Animal Pak

Animal Pak Review

Animal Pak is a comprehensive multivitamin supplement that aims to give consumers a complex mix of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, digestive enzymes and more. Marketed as a one-stop source for all the important inputs an active body needs, this formula contains more than 75 ingredients and invites customers to take several large pills per serving.

This product is produced and sold by Universal Nutrition, a bodybuilding and sports supplement manufacturers from the USA. Although they are a rather experienced company with some loyal backers in Internet forums, Universal Nutrition’s website and packaging seems to be rather dated when compared to the competition. Although their Animal Pak product has reportedly been available since 1983, it is now sold on a flashy and modern website of its own, one which is frankly heavy on the dazzling visuals and extremely light on useful information!

What Does Animal Pak Claim To Do?

On the special website dedicated purely to Animal Pak, the product’s benefits are barely described at all, with the website instead relying purely on amusingly over-the-top graphics and silly marketing spiel. Luckily for us, other websites and outlets are far more upfront about the benefits of using Animal Pak.

On the official Universal Nutrition website, Amazon and others, Animal Pak is mainly presented as a bodybuilding aid. The product is described as full of the vitamins, minerals and other healthy inputs needed to activate the necessary chemical reactions for building muscle. The Universal Nutrition website claims that missing nutrients can shut down the anabolic drive needed to build muscle, effectively stopping or slowing the process. As Animal Pak contains the full range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, digestive enzymes and more, it always ensures that every necessary input is present. The mix is also said to contain miscellaneous performance enhancers that further improve the body’s ability to achieve in the gym.

Does Animal Pak Work?

The advertising copy is right in its assessment that the body needs strong sources of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to build muscle, and the impressive number of ingredients and inputs in Animal Pak should help athletic customers to build muscle in a healthy way. The vast majority of customer reviews claim that the product gives them a healthy dose of energy and mental clarity for the gym, although readers shouldn’t expect that this product will give the same performance boost as more ‘steroid-y’ mixes (which also tend to come with far more damaging side effects).

What Are The Ingredients of Animal Pak?

The ingredients contained within Animal Pak are listed below. Readers should note that the ingredient quantities listed below are true for one serving of Animal Pak (which is listed as 2 packs).

Vitamin & Mineral Complex

• Vitamin A 9,900 IU
• Vitamin C 1 g
• Vitamin D 680 IU
• Vitamin E 300 IU
• Thiamin 76 mg
• Riboflavin 76 mg
• Niacin 82 mg
• Vitamin B6 180 mg
• Folic Acid 400 mcg
• Vitamin B12 11 mcg
• Biotin 300 mcg
• Pantothenic Acid 76 mg
• Calcium 2 g
• Phosphorus 1,330 mg
• Iodine 150 mcg
• Magnesium 400 mg
• Zinc 30 mg
• Selenium 50 mcg
• Copper 600 mcg
• Manganese 5 mg
• Chromium 60 mcg
• Potassium 200 mg

