Derived from L-arginine, agmatine is a unique molecule that acts as both a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator as well as a nitric oxide-support agent. More specifically, agmatine can help reduce the perception of pain (enabling you to push harder during training) and offer neuroprotection against glutamate toxicity. Agmatine also supports stronger, longer-lasting pumps by stimulating eNOS (the enzyme that catalyzes NO production) as well as inhibits arginase -- the enzyme that breaks down arginine (the “fuel” your body uses to produce nitric oxide).*

Tyrosine is an amino acid used to produce dopamine -- a critical neurotransmitter involved in mood, motivation, motor control and exercise performance. It’s also involved in the production of both T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) thyroid hormones, which affect metabolism. Intense training can deplete dopamine levels, leading to an increase in serotonin, which can accelerate the onset of fatigue. Supplementing with tyrosine promotes greater dopamine concentrations and also offers anti-stress/anti-fatigue benefits.*

Developed by Nutrition21, Nitrosigine is a fast-acting, premium NO booster that contains a highly bioavailable form of arginine, making it superior to other arginine supplements (e.g. L-Arginine, AAKG, etc.). Groundbreaking research conducted at the University of Arkansas demonstrated that 1,500mg of Nitrosigine was as effective as 8,000mg of CitrullineMalate.*

In addition to increasing nitric oxide, vasodilation and blood flow, which delivers more powerful pumps and increased vascularity, Nitrosigine also improves focus and helps reduce biomarkers of muscle fatigue following exercise.*

Choline is an essential nutrient for optimal CNS development and function, largely in part due to its role in synthesizing acetylcholine -- a highly-important neuro transmitter involved in learning, memory, focus, and the mind-muscle connection. Alpha GPC is among the most effective choline supplements on the market, readily crossing the blood-brain barrier and supporting acetylcholine production. Human studies have found that Alpha GPC supplementation before training can help increase maximum velocity and maximum power output as well as improve reaction time and vertical jump power.*

Caffeine is the consummate pre workout stimulant, rigorously investigated by researchers and utilized by athletes and gym rats around the globe to increase energy, boost focus, and power performance during tough workouts. In addition to antagonizing adenosine, caffeine also stimulates the release of dopamine as well as upregulates dopamine receptor availability and affinity. Supplementing with caffeine before exercise can improve strength, endurance, and reaction time while delaying the onset of fatigue.*

VILLAIN includes a precise blend of fast-acting and extended-release caffeine to power you during and after your workout, thus avoiding the dreaded “crash” common to most pre workout supplements.*

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the cellular currency of energy production. Cells have limited stores of it, after which other substrates (creatine, glucose, fatty acids) must be utilized to continue powering energy production (and thus athletic performance). Developed by Future Ceuticals, elevATP is a game-changing blend of ancient peat and apple extracts shown to increase endogenous levels ATP in the body as well as improve strength, power, and performance in resistance-trained athletes. VILLAIN includes elevATP with Nitrosigine and beta-alanine, specifically, to offer athletes multiple means by which to lift more weight, train harder, and make greater gains!

Kelp is an excellent source of many critical micronutrients, including potassium, magnesium, iron, and iodine. Deficiencies in iodine can lead to thyroid deficiency, impairing metabolism and leading to fat gain. Beyond supporting thyroid health, iodine also functions as a potent scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can enhance exercise performance.*

A powerful non-stimulant focus-enhancer, NeuroFactor is a proprietary extract of coffee fruit (different from coffee beans) that is rich in numerous polyphenols which have been found to boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) up to 143% from baseline and keep them elevated for two hours! BDNF is an important brain protein that impacts the growth, development and maintenance of neurons (brain cells), which supports greater focus, memory, and concentration.*

1. Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, Hoffman JR, Wilborn CD, Sale C, Kreider RB, Jäger R, Earnest CP, Bannock L, Campbell B, Kalman D, Ziegenfuss TN, Antonio J. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Jul 15;12:30. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y. PMID: 26175657; PMCID: PMC4501114.

