Pump + Energy

82%
Good

Overall, Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme provided some good energy and additional ingredients to give me better muscle pumps.

As a pre-workout, I recommend it to those looking for a higher pump ingredient to energy ratio. It may also be beneficial for those that want to implement an intra-workout supplement into their long training sessions.

  • Ingredients
  • Mixability
  • Value
  • Effectiveness
  • Flavor

Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme is an amino acid and energy supplement formulated to help you make your workouts more intense and enhance your recovery.

Retailing for about $50 a bottle and providing 30 servings, Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme has been receiving a lot of attention from the supplement community.

I took a closer look at Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme to see if it is worth checking out. I was surprised with what I discovered.

What’s Inside Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme?

Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme packs several ingredients into a couple different blends and matrices. Here’s a look at a couple ingredients so you can better understand how it works.

Alpha-BCAA Matrix (5000 mg)

This matrix contains BCAAs leucine, isoleucine, and valine. However, this blend contains three different forms of leucine: instantized, nitriate (NO3-T), and peptides.

BCAAs are used to combat muscle soreness and alleviate muscle damage, especially after intense training like the squat exercise. [1]

Leucine, in particular, has been shown to enhance protein synthesis. [2] Improved protein synthesis essentially means better muscle growth.

Alpha-Hydration Formula (3000 mg)

This formula is designed to help you work out longer by combatting dehydration. One key ingredient in this formula is coconut water. Coconut water is full of electrolytes and other micronutrients to help you stay hydrated.

Glycerol is also one of several ingredients in this blend that is used by athletes to avoid dehydration. [3]

Alpha-Amino Complex (2,500 mg)

There are several ingredients in this blend, including glutamine, citrulline, and arginine.

Glutamine is used to support the immune system, which may sometimes be compromised during constant exercise and athletic activity. Citrulline and arginine are supplemented with by many fitness-minded individuals to improve blood flow via nitric oxide, which essentially means better muscle pumps during exercise.

Alpha Amino Xtreme Blend (119 mg)

This blend features the energy-boosting aspect of Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme. Caffeine is a key ingredient in this formula. Research shows caffeine improves physical performance as well as focus. [4]

Mixability and Effects

I tried out the fruit punch flavor before a couple workouts.

The flavor was decent, much like any other fruit punch supplement I have tried. There wasn’t any strange after tastes.

I mixed a scoop and a half with 8 ounces of water in my shaker cup. It all mixed fairly well. I noticed only some subtle settling at the bottom of my cup. About 20 minutes later, I started to notice a little boost and energy, and that’s when I hit the gym.

A majority of my workout I train for muscle pumps: high repetitions and medium weight. I’ll throw in some heavier sets later in my workout. But, I did notice that my pump during my arm and shoulder workouts was definitely improved. My muscles felt tighter after my workouts.

Overall, Cellucor Alpha Amino Xtreme provided some good energy and additional ingredients to give me better muscle pumps.

As a pre-workout, I recommend it to those looking for a higher pump ingredient to energy ratio. It may also be beneficial for those that want to implement an intra-workout supplement into their long training sessions.

References

[1] Shimomura Y, et al. “Branched-chain amino acid supplementation before squat exercise and delayed-onset muscle soreness.” Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010 Jun;20(3):236-44. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20601741

[2] Layne E. Norton and Donald K. Layman. “Leucine Regulates Translation Initiation of Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle after Exercise.” J. Nutr. February 2006 vol. 136. Available from: http://jn.nutrition.org/content/136/2/533S.full

[3] Glycerol. WebMD. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-4-glycerol.aspx?activeingredientid=4&activeingredientname=glycerol

[4] Caffeine. WebMD. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-caffeine.aspx?activeingredientid=979&activeingredientname=caffeine