Amino Acid Complex

• Alanine 279 mg: This non-essential amino acid is used for protein construction and is an important source of energy for muscles, the nervous system and the immune system.
• Arginine 1,213 mg: This essential amino acid is plentiful in foods and can be made by the body. It is important for wound healing and circulation.
• Aspartic Acid 498 mg: This amino acid has been proven to raise testosterone and Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in men. LH is used by the body to produce more testosterone.
• Cystine 110 mg: This amino acid helps to form bones, hair, connective tissue and skin. It also works with other amino acids to remove toxins from the liver.
• Glutamic Acid 653 mg: Glutamine is closely related to glutamic acid and is synthesised from it. Patients who are deficient in glutamic acid tend to suffer with anxiety and sleep problems.
• Glutamine 174 mg: An essential amino acid, glutamine is a building block of protein (muscle).
• Glycine 180 mg: This amino acid is involved in the chemical process of sending signals through the brain.
• Histidine 92 mg: This amino acid plays a number of roles, including in tissue repair and growth.
• Isoleucine 284 mg: Isoleucine appears to promote glucose consumption and uptake. It also plays a role in inducing muscle protein synthesis (although it is not as strong as fellow BCAA, Leucine).
• Leucine 509 mg: An essential branched chain amino acid which stimulates protein synthesis in the body, and is used as a building block for muscle. Whilst dieting, supplementing Leucine could help to maintain muscle mass whilst still losing fat mass, as it is used to help fuel muscle.
• Lysine 418 mg: Lysine is an amino acid that is sometimes used to improve athletic performance.
• Methionine 125 mg: This amino acid is mainly used to alleviate liver damage during incidents of poisoning.
• Phenylalanine 192 mg: This is used for treating depression, amongst other things. However, the research to suggest that this will effectively treat depression is outdated, with calls for more testing using updated research methods.
• Proline 203 mg: This is needed to maintain muscle tissues and others, and depleted levels are normally reported in athletes shortly after a long-distance race.
• Serine 250 mg: Serine is needed to metabolise fat, promote muscle growth and maintain a healthy immune system.
• Threonine 283 mg: This amino acid is used to treat various nervous system disorders.
• Tryptophan 81 mg: An essential amino acid, it is used by the body to make niacin and serotonin.
• Tyrosine 164 mg: An amino acid that is a building block of protein, this ingredient is found naturally in many foods including meat and dairy products. Large doses of tyrosine may be useful for increasing alertness, especially in people who are sleep deprived.
• Valine 289 mg: Valine appears to be the least potent of the branched chain amino acids, but will still play a small role in stimulating protein synthesis and promoting glucose consumption and uptake.

Performance Complex

• Uni-Liver 4,080 mg: A trademarked type of powdered cow liver, Uni-Liver provides many of the benefits expected from eating liver normally and has a strong vitamin, mineral and amino acid profile.
• Carnitine 25 mg: Supplementation of this amino acid has been found to improve fat oxidation, athletic performance and muscle growth moderately.
• Choline 250 mg: Athletes sometimes supplement Choline to delay fatigue and improve endurance. It is also said to improve mental focus. However, the available clinical evidence suggests that Choline does not cause either effect to take place.
• Eleuthero 1,750 mg: More commonly referred to as Siberian ginseng, eleuthero is used to treat a range of ailments, including boosting the immune system, increasing appetite and treating chronic fatigue. However there is currently little clinical evidence to support its use, with mixed results from clinical trials and any beneficial effects declining after 8 weeks of use.
• Hawthorne 250 mg: This herb is believed to regulate blood pressure, and is a vasodilator, increasing blood supply to the heart.
• Inositol 125 mg: Most commonly used to reduce anxiety and some of the side effects associated with depression, such as binge eating.
• Milk Thistle 500 mg: Milk thistle is usually used to treat liver disorders and liver damage. It is also thought to treat heartburn, allergy symptoms, and can be used as a means of stimulating menstrual flow. It can also act as a laxative.
• Oriental Ginseng 250 mg: Several studies have suggested that Asian ginseng helps to improve mental performance, although each one has so far measured a different cognitive process (making it hard to understand exactly how ginseng works).
• Para-Aminobenzoic Acid 400 mg: This chemical is found in folic acid, and is most commonly rubbed on the skin and used as sun block.
• Pyridoxine Ketoglutarate 200 mg: This mix of vitamin B6 and amino acid compounds is said to prevent muscles from building up lactic acid.

Antioxidant Complex

• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) 100 mg: Appears to suppress the appetite by inhibiting AMPK in the hypothalamus although little research has been conducted in humans at this point. This fatty acid also appears to boost fat burning slightly, although the effects are not as large as the noted suppression of appetite.
• Citrus Bioflavonoids 1,000 mg: Flavonoids help to reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of heart disease and improve circulation (amongst other potential benefits).
• Coenzyme Q10 5 mg: Coenzymes assist the digestive system and may protect the heart. This particular coenzyme has been linked to cancer-curing processes and other important effects, although the evidence supporting it is weak.
• Grapeseed Extract 50 mg: A strong source of antioxidants, grape seed is known for assisting with cardiovascular problems and reducing cholesterol.
• Lutein 1 mg: This vitamin is most commonly linked to prevention of eye diseases.
• Lycopene 1 mg: This powerful antioxidant helps to protect cells from damage.
• Pine Bark Extract 200 mg: Pycnogenol (or pine bark extract) contains substances that may improve blood flow. It might also stimulate the immune system and have antioxidant effects.

