Once again, Olympus Labs has set the bar for the category of natural anabolics with its reformulation of EP1C – EP1C Unleashed!
We have not strayed from the core value of our highly praised product, EP1C, but have only improved upon it. EP1C Unleashed still provides the high quality (-)/- epicatechin backed by our 3rd party purity tested lab analysis that you should demand from your supplements. We have also added additional ingredients and the latest in delivery absorption technology to improve bioavailability of the product. This ensures that you get the most out of your experience and produces even better results!
The key ingredient to EP1C Unleashed is the inclusion of (-)/- epicatechin, a flavanol found in cocoa seeds and green tea. While the health benefits of (-)/-epicatechin (Epi) have been known for centuries, recent research has demonstrated that this flavanol may be useful for treating the age-related decline in muscle mass and associated strength, or sarcopenia, due to its action as a myostatin inhibitor. You may be familiar with myostatin, as it is a protein involved in preventing the increase of muscle size and differentiation, so blocking its action would be beneficial to those seeking additional muscle mass. Initial studies demonstrated that administration of Epi for 5 days increased follistatin (which binds to and inhibits myostatin) by 2.5 times. And in a pilot study with human subjects treated for 1 week with Epi, changes to markers of muscle differentiation were demonstrated, in addition to increases in hand-grip strength. Specifically, the study with epi demonstrated that the ratio of follistatin/myostatin was increased by almost 50%!
But there are also several other benefits to Epi, including reduced cardiovascular risk, enhanced exercise capacity and enhanced oxidative capacity, as well as increased angiogenesis (ie, creation of blood vessel formation) and improved vascular functioning via a NOS-dependent mechanism. Importantly, recent findings with satellite cells – precursors of new muscle growth and differentiation – identified that nitric oxide is a key messenger for maintaining function and enhancing proliferation of these precursor cells. All of these properties make Epi a very promising myostatin inhibiting compound.
Another well-known polyphenol is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a constituent in tea that has been studied in a host of conditions, from weight loss to cancer to osteoarthritis and Alzheimer’s. In addition, EGCG has been investigated for potential influence on parameters of endurance and lipid oxidation. However, both Epi and EGCG suffer from the known problem of bioavailability, with absorption of oral Epi occurring at less than 50%. Many plant derived compounds are hampered by their poor oral bioavailability – meaning that the amount of active ingredient that your body is able to use after ingestion, may be very little, and in some cases too little to actually have the desired effect.