Get ready to BUILD the physique of your dreams! Get ready to decimate your body’s limitations!
ALPHABUILD has been designed to bulldoze through the body's rate-limiting signalling molecules and potently enhance muscle-building potential. All this while simultaneously amplifying the body’s ability to burn fat!
ALPHABUILD is a multifaceted powerhouse formula designed to attack fat loss and increase muscle growth through a magnitude of new & novel pathways. This includes the inhibition of the muscle limiting factor Myostatin, the enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis and output, the effective enhancement of energy production and exercise performance, the potentiation of insulin sensitivity, and the amplification of the critical anabolic/thermogenic signalling molecule Cyclic-Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP)!
In simpler terms, ALPHABUILD's revolutionary formula creates new ways for you to build muscle, build solid strength, get vascular, and burn fat!
Key Benefits of ALPHABUILD:
- Boosts Myostatin Inhibiting Molecule Follistatin
- Amplifies Mitochondrial Biogenesis
- Multifaceted Targeted Cyclic-Adenosine Monophosphate Booster
- Novel TGR-5 Agonist
- Enhances ATP Production
- Boosts Muscle Protein Synthesis
- Increases Vascularity
- Boosts Anabolic Signalling
- Supports Lean Muscle Growth
- Enhances insulin sensitivity
- Fat Oxidation Booster
- Lipolysis Enhancer
- Enhances Exercise Performance
- Supports Healthy Levels of Anabolic Hormones
- Potent Anti-Catabolic Support
- Supports Strength Output
- Enhances Myogenesis
- Boosts Recovery
Furthermore, Olympus has developed an industry-first science breakthrough product featuring both the tried-and-true anchor ingredient (-)-Epicatechin PhytoFUSE™ at a substantial dose of 600mg and combined it with its little spoken-about big brother (+)-Epicatechin!
Make no mistake, the research on Epicatechin's positive (+) isomer is truly ground-breaking. It shows substantially more vigorous activity with respect to its positive impact on the mitochondria, which is an essential cellular organelle where the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur. Olympus Labs has dosed it at a clinically efficacious level.
Also featured in the formula are several other novel ingredients that have hit the industry by storm, including α-Ionone, which functions via a unique mechanism of action. α-Ionone is a potent agonist of the Olfactory Receptors (ORs), a pathway that leads to extreme increases in cAMP in muscle and fat cells.
What’s more, recent research has shown that α-Ionone is also a potent agonist of the bile acid membrane receptor known as the TGR-5 pathway, which has been a strong focus for researchers in recent years due to its potent & multifaceted effects with respect to regulating glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, metabolic function, and energy expenditure. α-Ionone has been utilized at a total clinically validated dosage to potently enhance skeletal muscle mass and strength by driving muscle protein synthesis to the extreme while simultaneously being a potent anti-catabolic and lipotropic agent!
The second inclusion is Abscisic Acid, a relatively unheard-of compound in the supplement industry, yet, make no mistake; it is a heavily studied ingredient in humans which has been found to have a profound positive effect on boosting glucose disposal, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and boosting the action of thermogenic brown fat!
The formula is rounded out with a clinically validated dose of Chromium Picolinate, which provides synergy to the other ingredients in further boosting insulin receptor sensitivity.
To support full clinical doses of each ingredient, Olympus Labs has utilized liquid gel cap technology (Liquigels), which allows each compound to be featured in its most potent form!
The Science Behind ALPHABUILD:
Since its discovery in 1997, many studies have revealed that regulating myostatin, an extracellular cytokine predominantly secreted by skeletal muscle cells, is a significant feature of muscle physiology, acting as a negative regulator of muscle growth. Research has repeatedly shown that inhibiting myostatin results in both the maintenance and production of muscle mass.
Follistatin is an autocrine glycoprotein encoded by the FST gene. Its primary function is the binding and bio-neutralising members of the TGF-β superfamily, including myostatin. Increasing levels of follistatin has a direct and proportional effect on decreasing myostatin levels and removing the rate-limiting handbrake on muscle growth.
With one handbrake removed, several other pathways can be targeted to further boost growth, performance, and fat-burning potential, including the all-important cellular powerhouses known as the mitochondria, which are found in every cell in the body and produce energy for all bodily processes. By increasing these mitochondria's amount and production capacity, we can provide capacity for the body to scale higher heights in terms of output and growth.
Furthermore, ALPHABUILD also targets vital signalling molecules such as cAMP, which drive a vast array of cellular processes and the production of essential anabolic hormones that can further amplify both the growth and fat loss capacity.
Finally, the formula seeks to supercharge the action of the body's most anabolic hormone, insulin, sensitizing its effects on skeletal muscle mass for growth while simultaneously being a chaperone of excess serum glucose to be disposed of via thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.
