#017: Todd Spear - Velositol: Nutrition21's Muscle Protein Synthesis Amplifier

Oct 28, 2018

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What is Velositol?

Velositol is a unique chromium / amylopectin complex that increases muscle protein synthesis (MPS) when combined with protein and exercise. It is GRAS affirmed (generally recognized as safe) at the recommended serving of 2 grams per day in protein drinks (including ready-to-drink and powder), meal replacement bars, energy and protein bars, with the consideration that these products can be taken up to three times a day.

Velositol is manufactured and sold by one of the most prominent supplement ingredient suppliers, Nutrition21. You may know them from their other patented ingredients, Nitrosigine (a popular nitric oxide enhancing ingredient) and Chromax (a form of chromium supported by over 50 studies).

Thanks to Nutrition21’s extensive knowledge of chromium and its ability to assist insulin (often for purposes of glucose metabolism and weight management), the creation of Velositol for muscle-building purposes was a logical next step.

This is a promising new ingredient, to say the least. There has been some highly-successful preliminary human research on Velositol (but with smaller protein doses), while newer animal-based research with higher doses of protein combined with the ingredient also proved successful, although to a lesser degree.

In this article, we will cover this research and the mechanisms behind the ingredient, thanks to the help of Nutrition21’s science team and the products using Velositol listed at the bottom of this post.

What is Velositol? Watch our Interview with Todd Spear from Nutrition21!

If you’d rather listen and watch than read, then check out PricePlow’s founder, Mike Roberto, talking to Nutrition21’s Todd Spear about Velositol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXw89RGOLWs

What does Velositol do, and how?

Velositol increases muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in combination with protein and exercise and it works by enhancing insulin sensitivity, resulting in greater uptake of amino acids into muscle, fueling MPS.

Chromium picolinate, one of the main ingredients in Velositol, has been shown to improve insulin action, as well as increase the metabolism of nutrients. Increased insulin action causes various anabolic effects such as increases in the metabolism of nutrients (such as carbohydrates, lipids, and protein) and increases in the rate of glucose and amino acid uptake in muscle cells. Therefore, Velositol is thought to stimulate MPS via improved insulin activity.

Insulin means everything

The pros seem to far outweigh the cons… so why not give it a try?

Healthy insulin activity is vital for MPS because in the presence of a protein containing essential amino acids, insulin aids in the transportation of amino acids into muscle cells to stimulate MPS. Therefore, when combined with adequate sources of protein, Velositol can increase insulin action and in turn, stimulate MPS. Moreover, Velositol has been shown to significantly increase enzymes involved in the MPS signaling pathway (such as mTOR, S6K1, and 4E-BP1), providing evidence of the cellular pathway by which Velositol enhances MPS.

The Myokine connection

Finally, an additional mechanism of action may be through increased myokines, such as musclin and fractalkine, which are cytokines released by muscle during exercise that lead to MPS and hypertrophy. Both clinical and preclinical studies have shown that groups taking Velositol had the greatest levels of myokines. Therefore, another mechanism by which Velositol increases muscle protein s…