   
   

2. Mun CH, Lee WT, Park KA, Lee JE. Regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by agmatine after transient global cerebral ischemia in rat brain. Anat Cell Biol. 2010 Sep;43(3):230-40. doi: 10.5115/acb.2010.43.3.230. Epub 2010 Sep 30. PMID: 21212863; PMCID: PMC3015041.

   
   

3. Rafi, H., Rafiq, H. & Farhan, M. Inhibition of NMDA receptors by agmatine is followed by GABA/glutamate balance in benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 10, 43 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43088-021-00125-8

   
   

4. Mathar D, Erfanian Abdoust M, Marrenbach T, Tuzsus D, Peters J. The catecholamine precursor Tyrosine reduces autonomic arousal and decreases decision thresholds in reinforcement learning and temporal discounting. PLoS Comput Biol. 2022 Dec 22;18(12):e1010785. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010785. PMID: 36548401; PMCID: PMC9822114.

   
   

5. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research; Marriott BM, editor. Food Components to Enhance Performance: An Evaluation of Potential Performance-Enhancing Food Components for Operational Rations. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1994. 15, Tyrosine and Stress: Human and Animal Studies. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209061/

   
   

6. Rogers JM, Gills J, Gray M. Acute effects of Nitrosigine® and citrulline malate on vasodilation in young adults. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2020;17(1):12. Published 2020 Feb 24. doi:10.1186/s12970-020-00343-y

   
   

7. Rood-Ojalvo S, Sandler D, Veledar E, et al. The benefits of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate as a workout ingredient. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:P14. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-12-S1-P14.

   
   

8. Harvey et. al. The effects of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate on cognitive function. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2015;34(6):544.

   
   

9. Kansakar U, Trimarco V, Mone P, Varzideh F, Lombardi A, Santulli G. Choline supplements: An update. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Mar 7;14:1148166. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1148166. PMID: 36950691; PMCID: PMC10025538.

   
   

10. Guest NS, VanDusseldorp TA, Nelson MT, Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Jenkins NDM, Arent SM, Antonio J, Stout JR, Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Goldstein ER, Kalman DS, Campbell BI. International society of sports nutrition position stand: caffeine and exercise performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Jan 2;18(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4. PMID: 33388079; PMCID: PMC7777221.

    
    

11. B, Argumedo R, Shu C, Huynh L, Pietrzkowski Z. Effect of the dietary supplement ElevATP on blood ATP level: An acute pilot clinical study. J Aging Res Clin Practice. 2013;2:178–84.

    
    

12. Reyes-Izquierdo T, Shu C, Argumedo R, Nemzer B, Pietrzkowski Z. The effect of elevATPTM on whole blood ATP levels: a single dose, crossover clinical study. J Aging Res Clin Practice. 2014;3:56–60.

    
    

13. Joy, J. M., Falcone, P. H., Vogel, R. M., Mosman, M. M., Kim, M. P., & Moon, J. R. (2015). Supplementation with a proprietary blend of ancient peat and apple extract may improve body composition without affecting hematology in resistance-trained men. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 40(11), 1171–1177.

    
    

14. Sorrenti S, Baldini E, Pironi D, Lauro A, D'Orazi V, Tartaglia F, Tripodi D, Lori E, Gagliardi F, Praticò M, Illuminati G, D'Andrea V, Palumbo P, Ulisse S. Iodine: Its Role in Thyroid Hormone Biosynthesis and Beyond. Nutrients. 2021 Dec 14;13(12):4469. doi: 10.3390/nu13124469. PMID: 34960019; PMCID: PMC8709459.

    
    

15. Reyes-Izquierdo, T., Nemzer, B., Shu, C., et al; “Modulatory effects of coffee fruit extract on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects”; British Journal of Nutrition; 2013;

    
    

16. T. Reyes-Izquierdo, R. Argumedo, C. Shu, B. Nemzer and Z. Pietrzkowski, "Stimulatory Effect of Whole Coffee Fruit Concentrate Powder on Plasma Levels of Total and Exosomal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Healthy Subjects: An Acute Within-Subject Clinical Study," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 4 No. 9, 2013, pp. 984-990. doi: 10.4236/fns.2013.49127