Creatine + More
Creatine 2XC is a creatine supplement packed with other ingredients to improve workout performance for improved results. While there are several different ingredients in Creatine 2XC, the amount of creatine per serving is fairly small.
If you are solely looking for a creatine supplement with high doses per serving, Creatine 2XC may not be worth looking into. However, if you want a supplement with additional ingredients, Creatine 2XC may be worth looking in to.
- Ingredients
- Effectiveness
- Value
- Mixability
- Flavor
According to Creatine 2XC manufacturers, it’s important to choose a creatine supplement that is easily digested. Otherwise, it could break down and convert to creatinine, causing bloating and water retention.
Apparently, Creatine 2XC is designed to “navigate your digestive and circulatory systems fully intact so it can exert its highly beneficial effects on your hard-working muscle tissues.”
This claim definitely captured my attention, so I looked a bit further into Creatine 2XC.
Who Makes Creatine 2XC?
Creatine 2XC is manufactured and distributed by Nutrabolics, a self-proclaimed “world leader in cutting-edge sports nutrition.” According to the website, their products are distributed to 50 countries.
Nutrabolics has also been around for over a decade, a fairly good track record for an emerging supplement company.
With products available on BodyBuilding.com and with an active Twitter feed, Nutrabolics is trying hard to make a splash on the supplement scene.
What’s in Creatine 2XC?
Creatine 2XC is made up of five key ingredients to support muscular endurance and muscle tissue repair. Let’s take a look at each one.
Glutamine (1000 mg)
Glutamine is an essential amino acid that plays a key role in protein synthesis. It increases growth hormone production, which is said to enhance muscle building, but research shows mixed results. [1]
Glutamine is reduced after exercise stress, so replacing levels may be beneficial. [2]
Creatine HCl (750 mg)
Creatine HCl is a form of creatine said to be more absorbent than creatine monohydrate, but studies have not yet confirmed this to be true. In any case, creatine is found to promote gains in fat-free mass, lifting volume, and sprint performance. [3]However, possible side effects include nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, and weight gain.
AstraGin (12.5 mg)
AstraGin is a compound of astragalus and panax notoginseng, formulated to improve ingredient absorption. Preliminary studies show astragalus may benefit the immune system, heart, and liver. [4]
Similarly, panax notoginseng may reduce blood pressure. [5] According to GetAstragin.com, AstraGin increases absorption of amino acids and vitamins as well as ATP production, but studies proving this fact are difficult to locate.
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (500 mg)
L-carnitine L-tartrate reduced exercise-induced muscle tissue damage and showed potential to influence release of muscle-growing hormones such as testosterone. [6]
N-Acetyl-Tyrosine (125 mg)
Tyrosine is an amino acid and building block of muscle protein. It also makes chemical messengers that affect mental alertness.[7]
Does Creatine 2XC Have the Right Creatine Amount?
As the proper creatine dosage is debated, it’s difficult to say whether Creatine 2XC has adequate amounts. Several dosing regimens have been studied; these include:
• 20 g of creatine per day for 5 days, followed by a maintenance dose of about 2 g daily
• 9 g per day for 6 days, followed by a maintenance dose
• 3 g per day for 28 days [8]
Nutrabolics claims Creatine 2XC does not require a loading phase, or cycling on and off. Instead, the company recommends taking 2 scoops with 16 oz. water 30 minutes after exercise. This would provide 1.5 g creatine per day.
Although 1.5 g creatine is a fraction of the studied amount, creatine HCI is said to be highly concentrated, so recommended doses are smaller. Whether this holds true has yet to be determined.
Creatine 2XC Pricing
Creatine 2XC comes in four flavors: watermelon, orange, fruit punch, and blue raspberry. You can purchase a 180 g container (which will last for about 120 days) for the following prices:
| Store | Price | Shipping | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
 | $38.97 | Free | Buy Now |
 | $37.99 | $4 | Buy Now |
Creatine 2XC: The Bottom Line
As customer reviews on Creatine 2XC are lacking, it’s hard to tell how this creatine form works on athletes.
If you prefer taking a daily dose of creatine rather than cycling on and off, Creatine 2XC may be a safe option.
Although Creatine 2XC may be more absorbent than other creatine brands, it’s unclear whether this improved absorbency is enough to render it more effective than other creatine supplements.
References
[1] T.C. Welbourne. “Increased plasma bicarbonate and growth hormone after an oral glutamine load.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1995; 51 (5): 1058-1061. Available from: http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/61/5/1058.abstract
[2] Keast D. et al. “Depression of plasma glutamine concentration after exercise stress and its possible influence on the immune system.” Med J Aust. 1995; 162 (1): 15-8.
[3] Richard B. Kreider et al. “Effects of creatine supplementation on body composition, strength, and sprint performance.” Medicine & Sports & Exercise. 1998; 30 (1): 73-82. Available from: http://chua2.fiu.edu/faculty/kalmand/HUN6248/ppp/MSSE%20Efx%20of%20creatine%20on%20body%20comp%20strength%20and%20sprint%20perform%20CLASSIC%20Kreider%20-Almada%201998.pdf
[4] “Astragalus.” National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Available from: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/astragalus
[5] “Panax Pseudoginseng.” WebMD.com. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-906-PANAX%20PSEUDOGINSENG.aspx?activeIngredientId=906&activeIngredientName=PANAX%20PSEUDOGINSENG
[6] Kraemer WJ et al. “The effects of L-carnitine L-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery.” J Strength Cond Res. 2003; 17 (3): 455-62. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12930169
[7] “Tyrosine.” WebMD.com. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1037-TYROSINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=1037&activeIngredientName=TYROSINE
[8] “What is the recommended dosage for Creatine?” WebMD.com. Available from: http://answers.webmd.com/answers/1187682/what-is-the-recommended-dosage-for?guid=1
