NTEL Nutra: Epik AT

NTEL Pharma is a brand which is well-known for their innovative products. Their pre-workout Arez has become somewhat of a massive hit not only within the States but also across the pond here in the UK & Europe and looking at their product formulas you'll understand why. Their natural anabolic EPIK A.T. is somewhat a unique product which has never been seen before that contains 2 active ingredients which have been shown to promote muscle growth and repair via numerous pathways. Although the ingredients are well known within the industry, they have never been stacked together within a product before which makes it so unique.

ARA - Arachidonic Acid

Arachidonic Acid is a fatty acid within the omega-6 family usually found in animal products such as beef, chicken, salmon, duck and lamb. ARA serves as a precursor to several hormone-like compounds such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes and lipoxins, and thus it plays an integral part in numerous biological functions including nutrient metabolism, neurological activity, inflammation, insulin sensitivity, bone mineral density and vascular homeostasis. Its main role appears largely mediated by its conversion to prostaglandins which has the ability to shift cell physiology to favour muscle growth and repair by stimulating PGF2alpha, a well known regulator of muscle protein synthesis.

In simple terms, ARA is richly stored within muscle tissues that is released during physical stress to promote inflammation and repair (anabolism). It also plays an important part in delayed onset muscle soreness due its ability in promoting inflammation which is required for optimal muscular growth and recovery. Regular exercise has been shown to lower the content of arachidonic acid and thus greatly reducing the anabolic response required for optimal muscular growth and repair.

Epicatechin

Muscle tissues contain 2 myokines which play a role in regulating muscle growth. Myostatin is responsible for inhibiting muscle growth while its 'opposite' known as follistatin indirectly promotes muscle growth by inhibiting myostatins ability. So in basic terms, you need to decrease myostatin and increase follistatin to see any noticeable muscle growth. Although there is very limited research on the compound itself, the current research seems to be very promising in epicatechins ability to inhibit/reduce the release of myostatin within muscle tissues.