Interview With Supplement Guru, Patrick Arnold (15/09/11)

Posted by PredatorAdmin at 16:01 19/01/12

Patrick Arnold Interview

Reggie - Hi Pat. It is an honour to finally meet someone who is such a legend in the industry. Can you give our readers a little background on yourself and what first motivated you to be involved in the supplement industry?

PA - Hello Reggie. Thank you. I grew up in Connecticut and was into fitness. I was also into science. In college I studied chemistry and I also was very interested in bodybuilding. In the 90s I worked at a chemical company and I used the library there a lot to study bodybuilding chemistry. I also started dabbling in the lab making bodybuilding drugs and specialty supplements etc. Later on I got an opportunity to work in the industry and I went to Illinois where I started a company.

Reggie - I know I first came aware of you when you were interviewed for Musclemedia in the 90's before the development of your first company. Back then the supplement industry was very different. How did you envisage your own company would fit within the industry at the time? Did you see opportunities at the time or did it look a tough industry to break into?

PA - When we started our company we wanted to develop ingredients to sell to other nutritional supplement companies. In other words we were not interested in having our own line of supplements but instead we wanted to make novel ingredients and sell them in bulk. We learned that there were issues with having our ideas knocked off by the chinese and also the profit just wasn't there. So we decided to start our own private label brand called Ergopharm.

Reggie - For those who are not aware of Ergopharm can you tell them what new innovations you introduced to the industry while owning Ergopharm.

PA - The biggest supplement ingredients we introduced through Ergopharm were the prohormone 1-AD, the testosterone booster 6-OXO, and geranamine (1,3-dimethylamylamine) which was an ingredient in the fat burner AMP and the energy shot ClearShot.

Reggie - I know that geranamine set off a new wave of pre-workouts and fat burners which used the same ingredient. What would you say set AMP apart and can you tell us how the E-Pharm version compares to the original.

PA - AMP was the first product to contain geranamine. Its a great product and still has a huge fan base. It is a simple yet effective formula. The E-Pharm version is exactly the same as the original Ergopharm formula

Rick - Can I ask a question about your approach to nutrition? I read on your blog you're a fan of low carbohydrate diets? Is this true and why?

PA - I don't really watch my calorie intake, I have a good idea of what I need and keep it simple. Most people would do well on just focusing on the big picture than worrying about the small details when it comes to nutrition. With regards to carbohydrates, I just find a lower amount works better for me.

Reggie - We've just had the first information about your brand new product Ursobolic. Can you tell us a bit more about it and when Predator Nutrition fans can expect to see it?

PA - It's literally being bottled this week! Ursolic Acid is a pretty exciting compound, shown by a University-led study in June 2011 to literally burn fat and increase muscle mass.

Rick - sounds pretty incredible, could you explain the mechanisms by which it does this?

PA - It seems to work by enhancing molecular expression of anabolic genes inside muscle cells, particularly IGF-I and decreasing expression of catabolic genes, namely. If I was to make a very vague comparison, it would be similar to clenbuterol. So place your order soon!

Reggie - Reminds me a lot of PES Anabeta, which many users, including myself have had superb lean muscle gains as well as pumps and strength. Would you say Ursolic compares to this?

PA - Perhaps loosely, but in terms of research-driven support the research behind Ursolic acid was extremely well-conducted and controlled for confounding factors. I'm not doubting Anabeta has great feedback but the research behind Ursolic Acid is more compelling.

Reggie - It's interesting you've chosen to go for a single ingredient rather than a proprietary blend, does it not worry you that the product will be copied extremely quickly?

PA - If I was to make a blend, I'd need to add a bunch of worthless ingredients and fillers. I'd rather be remembered as the guy who first brought that ingredient to the market.

Reggie - We certainly sell a large amount of Testforce 2. The addition of the sarcosine seems to make it highly effective. Another question though, what is the major difference between E-Pharm and Prototype Nutrition?

