Review: Gaspari Size On Max Performance/Pre-Contest

Posted By elissa on Jun 10, 2010 | 0 comments

Note: Size On Pre-Contest has been discontinued. Size On Max Performance is still on the market, however.

“SizeOn has now evolved into the Ultimate Hybrid Intra-Workout Whey Hydrolysate Creatine Formula. SizeOn now uses a high quality whey hydrolysate that contains over 50% di and tripeptides as well as a large array of anabolic promoting ingredients such as a high dose of L-LEUCINE (5 grams) to allow for unparalleled increases in athletic performance, skeletal muscle recovery, explosiveness and most notably, immediate increases in muscle size WHILE YOU ARE STILL TRAINING.”

Size On Max Performance and Size On Pre-Contest are two newer additions to Gaspari’s product line. Like the company’s original Size On product, “Max Performance” and “Pre-Contest” are creatine formulas. They’re virtually twins, too—the major difference is that “Max Performance” contains carbs, and “Pre-Contest” does not. Thus, we’ll cover both in this review.

Let’s start with the primary ingredients:

Size On Proprietary Blend 61.5g

Outlast® Insutropin Matrix [Note: Max Performance only]
Palatinose™ (Isomaltulose), D-Glucose, Trehalose, Pterostilbene

Protein Synthesis Acceleration Matrix
Whey Protein Hydrolysate, L-Leucine (5g), L-Isoleucine, L-Valine, L-Ornithine-L-Aspartate

PhosphoDrive Endurance Complex
Creapure® (Creatine Monohydrate), Creatine MagnaPower® (Magnesium Creatine Chelate), Disodium Creatine Phosphate

OsmoDrive Advanced Hydration Complex
L-Taurine, Sodium Glycerophosphate, Calcium Glycerophosphate, Potassium Glycerophosphate, Sustamine™ (L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine), Magnesium Glycyl Glutamine

Size On Max Performance also contains vitamin C, an array of B-vitamins, and electrolyte minerals.

The first thing to note about the formula is that it’s fairly basic: carbs (Max Performance only), protein/amino acids, creatine and electrolytes/”volumizers.” Sure, each category features a blend—which provides an aura of technological sophistication—but there’s no disguising the fact that these products lean heavily on a “tried-and-true” combination of ingredients. There’s little here that’s truly novel.

Of course, I consider that to be a good thing: when it comes to bodybuilding supplements, new ingredients often turn out to be more hype than substance (think myostatin inhibitors, chrysin and ecdysterones, for example).

Call me conservative if you wish, but history has pretty much demonstrated that “tried-and-true” is a safer bet than “the next big thing.”

That being said, let’s take a closer look at what “Max Performance” and “Pre-Contest” have to offer:

Outlast® Insutropin Matrix:This is a blend of three sugars + pterostilbene—a polyphenolic compound first identified in blueberries. The glycemic index values of the sugars represent a spectrum:

• Palatinose (a disaccharide enzymatically derived from sucrose) has a GI of 32, which is quite low. This is because the linkage between the glucose and fructose moieties is broken down more slowly in the intestine. It is, however, completely hydrolyzed and, as such, contains the same number of calories as sugar does.
• D-glucose (aka dextrose) has a high glycemic index of 100 (by definition).
• Trehalose (a glucose disaccharide first isolated from fungi) has a moderate glycemic index and low insulinemic response. For a simple sugar, trehalose is an interesting compound. It has antioxidant properties and potential therapeutic uses for treating Huntington disease and Alzheimer’s.

Pterostilbene is another interesting molecule. Related to resveratrol, pterostilbene may have anti-cancer, antioxidant, choleterol-lowering and hypoglycemic effects. This last property is the reason it’s included in “Max Performance”—when you take in a bolus of simple carbs, it helps to take it with something that enhances glucose disposal.

But is pterostilbene the right compound here? Perhaps it is: but as of this writing, the data is pretty tentative. There’s comparatively little of it, for one thing; and what there is, is based on experiments with rodents and cell cultures. Beyond the casual, uncontrolled trials descibed in one patent application, there’s no human research available. Thus, it’s a tad premature to be making strong claims for it.

