Creatine & Pump

80%
Good

Overall, MusclePharm Creatine Black is a good supplement. It is formulated with researched ingredients. Each bottle retails for about $33 and provides 30 servings. Flavored creatine tends to be slightly more expensive than unflavored, and with the addition of pump ingredients, the price inevitably increases. However, MusclePharm Creatine Black is affordable considering its ingredient profile.

  • Ingredients
  • Flavor
  • Effectiveness
  • Value
  • Mixability

MusclePharm has done it again, releasing an entire new slew of products under the Black Label Series. One of these new products is Creatine Black.

MusclePharm Creatine Black is designed to increase energy output and improve workout performance, especially anaerobic exercise.

I took a closer look at MusclePharm Creatine Black to see if it’s formulated effectively and also affordable.

What’s Inside MusclePharm Creatine Black?

MusclePharm Creatine Black isn’t just a creatine supplement. Judging by its ingredient profile, it is also formulated with pump-increasing ingredients. Here’s a closer look at some key ingredients that stuck out to me during my research:

Creatine Matrix

This matrix includes 2 different creatine forms: creatine monohydrate(3 g), and creatine hydrochloride (HCL) (2 g). Creatine is studied for its ability to improve exercise performance and increasing muscle mass in athletes. [1]

L-Arginine (500 mg)

This ingredient is converted into nitric oxide, which expands blood vessels and allows for greater blood flow. Bodybuilders supplement with nitric-oxide boosting ingredients to increase the muscle pumps they get during workouts. Research shows supplementing with arginine daily over a 6-week period increases blood flow. [2]

Niagen (50 mg)

Also known as nicotinamide riboside, this ingredient is has the ability to enhance exercise by positively influence energy metabolism, as indicated by medical professionals. [3]

BioPerine (5 mg)

According to the manufacturers, BioPerine has been studied for its ability to improve nutrient deliver in the body. Supplementing with BioPerine will increase the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients. [4]

The ingredient profile looks decent. I’d say the most important thing is that it provides a total of 5 g creatine per serving and a good amount of pump-increasing compounds.

How Do You Use MusclePharm Creatine Black?

To optimize Creatine Black’s effects, mix 1 scoop with 8-10 ounces of either water or a preferred beverage. You can consume this before, during, or after training.

Keep in mind that MusclePharm Creatine Black comes in Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry. So, you may experience a bit of a flavor clash if you decide to add it to certain juices or already-flavored liquids.

Side Effects And Positive Effects?

Creatine may cause bloating and stomach discomfort in people who don’t respond well to creatine in general. However, side effects are mild, rare, and mostly avoidable by assessing tolerance in the beginning.

I don’t think you’ll run into many, if any, problems with MusclePharm Creatine Black.

I tried out the fruit punch flavor for a couple of days as my pre-workout. The flavor was tasty and it mixed fairly well. I did notice some slight settling at the bottom of my glass but it wasn’t terrible. I was able to get some good muscle pumps during my chest and arms workout. I don’t believe it was 100% attributed to MusclePharm Black Creatine because I train for a muscle pump every workout. I did, however, notice my arms felt tighter than usual during my arm workout. They felt more swollen, which may be an affect of supplementing with Creatine Black for a couple of days in a row.

Final Thoughts

Overall, MusclePharm Creatine Black is a good supplement. It is formulated with researched ingredients. Each bottle retails for about $33 and provides 30 servings. Flavored creatine tends to be slightly more expensive than unflavored, and with the addition of pump ingredients, the price inevitably increases. However, MusclePharm Creatine Black is affordable considering its ingredient profile.

If you have tried MusclePharm Creatine Black or plan on doing so, I’d love to hear about your experience with it in the comments below.

References

[1] Creatine. WebMD. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-873-creatine.aspx?activeingredientid=873&activeingredientname=creatine

[2] Boger RH, et al. “Restoring vascular nitric oxide formation by L-arginine improves the symptoms of intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.” J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998 Nov;32(5):1336-44. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9809945

[3] Chi Y, Suave AA. “Nicotinamide riboside, a trace nutrient in foods, is a vitamin B3 with effects on energy metabolism and neuroprotection.” Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2013 Nov;16(6):657-61. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24071780

[4] BioPerine. Available from: http://bioperine.com/clinical.html