B4 is a pre-workout and fat-burner hybrid from BPI Sports. It comes with 30 servings and costs $19.99 from the company website.
This product claims to:
- Support weight loss
- Improve mood and focus
- Promote “metabolic activity”
- Elevate energy levels
- Modulate dopamine
- Raise stamina and endurance
We tend to be a little skeptical about hybrid products. Having tried a few in our time, they never seem to be as good as standalone pre-workouts or fat burners. Could this product be the exception that proves the rule? Find out in our BPI B4 review…
About the Company
The BPI Sports website doesn’t give much away in terms when the brand was founded, nor does it say much about the people behind the company.
But having reviewed several BPI Sports products, we can tell you the brand enjoys a good reputation all over the world.
BPI covers all bases for the avid gym goer – its supplements include everything from amino acids to protein powders, creatine, pre-workouts, and fat burners.
The company claims to make products that get “straight to the core of helps you succeed.” It also promises to stay “with you from the start to the finish with the best plans and nutritional products that work as hard as you do.”
Ingredients and How They Work
If you’ve read any of our reviews before, you’ll know the first we look for on any ingredients list are proprietary blends. And sadly, the guys at BPI cloak seven of B4’s eight ingredients in the big ol’ “Pre-Workout & Fat Burning Super Blend.”
Note: Proprietary blends are sub-formulas that display ingredients, but hide vital dose info. We – and most industry experts – hate these hidden formulas because they give you no way to know exactly what you’re paying for.
You’d be shocked at the tricks some brands pull.
See the ingredients below:
Niacin
Also known as vitamin B3, Niacin is an essential nutrient – but that doesn’t mean you need it in pre-workout or fat burner.
As a pre-workout ingredient
While B vitamins are a great source of energy, Niacin is pretty much useless as a pre-workout ingredient.
Niacin causes flushing and can make your skin go red and induce a feeling of warmth in your neck. Many supplement companies use this as a trick to make users think the pre-workout is working its magic.
In truth, it’s a major sign you have a poor-quality pre-workout on your hands. Besides this, many users find Niacin flush unpleasant.
As a fat burner
Marketers base the notion that Niacin burns fat on its ability to affect fat and glucose oxidation rates. However, research shows Niacin supplementation does not help you cut fat.
Caffeine
You’re no doubt aware Caffeine is a widely-used stimulant. In fact, 90% of American adults use Caffeine, in some form or another, every day.
It works by suppressing the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine (which causes sleep and relaxation), to make you feel more alert.
Studies also show the stimulant boosts power output, motivation, and focus – making it a key pre-workout ingredient.
Caffeine works great as a fat burner too!
Caffeine has a thermogenic effect on your body. In other words, it warms up your body and forces your system to burn more calories to return to normal temperature.
And at the right dose, Caffeine also replaces the energy you lose when you start cutting calories.
But here’s the problem…
When choosing a pre-workout, we recommend you choose one with no more or less than 150-200mg of Caffeine. But when taking a fat burner, we advise you take 75mg four times a day – this will help you stay alert and comfortable all day long.
With different doses needed to a) burn fat and b) prime your body for the gym, this hybrid product is likely unsuitable for either purpose.
And the proprietary blend only makes things worse – the lack of dose info gives us no way of knowing how effective this product is.
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Dendrobium
Marketers are currently hawking Dendrobium as The Next Big Thing™ in the world of fat burners.
The medicinal plant is said to contain a host of bioactive ingredients that reduce inflammation and stimulate the central nervous system to burn fat, fight fatigue and lift your mood.
However, there isn’t a shred of evidence to back up ANY of Dendrobium’s supposed benefits. What a load of nonsense!
Sword Bean
Sword Bean (aka Canavalia Gladiata) is also said to “boost your central nervous system.” People in Asia and Africa are said to eat to increase strength and alertness.
However, there’s little evidence Sword Bean has any impact on the fat-loss process.
Psoralea
Psoralea seeds appear to induce anti-stress effects, possibly by acting as a reuptake inhibitor for dopamine and noradrenaline.
But despite this promise, there’s not enough evidence to warrant using Psoralea as either a fat burner or pre-workout.
Japanese Sophora
Popular in Chinese medicine, Japanese Sophora boasts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
In theory, this could promote healthy blood flow and increase focus and endurance during workouts. However, Japanese Sophora is understudied. And, as always, we recommend you only spend your money on proven ingredients.
Red Wine Concentrate
Red wine concentrate contains the antioxidant Resveratrol, which has the potential to be an anti-obesity agent This suggests would be a great addition to any fat burner.
However, one study by Scribbans, D et al, shows that Resveratrol can hinder workout performance. This in turn makes it a very poor addition to any pre-workout.
The above point illustrates one of the many problems with hybrid products like BPI B4.
Yohimbe
Yohimbe is an effective fat burner for both overweight and lean individuals.
But we still recommend you STAY WELL FROM IT.
Why? Because it can cause a long list of adverse side effects.
This includes everything from anxiety to gastrointestinal distress, hypertension, rapid heartbeat, and even heart attacks (see the Side Effects section below).
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Highest-Rated Fat Burners Here
BPI B4 Side Effects
BPI B4 contains ingredients that may cause adverse side effects. These include:
- Flushing of the skin (Niacin)
- Anxiety and jittery feelings (Caffeine – in high doses) (Yohimbe)
- Stomach upset (Yohimbe)
- High blood pressure (Yohimbe)
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Bloating
- Nausea
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Caffeine is a key ingredient in the best fat burners and pre-workouts
- Cheap price – cost less than a lot of other fat burners
Cons:
- Side effects linked to Yohimbe and Niacin
- Proprietary blend – no way of knowing how effective it is before you buy
- ZERO evidence Japanese Sophora has any benefit
- Despite early promise, there’s not proof Psoralea boosts mood, focus, or motivation
- Niacin causes flushing of the skin and discomfort
See SupplementTester’s Highest Rated
Highest-Rated Fat Burners Here
BPI B4 Review Conclusion
BPI B4 certainly looks and sounds the part – but it falls a long way short of the best fat burners and pre-workouts.
What we like
We’re always pleased to see Caffeine in pre-workouts and fat burners – the awesome stimulant offers many benefits for either purpose.
One or two understudied ingredients in this supp also show early promise.
What we don’t like
For starters – most of the ingredients in B4 are hidden in a proprietary blend. This is a hollow tactic used to hide poor dosing – so don’t be fooled.
The BPI Sports website makes the likes of Dendrobium, Sword Bean, Psoralea and Japanese Sophora sound impressive, but the evidence is far from conclusive. Meanwhile, Niacin is on our list of ingredients to avoid – it’s not only useless, but many also find Niacin flush unpleasant.
And then there’s Yohimbe – it can help burn fat, but it’s also linked with a long list of mild to severe side effects.
Our verdict
BPI B4 is a poor supplement. Many of the issues with it echo many of those we regularly find in hybrid products. Apart from Caffeine, this supp is disappointment from beginning to end.
So here’s our advice: Ignore BPI B4 and choose any one of the many better standalone products out there.