Digestive Enzyme Complex

The ingredients in the digestive enzyme complex work in tandem to treat stomach issues and improve upon digestive issues in the intestines and pancreas. Enzymes such as lipase and pancreatin essentially help to break down food and proteins.

• Bromelain 100 mg
• Inulin 250 mg
• Lipase 10 mg
• Pancreatin 700 mg
• Papain 64 mg
• VegPeptase 2000 64 mg

Does Animal Pak Have Any Side Effects?

There aren’t too many side effects reported for Animal Pak by customers, although readers should remain aware that the list of potential issues is huge. With over 75 ingredients in the mix, there are dozens of potential issues that could emerge (although the chances of some happening are rare).

The most common side effects are related to the high content of vitamins and minerals. The extremely high Vitamin B content cannot possibly be absorbed, meaning that many users report fluorescent urine. The extremely high dose of riboflavin could cause more frequent urination and light diarrhoea, and the high doses of vitamins D, C and E could cause weakness, fatigue, sleepiness, headache, loss of appetite, dry mouth, metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, and others. Niacin can cause flushing.

Long term intake of such extremely high quantities of vitamin B6 may lead to mild tingling and numbness. This amount of calcium and phosphorous may cause mild upset stomach in sensitive individuals. Long term intake of such high quantities of zinc may also lead to anaemia.

Amino acids are not often associated with side effects. However, some people experience bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and gout from arginine supplements. It may also seriously alter blood levels of potassium in people with liver or kidney disease. It also lowers blood pressure, which could be dangerous if you already have low blood pressure. BCAAs can cause fatigue and a loss of coordination.

Other side effects could take place as a result of other miscellaneous ingredients (including Siberian Ginseng, Hawthorn, Inositol, Asian Ginseng, CoQ10, Pycnogenol and the digestive enzymes). These may include drowsiness, sadness, anxiety, muscle spasms, increased blood pressure, nausea, stomach upset, sensitivity to light, itchy scalp, menstrual problems, mouth ulcers fatigue, sweating, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, nosebleeds, insomnia, agitation, and other problems.

Are There Any Customer Reviews For Animal Pak?

Animal Pak is a popular and long-standing product, meaning that thousands of customer reviews are available to check all over the Internet. Most customer reviews are very positive in their appraisal, although some customers complain about having to take so many large pills.

I found it taking this before your workout helps give you that extra edge. If your body has all the vitamins it needs, you can bring out your full potential. However on the packet it suggests you can take two, but I could never see that happening, one is plenty.

The amount of vitamins you get in these packs is amazing for the money. Some of them are well above what your body can process but it’s OK because they are water soluble and you just excrete the excess in your urine (be prepared it looks like a highlighter spilled in the toilet). I notice a difference in energy, strength, and mental clarity when I take them. I’ve been taking Animal Paks for almost a decade and can’t say enough good about them.

Great multivitamin that fills in nutrition and training gaps while lifting/bodybuilding. A staple for any serious lifter. Warning: Will make your urine super/neon yellow but mostly due to the B vitamins in it.

$1.32 a serving … too pricey for a multi. Plus it’s very incontinent to take so many pills.

Does Animal Pak Offer a Money-Back Guarantee?

Universal Nutrition talk about a specific ‘guarantee’ of quality on the packaging for Animal Pak, encouraging dissatisfied customers to get in touch with the company. The returns policy detailed on the official Universal Nutrition website also similarly advises customers to simply get in touch if they wish to organise a return. However, there is no money back guarantee to speak of, and returns are presumably given at the discretion of the company.

Where Can I Buy Animal Pak?

Animal Pak is available to buy from the dedicated Animal Pak website, the official Universal Nutrition website, www.bodybuilding.com, Amazon, and many other international and local supplement websites.

There are some fairly good deals for Animal Pak on Amazon and www.bodybuilding.com. On Amazon, a tub containing 44 servings costs $25.64 plus shipping, with the same tub costing $28.95 plus shipping on www.bodybuilding.com. Smaller tubs containing 30 servings tend to offer far less value for money, costing around $24-$26.50 plus shipping.

On the official Universal Nutrition website, Animal Pak is much more expensive, costing a whopping $56.95 for 44 servings and $28.95 for just 15 servings. Delivery charges may also apply.