We introduce an entirely new approach to boosting cAMP in skeletal muscle by targeting a novel pathway known as the ORs. They are predominantly expressed by the main olfactory epithelium at the nasal level and are responsible for the generation of smell; however, according to developing research over recent years, it has been proven they’re also found in many different areas of the body, including skeletal muscle, the liver, heart, brain, and fat cells. They perform some very interesting and important functions.
Before we dive into the individual ingredients in the formula, let’s talk about cAMP, which is a very important secondary messenger for signal transduction at the cellular level. It’s been shown to perform critical functions in regulating skeletal muscle mass and function. This occurs through enhancing the expression of specific target genes, which in turn regulate the functions of a series of protein targets, including ion channels, enzymes, and transcription factors. In fact, cAMP-elevating agents have been reported to promote significant increases in total protein synthesis and the reduction of catabolic processes in skeletal muscles.
Increasing levels of cAMP can also support increased levels of lipolysis and the oxidation of fatty acids. It’s also a key molecule in regulating glycogen synthesis, vasodilation, and, most importantly, synthesising key anabolic hormones such as testosterone by enhancing Leydig cell function.
Overall, the formula works in synergy to break down the rate-limiting roadblocks in the body and sends key anabolic pathways into overdrive while simultaneously boosting thermogenesis to support enhanced fat loss.
Now, Let’s take an in-depth look at each of the Ingredients:
(-)-Epicatechin PhytoFUSE™: Epicatechin is a flavanol found in cocoa seeds and green tea that has been heavily studied in recent years and has demonstrated numerous benefits through its multifaceted effects on the body. Importantly, it has been shown to act as a myostatin inhibitor potentially. As previously noted, myostatin is a protein that inhibits muscle cell growth and differentiation, so blocking its action is beneficial to those seeking additional muscle mass. Research shows that this is achieved through its ability to increase follistatin, a protein that binds to and inhibits myostatin, by 2.5 times!
Notwithstanding its direct effects on myostatin inhibition, supplementation with (-)-epicatechin has been shown to have exercise-mimetic properties, which play a key role in adaptations to exercise and new skeletal muscle formation. This study showed that it resulted in upregulated miRNA signalling molecules that induce hypertrophy and increase myogenic proteins MyoD and MyoG levels.
(-)-Epicatechin has also been repeatedly shown to enhance mitochondrial biogenesis, which resulted in improvements in fatigue, increased resting energy expenditure and improved exercise capacity. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated to possess potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant capacity, and vasodilatory properties, improving cardiovascular, liver, and kidney health.
A key drawback specific to (-)-epicatechin is its poor oral bioavailability, which results in the need to use substantial dosages that still may not elicit the desired effects. If only there were a way to substantially improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the compound to unleash its power truly.
Enter PhytoFUSE™, a unique delivery technology that enhances the bioavailability and absorption of Epicatechin. Research has shown that this delivery method can enhance potency anywhere from 2x-6x! PhytoFUSE™ utilizes specific lipids to complex with (-)-epicatechin on a molecular level, allowing for greater solubility and enhanced bioavailability/absorption. It ultimately helps to effectively shuttle the active ingredient to the intestines, which can be taken up while preventing degradation throughout the process. This means that more Epicatechin is delivered to the sites where it can be utilized effectively, thus enhancing its effects considerably.
(+)-Epicatechin: The most abundant naturally occurring epimers in cacao or green tea are (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin. However, another lesser known and significantly less abundant compound (+)-epicatechin, is also present and greatly differs in its biological effects when compared to (-)-epicatechin.
The properties of stereoisomers (- or +) can differ significantly and unexpectedly across compounds, and they can differ with respect to activity and physicochemical properties, which can influence pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity. The enantiomer of (−)-epicatechin is (+)-epicatechin.
Like (-)-epicatechin, it increases mitochondrial biogenesis (but to a significantly greater degree), thus increasing energy production potential at the cellular level. This results in increasing fatty acid utilization and thus not only increases fat burning but it also spares glucose for use in muscle cells to support exercise performance, recovery, and growth.
When comparing the increase of the expression of Electron Transport Chain IV, a critical factor in mitochondria for ATP production, (+)-epicatechin is approximately 400-fold more potent than (-)-epicatechin, which indeed is a massive gain of potency!
Most of the body's need for ATP is supplied through oxidative phosphorylation, carried out in the mitochondria in all tissues and is vitally important in exercise performance, recovery, and subsequent growth.
In addition, (+)-epicatechin is substantially more potent in lowering the elevated triglycerides in animal models, which means it can provide very strong support for a healthy lipid profile and cardiovascular system function. Additionally, recent research has shown that it potently improves neurogenesis markers, likely through the stimulation of capillary formation and nitric oxide triggering, resulting in improved memory.
Currently, there have not been any direct studies into (+)-epicatechin’s effects on increasing follistatin and thus lowering myostatin levels; however, there has been various work looking into a combination of both isomers on various pathways which have demonstrated additive effects when utilized together.
