Review: MuscleTech’s HydroxyStim Super Concentrated Thermo Stimulant
HydroxyStim was Muscletech’s rather late entry into the world of thermogenic supplements based upon the stimulant DMAA (also known as 1-3 dimethylamylamine or methylhexaneamine). Suffice it to say, DMAA is a somewhat controversial ingredient. It has been banned outright by many sports organizations and is well on its way to being declared illegal in the EU, Australia, Canada and the US. A number of civil lawsuits are also pending.
Now that the safety and legality of DMAA has been challenged, Hydroxystim has been re-formulated.
How does the new formula stack up? Let’s take a look at the ingredients…
- Caffeine: Ah, good old caffeine. No energy boosting, fat blasting supplement would be complete without it. It’s a CNS stimulant as well, with demonstrated, albeit mild, weight loss and performance enhancing effects (see clinical study abstracts here and here!). Hydroxystim contains 100mg caffeine per capsule.
- Coleus Extract: Recently discussed on the Dr. Oz show, Coleus forskohlii is an Indian Ayurvedic plant and a member of the mint family which—when standardized correctly and taken at the appropriate dose—was shown to lead to mild weight loss in one clinical study (other studies were not so favorable). It is unclear, however, whether standardized extract is used in Hydroxystim.
- Deanol bitartrate (DMAE): A natural occurring precursor to neurotransmitters choline and acetylcholine, there is some evidence DMAE supplementation may help with focus and attention.
- Yohimbe extract: The bark of a tree native to west Africa, the yohimbe in this formula is standardized for two alkaloids…
- Yohimbine: Often used in male enhancement products and weight loss supplements. Yohimbine stimulates lipolysis by increasing blood flow in adipose tissue and blocking the activation of a 2-adrenoceptors on fat cells…although it works better in theory than in fact.
- Rauwolscine: This alkaloid too, is also finding it’s way into more and more weight loss supplements; rauwolscine acts as an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, which in theory, makes it useful as a “fat burner.” There’s no clinical evidence to validate this however—it’s all based upon speculation.
- L-Theanine: An amino acid found in tea, preliminary evidence suggests this ingredient may have some weight loss benefits. At the same time, it also acts as a relaxant and has “mood boosting” effects.
- Huperzine extract: Derived from Chinese moss or Huperzia serrata, studies on Alzheimer’s disease patients showed an improvement in cognition, mood, and behavior.
As you can see from the above, the priorities for Hydroxystim have shifted somewhat. The original Hydroxystim formula was stimulating indeed: the DMAA, caffeine, yohimbe, Deanol and huperzine packed a pretty decent whallop. The DMAA, however, has been replaced by far less exciting compounds: coleus extract and l-theanine. At this point, Hydroxystim looks more like a spin on Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite, rather than a true pre-workout stimulant formula.
On the other hand, this is perhaps to be expected. Replacing DMAA is a tall order – it’s safe to say that there are few legal compounds out there that can safely and reliably duplicate its effects. If there was a true replacement for DMAA, it would probably be illegal too.
| Summary of Muscletech Hydroxystim | |
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