Protein Synthesis Acceleration Matrix: Most of the ingredients in this blend are well-known and characterized. Whey protein hydrolysate is a source of rapidly-digesting, high-quality protein/peptides. Likewise, the branched-chain amino acids, leucine, valine and isoleucine, play important roles in muscle-protein synthesis and recovery. So far, so good.

Both amino acids in l-ornithine-l-aspartate (LOLA) play roles in ammonia removal, and this dipeptide has been used therapeutically to treat hyperammonemia in patients with cirrhosis. Since ammonia production also rises with intense exercise, it seems like a useful addition, no?

In theory, yes… but maybe less so in practice. Y’see, in the research linked to above, rather large (18g–20g) doses were given per day. Similarly, a minimum of 9g/day is recommended for commercial preparations, such as Hepa-Merz. Sure, these are recommendations for sick people, but it still provides some indication that multi-gram amounts of LOLA are needed to see significant effects.

How much LOLA is in Size On?

No idea… although once you subtract the carbs (39g), protein (7g), and leucine (5g) from a 66g serving of Max Performance, there’s only 15g left to accomodate the creatine, other amino acids, glycerophosphates and additives, in addition to the LOLA.

So my guess is that users aren’t getting a full, therapeutic dose.

Could less do the trick, too?

Maybe, although it’s interesting to note, that in one experiment, lower doses (<5g/day) did nothing to prevent post-prandial increases in ammonia concentration in patients with cirrhosis.

To make a long story short, it’s tough to say whether a few grams of LOLA will do much… although, I suppose it’s fair to say that it can’t hurt, either.

PhosphoDrive Endurance Complex: Since Size On is a creatine formula, this is obviously the most important part. That’s why it’s good that Gaspari chose creatine monohydrate (CM) as the lead ingredient in this blend… other than protein, there isn’t a bodybuilding supp ingredient that’s more “tried and true” than CM.

Fortunately, there’s some research behind magnesium creatine chelate and creatine phosphate as well. While there’s zero proof that a blend of forms is superior to a single form, this particular combo should get the job done.

OsmoDrive Advanced Hydration Complex: This blend is based on both wishful thinking and evidence. Taurine, for example, is involved in osmoregulation and has therefore gained a reputation as a cell “volumizer” in bodybuilding circles. Problem is, there’s exactly zero evidence that supplemental taurine has any effect whatsoever on exercise performance or mass gains.

Glycerophophate salts, on the other hand, are considered to be useful sources of electrolytes, which play an obvious role in hydration. For example, Prelief, an over-the-counter version of calcium glycerophosphate sold as an antacid, is also touted as a highly bioavailable source of both calcium and phosphorus.

Sustamine, from Kyowa-USA, is backed by a study demonstrating it improved endurance performance under conditions of mild dehydration. The lowest dose used in the study, however, was 0.05g/kg—which works out to 3.5g for a 70kg man. This raises the same question as the one for LOLA above: is there enough Sustamine in Size On? Considering that it’s the next-to-last ingredient listed in this blend, it’s a dubious proposition.

Lastly, magnesium glycyl-glutamine is a stable glutamine peptide that’s also a bioavailable source of magnesium.

So there you have it… like I said, “tried and true.”

While Gaspari is attempting to appear innovative by using lower GI carb sources, pterostilbene, LOLA and Sustamine, these strike me as fairly minor players (particularly for “Pre-Contest).

In the end it’s the combo of creatine, carbs (Max Performance), protein/amino acids and electrolytes that matter.

Fortunately, it doesn’t look as if Gaspari has stinted on any of these: the carb blend is set up to modulate the glycemic response; there’s a generous supply of leucine; the creatine sources are solid and the electrolytes are highly absorbable.

And—according to the user feedback I’ve seen—it tastes good too.

So if you’re looking for a solid creatine formula, Size On is worth a look. One of the two formulas should suit, whether you’re gaining/maintaining (Max Performance) or cutting (Pre-Contest).

Size On Max Performance is available at
Bodybuilding.com, our recommended online retailer!