PA - Prototype nutrition was designed to be 1 of 2 things. Firstly, it was a chance to make things that were never proposed for large scale production and secondly, it could act as a 'springboard' for new E-Pharm products.

Rick - The R-Spray in particular caught my eye, being a transdermal trans-resveratrol product, it's similar to one I rate highly, Sustain Alpha by Primordial Performance. Was it designed to be a market competitor to this unique product?

PA - R-spray was never designed to compete with Sustain Alpha. Tran-resveratrol is pretty amazing in terms of health benefits and since transdermal is the best way to deliver it, I wanted to make my own. The R-Spray is a pure trans-resveratrol product dosed much more highly than Sustain Alpha.

Reggie - While we're talking about SA/trans-resveratrol, what would the benefits be to the regular trainee?

PA - Increased testosterone levels, increased endurance in workouts and a better sense of well-being are all very possible with R Spray.

Reggie - What about your other transdermal sprays, 7 Spray and 11 Spray?

PA - 11 Spray will convert to a testosterone like hormone called 11-ketotestosterone. Unlike testosterone however it has no possible estrogen conversion and mildly controls cortisol. 7 Spray is specifically formulated to control cortisol effectively.

Reggie - So 11-spray is a PH?

PA - It contains the same hormone that is naturally produced in the adrenal gland of men and women. Since it is an endogenous hormone and not a synthetic product like almost all the prohormones on the market today, it is much milder and safer to use

Reggie – The sprays lower cortisol too? Like Lean Xtreme?

PA - The sprays do not lower cortisol indiscriminately. The 11 spray lowers cortisol only in target tissues by affecting an enzyme which controls the levels of cortisol in these tissues. The tissues in question are mainly adipose tissue, liver, muscle, and blood vessels. 7-spray affects this enzyme also and may also affect the immune system suppression effects of cortisol as well as the fat deposition of cortisol via different mechanisms.

Beta-AET has been shown in research to increase fat loss and induce thermogenesis, enhance the immune system and modulate the inflammatory response.

Reggie - So because 11 & 7 Spray works in a slightly different manner to Lean Xtreme and Abliderate, could they be stacked?

PA - There's no need. 11 & 7 spray are simply more effective.

Reggie - What about stacking 7 spray and R Spray?

PA - You've only got so much skin!

Rick - Can I ask about the topical delivery system? I particularly recall with SA that the skin needed to be scrubbed to remove any dead skin to enhance penetration of the compound, is this the same for R, 11 & 7 spray?

PA - Not necessary at all. Just put it on after a shower and within 30 minutes it should have penetrated into the epidermis.

Reggie - Do we need to consider contact with others after application?

PA - It's not an issue with adult women but I'd avoid contact with pregnant women and young children.

Reggie - Would it enhance the effects of Testforce 2?

PA – Yes.

Reggie – Do Testforce 2 and Ursobolic need to be cycled?

PA - No, they can be used year round.

Reggie - What about effervescent CoP? Is it just another creatine product?

PA - CoP is not creatine. It works differently to enhance ATP levels, increasing endurance, strength and recovery. It delays the depletion of ATP in the muscles, not by acting as phosphate donor like creatine does but by some other mechanism. Perhaps by affecting the enzyme creatine kinase or stabilizing the cell membranes thereby preventing the loss of intracellular creatine kinase.

Reggie - Strength as in 1 RM?

PA - I am not entirely sure if it would affect this. One rep max's aren’t usually associated with ATP depletion. But it might.

Reggie - Does it need to be cycled? How long would a tub last?

PA - It doesn't need to be cycled and tub will last roughly a month

Reggie – Pat, thank you for taking the time to take part in this interview. Do you have any words for your companies’ fans in Europe?
PA - Yeah, I have never been to Europe but I hope to soon. Oh, and you guys gotta do something about the stupid supplement laws over there. LOL

Reggie – Thanks a lot for your time. I am sure our readers will be very keen to try these new products.