One of the more common Pre Workouts is MusclePharm Assault.
This Pre Workout has been round for a while, and with good reason – and lot of people still use it.
But how good is it really?
Claimed to help promote:
- Energy
- Focus
- Strength
- Endurance
In this review we went past the marketing, and looked at the straight facts behind MusclePharm Assault to see how effective it is.
This is what we found.
About the Company
MusclePharm is one of the bigger supplement companies out there.
It’s a well established brand, and is sold mainly from respected retailers like Bodybuilding.com.
They produce a range of products that cover various aspects of the lifting lifestyle.
On the whole they are received as a safe supplier to the industry.
The Ingredients and how they work
For MusclePharm’s Assault, all you need is one scoop around 20 – 30 minutes before training.
That’s it.
The caffeine dosage is high in this product. Do not be tempted to double scoop it – the results could be dangerous.
As for the individual ingredients, this is what you need to know.
Creatine
One of the better choices for power output.
Supplementing creatine increases overall water retention which allows you to have more explosive power.
It’s ideal for boosting strength.
CaroSyn Beta-Alanine
Beta-Alanine has mixed feedback.
Although effective for buffering the acid in your muscles – which helps you manage with prolonged bouts of high intensity – Beta Alanine also causes a distracting side effect.
In large doses it has been linked to paresthesia – which we’ll cover in more detail in the side effects section below.
Betaine Anhydrous
A component of beet root that may help with overall training volume.
However, it is not as effective as pure beet root.
See SupplementTester’s
– Highest Rated Pre Workouts Here –
Taurine
Originally thought to work as a stimulant – considering its used so widely in energy drinks.
However, studies have shown that this is not the case. Taurine helps with blood flow, and may help with muscle pumps to a minor extent.
L-Glycine
An amino acid that has been linked to sleep quality.
It does not promote muscle pumps, energy, focus or strength.
It may help with the jitters from caffeine, but studies are limited.
Caffeine Anhydrous
One of the better ingredients for energy. Caffeine has been seen to increase power output, metabolism and energy levels.
It’s a reliable stimulant and there are more than enough studies to back up its effectiveness.
Acetyl-L Carnitine
An amino acid with some good supportive effects.
Helping energy and metabolism L-Carnitine could help fuel your workout.
However in this case there is only 250mg in MusclePharm Assault.
Studies have shown you need at least 500mg to see any effective results. It’s not your best option.
Ingredients Recap
On the whole, this is a good nutrient profile.
There’s enough to boost your strength and energy levels here to definitely see some results.
However, we recommend you start on a lower dose – as it contains 250mg of caffeine per serving.
This is around 3 strong cups of coffee.
Start on a half dose, assess your tolerance, and work your way up.
To learn more about what you should be looking for in a pre workout, check out our top rated ingredients below:
– Best Pre Workout Ingredients –
Side Effects
There are two things in this product that may give you side effects – the Beta Alanine and caffeine.
Beta Alanine has been know to cause paresthesia – a short term tingling and itching.
It’s not harmful, but it is very distracting and frustrating while you’re training.
The caffeine is pretty high too. At 250mg in one serving, your best bet is too start with a smaller scoop. Side effects from too much caffeine include:
- Jitters
- Headaches
- Heart Palpitations
- Nausea
- Raised Blood Pressure
Which is not the kind of scare you need while training.
See SupplementTester’s
– Highest Rated Pre Workouts Here –
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Contains Creatine
- Will Boost Energy
- Noticeable Power Output Increase
Cons
- Potential Side Effects
- May be too much caffeine for one serving
MusclePharm Assault Review Conclusion
On the whole, this is a reliable pre workout.
It contains a good range of ingredients and can deliver what you need for an effective gym session.
However it’s definitely not the best we’ve seen.
The caffeine dosage is a little higher, but you should be able to handle it – once your tolerance has built up.
We definitely don’t recommend double scooping.
You also may get itchy hands and face from paresthesia – and that will be distracting.
All in all though, you should some effective results.