested on body composition via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, 1 RM strength, muscular endurance, and anaerobic capacity. Statistical analyses utilized a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures for all criterion variables (p ≤ 0.05). Data are presented as mean ± SD changes from baseline values.

Effects Of Fenugreek, Cinnamon, & Curcumin On Post Workout Inflammatory Response.: 2084

Int J Exerc Sci 2(1): S18, 2009. It has been documented that strenuous exercise suppresses cellular immunity leading to increased susceptibility to infections and delayed recovery. As mediators of these phenomena, cytokines released into the circulation have been a recent focus of attention. PURPOSE: To assess the acute effectiveness of fenugreek, cinnamon, & curcumin on blunting inflammatory markers after muscle damage. METHODS: Twenty healthy non-resistance trained male and female subjects were equally divided by gender and assigned to ingested either a proprietary blend of fenugreek, cinnamon, & curcumin (N = 10, 21 ± 2.8 yrs, 174 ± 10 in, 77 ± 20 kg) or placebo (N = 10, 20 ± 1.9 yrs 175 ± 14in, 89 ± 20 kg). Subjects ingested 450 mg of either active supplement (400mg fenugreek, 25mg cinnamon, 25mg curcumin) or 450 mg of placebo for 14 days prior to the damage bout. Subjects were instructed to warm-up briefly and subsequently perform 24 sets of 10 eccentric knee extensor repetitions with one leg at 30°/s on an isokinetic device. Subjects had their blood drawn at baseline, immediately post, 1hr, 3hr, and 24hr post damage. Serum samples were analyzed for IL 1β, IL1rα, IL6, TNFα and CRP levels using a multiplex bead based assay. Data were analyzed by a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (p 0.05) interaction effects. However, a significant trend for interaction was observed for IL 6 (p=0.06) & IL1 rα (p = 0.09). Post hoc analysis revealed a significant difference immediately post damage in IL 1rα where active group was significantly lower than the placebo group (p 0.05) systemic inflammation. The experimental proprietary blend showed some positive anti-inflammatory effects as illustrated by a significantly (p<0.05) lower inflammatory response in IL1rα and IL 6 by 2hr post damage. It is concluded that fenugreek, cinnamon, and curcumin have potential anti-inflammatory properties and that they significantly reduced the onset of inflammation in response to muscle damage. This study was funded by Indus Biotech. TEXAS AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS MEDICINE 2009 CONFERENCE

Effects of TESTOSURGE supplementation on strength, body composition and hormonal profiles during an 8-week resistance training program

Methods 30 resistance trained males completed all phases of the study. Subjects were matched according to total body weight and randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to ingest either 500 mg of a placebo (N = 13, 21 ± 3 yrs, 180 ± 6.4 cm, 84 ± 15 kg, 18.3 ± 6.8 BF%) or TESTOSURGE (N = 17, 21 ± 2.8 yrs, 178 ± 5.8 cm, 85 ± 9.6 kg, 18.8 ± 4.8 BF%) once per day for eight weeks. Subjects participated in a supervised, 4-day per week periodized resistance training program consisting of two upper extremity and two lower extremity workouts per week for a total of 8 weeks. At weeks 0, 4 and 8, hydrodensiometry body composition, 1 RM bench press and leg press, muscular endurance, anaerobic power and hormonal profiles were assessed. Statistical analyses utilized a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures for all criterion variables (p ≤ 0.05). Data are presented as mean ± SD changes from baseline values.

The effects of Amped Up on hemodynamic function and energy expenditure at rest

Methods Eight male (23.0 ± 3.70 years, 210.69 ± 36.17 lbs, 71.81 ± 3.10 in) and ten female (23.6 ± 4.81 years, 147.95 ± 12.63 lbs, 67.88 ± 4.06 in) apparently healthy, physically active individuals participated in this study. Participants reported to the lab on a 10-hour fast and performed baseline testing on resting energy expenditure (REE), heart rate, and blood pressure. Subjects were then randomly assigned to ingest either Amped Up (3 capsules) or vitamin E (3 capsules). Criterion variables were then measured at 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hours post ingestion. Data was analyzed by two-factor (group × time point) ANOVA using SPSS version 16. Scheffe LSD post hoc was used to show differences in time points.