Scivation : Xtend Ripped BCAA & EAA Supplement

Xtend Ripped by Scivation is a multi-purpose branched chain amino acid drink that is also beneficial to losing weight and maximising muscle retention. The high BCAA content of 7g will assist muscular development and retaining muscle mass, while ingredients such as CLA, carnitine and capsicum annuum will help you to achieve your best physique ever. Xtend Ripped is relevant to those wanting to reduce their bodyfat levels as well as experience enhanced strength, performance, recovery and hydration in the gym.

Lean Definition Ingredients

Capsicum Annum

Capsaicinoids are a group of chemicals naturally occurring in chilli peppers with bioactive properties that help to support weight management. Capsaicin helps you to burn any unwanted fat by increasing the amount of calories and fat your body burns. It also contributes to weight management through reducing your energy intake.

Carnitine

Carnitine works through the pathway of increasing fat oxidation and by reducing fat synthesis. It predominantly is responsible for transporting the fat cells from the cytosol to the mitochondria to be used as energy. The mitochondria are the power plants of cells in the body and are the place where the majority of ATP is derived for energy. Once fatty acids move into the mitochondria, they can be used up as fuel to generate ATP. This process is not possible if there isn’t a sufficient amount of carnitine present.

CLA

Conjugated linoleic acid plays a major role in fat metabolism, particularly in relation to the oxidative cellular system. CLA’s role in fat metabolism includes its ability to inhibit the entry of glucose into adipocytes. The primary benefit of supplementing with CLA includes its capacity to alter body composition, promoting an increase in lean muscle mass and a reduction of fat mass.

Performance

Citrulline Malate

Citrulline malate is an organic compound that increases the level of nitric oxide metabolites and plays a vital role in regulating vasodilation, blood flow and mitochondrial respiration. It is an ingredient that has been extensively researched and has been shown to postpone fatigue during prolonged exercise due to being able to diminish blood lactate levels, increase upper and lower body resistance exercise performance and decrease rate of perceived exertion (1,2,3). One study found that the participants who supplemented with citrulline malate achieved 53% more repetitions and decreased muscle soreness by 40% 24 and 48 hours after a chest training session.

Citrulline malate is a non-essential amino acid that acts as a precursor to l-arginine in the nitric-oxide pathway. Citrulline malate can help assist with sports performance as it can postpone fatigue and enhance muscular endurance by reducing blood lactate levels. The recommended dose for citrulline malate seems to be around 8g as this is the dosage used in the majority of studies, although one study did use only 3g and sill find it to reduce blood lactate levels.

Hydration

Dehydration and a loss of electrolytes during exercise can increase subjective ratings of fatigue and perceived exertion leading to an impairment in performance. Xtend Ripped contains all the essential electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium to ensure you can sustain your performance and fight off feelings of fatigue helping to finish your workout at the same intensity you began with.

Recovery

BCAAs We are all aware of the 30-minute window after training when the body is most responsive to nutrients and is the prime time to feed your muscles, but engaging in intense exercise temporarily supresses and diminishes your appetite and often we are unable to consume a large meal after training. BCAAs are rapidly absorbed by the body as they bypass the liver. BCAAs make up around 35% of the bodies muscle tissue and are severely broken down when exercising. Studies have shown leucine to be the most important of the three and the one that contains the most anabolic potential. BCAAs can also have beneficial effects of decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage 24-48 hours after exercising and promoting muscle-protein synthesis.

Glutamine

Glutamine makes up 60% of human muscle tissue and is constantly used by the body for dividing cells, including leucocytes, to provide energy and optimal conditions for nucleotide biosynthesis. It is also important for maintaining optimal levels of immune function.

Engaging in constant intense training can lead to depleted levels of glutamine due to its synthesis being reduced and enhanced uptake by our liver and immune cells. Post-exercise glutamine depletion is also associated with depressing the immune system. There is a need for individuals who exercise regularly to consume a greater amount of glutamine than those who are sedentary and supplementing is a convenient way to ensure the body is replenished with glutamine to meet the demands of strenuous training.

Supplementing with glutamine can help to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness induced by prolonged exercise and provide a significant ergogenic benefit of increasing time to exhaustion due to an enhanced fluid and electrolyte uptake.

1. Kiyici F, Eroğlu H, Kishali NF, Burmaoglu G. The Effect of Citrulline/Malate on Blood Lactate Levels in Intensive Exercise. Biochem Genet. 2017 Jun 29. doi: 10.1007/s10528-017-9807-8.

2. Glenn JM, Gray M, Wethington LN, Stone MS, Stewart RW Jr, Moyen NE. Acute citrulline malate supplementation improves upper- and lower-body submaximal weightlifting exercise performance in resistance-trained females. Eur J Nutr. 2017 Mar;56(2):775-784. doi: 10.1007/s00394-015-1124-6.

3. Wax B, Kavazis AN, Weldon K, Sperlak J. Effects of supplemental citrulline malate ingestion during repeated bouts of lower-body exercise in advanced weightlifters. J Strength Cond Res. 2015 Mar;29(3):786-92.