As previously noted, the ingredient has been dosed at a clinically validated level to ensure the ingredient can provide its full effects.
α-Ionone: ionones are part of the family of compounds known as rose ketones; they are aroma compounds found in small quantities in various essential oils and fruits such as raspberries. Ionones can be found in three forms: alpha, beta and gamma. Due to their intense aroma, they are common ingredients in various fragrances, cosmetics, and food flavouring additives.
ALPHABUILD utilizes a massive clinical dosage of a highly purified, isolated α-ionone, which serves a very different and exciting role. Recent literature has shown that α-ionone is a potent stimulator of myogenesis and a skeletal muscle anti-atrophic agent. These are potent pathways to stimulate the building of new muscle tissue while simultaneously reducing the rate of muscle breakdown.
It exerts these potent effects by boosting cAMP; research literature shows that α-ionone acts on the OR subtype OR51E2, which, when activated, leads to a substantial increase in cAMP levels and subsequent downstream effects.
α-Ionone is highly orally bioavailable and builds up in various bodily tissues such as skeletal muscle, adipocytes, and the liver, exerting its effects where it matters most. It has been shown to affect downstream key anabolic signalling molecules such as PKA Cα, p-CREB, p-FoxO3 and (PGC)-1α1, whilst simultaneously decreasing expression of catabolic signalling molecules such as RING finger 1 (MuRF1) and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx), which regulate ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent proteolysis. The amount of p-SMAD2/3 (a downstream molecule of myostatin signalling) significantly diminished, whereas the amounts of IGF-1 signalling molecules including p-AKT, p-mTORC, p-S6K1, and p-4E-BP1 significantly increased in the skeletal muscle of α-ionone-treated subjects. In layman’s terms, key anabolic processes are greatly enhanced while simultaneously, key catabolic processes are suppressed, leading to a potent net benefit in promoting anabolism.
Another recently identified mechanism of action of α-ionone is its potent agonist properties on the bile acid membrane receptor known as TGR-5. Significant research has been undertaken into this pathway, and it has been shown that activation of TGR-5 supports glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, metabolic function, and energy expenditure. Its activation also mediates novel effects on inflammation and even the possibility of stimulating liver repair. Furthermore, the TGR-5 agonists have been shown to potently stimulate gluagon-like-peptide-1, thus modulating glucose homeostasis while stimulating energy expenditure in brown adipose and muscle tissue.
Activation of the relevant OR subtypes and the TGR-5 pathway by α-ionone may also exert positive effects with respect to enhancing glucose uptake into skeletal muscle, increasing insulin sensitivity, and research has shown that they lead to reprogramming of metabolic signatures, boosting levels of Adcy3 and of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, with concomitant downregulation of the ability for fat cells to increase levels of fatty acids.
Additionally, cAMP is a vital signalling messenger for the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and production of essential anabolic hormones such as testosterone. Enhanced levels of cAMP may directly correlate with enhanced hormone output!
Multifaceted benefits may be achieved from α-Ionone’ inclusion in the formula, ranging from improved skeletal muscle anabolism, enhanced anabolic hormone production, increased fat lipolysis and oxidation, and increased glycogen synthesis.
Abscisic Acid: A naturally occurring isoprenoid compound that was initially identified in plants in the 1960s. It is a major phytohormone that regulates numerous aspects of plant growth, development, and stress responses. While it has very little presence in the supplement industry to date, it has been heavily studied for its essential functions in human health. Abscisic acid has been identified as providing a very important role in managing glucose homeostasis in humans, and according to the latest US dietary survey, about 92% of the population is deficient in their intake due to insufficient fruit and vegetable intake.
When considering the literature, it paints a very clear picture of the broad-ranging positive effects Abscisic acid may provide. It is a potent glucose disposal agent, improving glucose tolerance and reducing insulin levels in Humans and rats through an independent insulin-sparing mechanism. It stimulates muscle glucose uptake by enhancing AMP-K and GLUT-4 Expression, independent of Insulin and improves muscle glycogen content.
Furthermore, research has found that it induces brown fat activity, which enhances thermogenesis and, ultimately, fat loss, and increases glucagon-like-peptide-1, which may reduce appetite and boost insulin release, thus controlling blood sugar levels and acting as a potent anti-inflammatory by reducing CRP levels after 3 months in prediabetic subjects.
All these positive effects improve metabolic health, reduce BMI and waist circumference in humans, and reduce neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment and anxiety in models studied.
Chromium Picolinate: An essential mineral that has been shown to regulate insulin in the body. It undertakes this function through a protein called Chromodulin that augments the signalling of insulin receptors; if this protein is impaired, then insulin's ability to function is significantly compromised.
It has been included in ALPHABUILD to provide synergy to other insulin sensitivity-enhancing ingredients.
