GNC PRODUCT SERIES: A DEEP DIVE INTO GNC AMP CREATINE HCL 189
Creatine is a well-known, highly studied performance ingredient that is an important part of fueling peak performance. There is a large body of evidence to support the benefits of creatine itself for it’s role in muscle protein synthesis, but GNC experts decided to push beyond standard creatine by formulating and studying GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™, a technology-enhanced version of creatine hydrochloride. While most creatine you’ll find is in powder form, don’t be deceived, the GNC AMP Creatine 189 pill packs a punch and has been the subject of not just one, but two human clinical studies.
WHAT DID GNC STUDY?
GNC AMP Creatine 189 is an innovative creatine technology that pairs creatine hydrochloride with polyethylene glycosylate (PEG) to create the PEG-Creatine system™. To prove its effectiveness as a technology-enhanced creatine, GNC studied this system compared to creatine monohydrate to explore differences in the uptake of creatine in skeletal muscle and its impact on athletic performance.
STUDY 1
What was the objective of the study?
The primary objective of the first study on GNC AMP Creatine 189 was to compare the uptake of creatine in muscle between study groups (PEG-Creatine system™ providing a total of 10g of creatine versus creatine monohydrate providing a total of 20g of creatine).
The hypothesis was that the addition of the polyethylene glycosylate would allow for more creatine to be absorbed into the muscle even by using a smaller dose than creatine monohydrate alone. To quantify the amount of creatine in the muscle, small samples of the vastus lateralis muscle, also known as muscle biopsies, were obtained before supplementation and at the end of the supplementation period which lasted for five days total.
Who were the study participants?
Seventeen healthy male volunteers, ages 18-35 years were included in the study.
What were the results of the study?
Results of the study revealed that even with a smaller dose of creatine there was 189% greater muscle creatine uptake with the PEG-Creatine system™ group as compared to the creatine monohydrate group. This means that GNC AMP Creatine 189 resulted in 189% superior absorption versus traditional creatine. (Ever wonder where we got the GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™ name? Now you know!)
What does this mean?
It means you get more with less! Tired of taking scoops of creatine powder? Now you can get even better absorption in a dose that fits into a convenient pill! Plus, more creatine getting to your muscles means better potential for fitness benefits.
READ MORE: 3 Benefits of Creatine
STUDY 2
What was the objective of the study?
The primary objective of the second study on PEG-Creatine system™ was to compare the effect of supplementation with on performance measures including muscle strength and endurance. Subjects took 1.25g of the PEG-Creatine System,5g of creatine monohydrate, or a placebo for 30 days.
Who were the study participants?
Fifty-seven healthy, young recreationally active male volunteers, ages 19-29 years were included in the study.
What were the results of the study?
Study participants who took GNC AMP Creatine 189™ containing only 1.25 grams of the PEG-Creatine system™ significantly improved leg press one repetition maximum (1-RM) performance by 54.3 Ibs, while subjects receiving the 5 grams of creatine monohydrate significantly improved performance by 52.3 Ibs, and the placebo group showed no significant improvement at 5.7 Ibs. at the end of the study.
STUDY 3
What was the objective of the study?
This study examined the effects of 28 days of PEG-creatine supplementation on performance measures including vertical and broad jumps, 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle run, and 3-cone drill. Additionally, body composition as well as measures of
upper and lower-body muscular strength and endurance using the bench press and leg extension were completed.
Who were the study participants?
Seventy-seven healthy male volunteers were included in the study. These participants were untrained in resistance exercise and engaged in no more than 4 hours of recreational activity per week.
What were the results of the study?
Results from this study indicated that the PEG-Creatine system™ improved lower-body vertical power, upper-body muscular endurance, agility, change-of-direction ability, and body mass.
These findings further indicate that the PEG-Creatine system™ can result in increasing performance in vertical jump and body mass as well as improving 20-yard shuttle run and 3-cone drill times in untrained individuals.
What does this mean?
It means not only do you get more with taking less but the PEG-Creatine system™ can benefit those who are trained as well as those who may be just starting to add resistance training into their regimen. Amplify your training and your results with GNC AMP Creatine 189™!
Ready to get your hands on GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™ to take your performance to the next level?
SHOP: GNC AMP Creatine HCl 189™
Read The Peer Reviewed Publications
1.Fry, Andrew C.1; Parra, Mandy E.2; Cabarkapa, Dimitrije1. Supplemental Creatine Modified With Polyethylene Glycol Effectively Loads Skeletal Muscle With Lower Doses. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(5):p 1256-1261, May 2021. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003906 https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2021/05000/Supplemental_Creatine_Modified_With_Polyethylene.12.aspx
2. Herda TJ, Beck TW, Ryan ED, Smith AE, Walter AA, Hartman MJ, Stout JR, Cramer JT. Effects of creatine monohydrate and polyethylene glycosylated creatine supplementation on muscular strength, endurance, and power output. J Strength Cond Res. 2009 May;23(3):818-26. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181a2ed11. PMID: 19387397. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19387397/
3. Clayton CL, Housh TJ, Jorge ZM, Traylor DA, Bergstrom HC, Schmidt RJ, Johnson GO, Housh DJ. The Effects of Polyethylene Glycosylated Creatine Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance Measures and Body Composition. J Strength Cond Res. 2014 March; 28(3):825-833. Doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182a361a5. PMID: 23897021 The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research
