MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder

MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder Review

MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder is a supplement that claims to boost energy and improve athletic performance. The version of the product reviewed in this article is actually a reformulation of an older product that was proving increasingly unpopular with products. This newer version of Assault Pre-Workout Powder has far fewer ingredients and a slightly different range of flavours (which now include fruit punch, green apple, strawberry ice, watermelon, and blue raspberry).

This product is manufactured by MusclePharm, an American company based in Denver, Colorado who provide products aimed at all levels of exercisers, from ‘weekend warriors’ to professional athletes. Created by a professional athlete in 2003, MusclePharm’s “quest is to create a superior line of sports nutrition products that are safe and free of banned substances”. The company appears to be genuinely popular with customers, and has apparently attracted a significant fanbase on websites like www.bodybuilding.com, despite a troubled history of lawsuits and controversy over the company’s repeated habit of overstating the quantity of protein found in in its products. Contact information for the company can be found on the official MusclePharm website.

What Does MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder Claim To Do?

MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder claims to work in the same way as almost any other pre-workout product. The manufacturers claim that this product can provide a sharp boost of energy, as well as improve overall performance during workouts. The inclusion of creatine is said to boost strength gains, and the use of beta-alanine is said to reduce performance fatigue and aid in prolonging strenuous workouts.

Does MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder Work?

When you boil down the new version of MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder to its most effective constituent parts, it is little more than 250mg of caffeine mixed with an effective dose of creatine. The otherwise-useful beta-alanine ingredient is highly under-dosed, and most of the other ingredients are little more than window dressing. Though simple, the product should theoretically work to provide a sharp burst of energy and could help to improve overall performance in the workout itself. We would not seriously expect this formula to reduce performance fatigue (beyond that which a hit of caffeine can achieve).

Needless to say, the older formula was discontinued for a reason – it uses a dizzying list of ingredients to achieve seemingly every supplement goal imaginable. It’s a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth, and the mixture ultimately boils down to a strong dose of caffeine with some mild performance-boosters.

What Are The Ingredients of MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder?

The ingredients found in MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder are listed below. Readers should remain aware that there are actually two versions of this product – an old version and a new version (both of which are still available to buy on Amazon). The quantities listed are correct for 1 scoop of powder (equal to 11.5g for the new version and 14.5g for the old version).

“New” Version

• Sodium (as Sodium Chloride) 40mg (2% DV): Otherwise known as salt, this ingredient is used for flavouring purposes.
• Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 300mg (333% DV): Vitamin C performs a number of roles in the body, and supplementation can boost immune function in people suffering with vitamin C deficiency. Source
• Vitamin E (as dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate) 18mg (120% DV): Vitamin E strengthens the body’s immune system and helps us maintain healthy skin and eyes. We normally receive all the Vitamin E we need through our diet. Source
• Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCl) 20mg (1176% DV): Vitamin B6 has several important functions in the body, including ‘allowing the body to use and store energy from protein and carbohydrates in food’. Whilst taking excess amounts of vitamin B6 will not infinitely improve this ability, a deficiency could make it more difficult to lose weight. Vitamin B6 is naturally present in a wide variety of foods, including meat, cereals, bread, and vegetables, and is often included in fortified breakfast cereals. Source
• Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin) 50mcg (2083% DV): Vitamin B12 is naturally present in many foods, primarily meat, fish, and dairy products. It has several roles, including aiding in releasing energy from consumed food, and keeping the nervous system healthy. It may be that a deficiency hinders weight loss, but taking excessive amounts could be harmful (although this product contains a reasonable dosage). Source
• Creatine Monohydrate 3g: This molecule helps to rapidly produce ATP in the muscles, helping to boost strength and power in the gym. Source
• CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine 1.75g: Beta alanine has been repeatedly proven to raise the levels of muscle carnosine in the human body, which has the effect of increasing the amount of work athletes can perform in high-intensity workouts. Its use is accompanied by a distinctive “tingling” sensation in the muscles. Source
• Betaine Anhydrous 1.5g: Betaine can help relieve conditions associated with hardening in the arteries. Although it is thought by some to improve athletic performance, scientific trials have failed to show consistent results with trained/untrained men. Source
• Taurine 1g: Taurine is an amino acid that helps to build protein. It is not often known why it is so frequently added to energy drinks, although some claim that it helps improve athletic and mental performance. Source
• L-Glycine 1g: Although most people will enjoy sufficient supplies of glycine from their normal diet, this amino acid is still vitally important for the normal functioning of the body. It is mainly involved in the formation of creatine, and in the metabolism and digestive processes in general. Source
• Caffeine Anhydrous 250mg: Numerous studies have shown that caffeine boosts energy levels and alertness, as well as mildly boosting the metabolism, causing a small increase in the number of calories used by the body. The effects shown in studies are small, and some studies are inconclusive. Source
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine 250mg: There is some evidence that supplementation of acetyl-l-carnitine can reduce body fat, although the strongest results were seen in the elderly. The ingredient also boosts energy levels, and is used to treat fatigue. Source

“Old” Version

• Sodium 50mg (2% DV)
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 500mg (833% DV)
• Vitamin E (as Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate) 200IU (667% DV)
• Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 15mg (750% DV)
• Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin) 90mcg (1500% DV)
• Niacin 60mg (300% DV)
• Calcium (as Silicate, Phosphate and Citrate) 196mg (20% DV)
• Potassium 40mg (1% DV)

ATP Amplifier 3500mg

• CarnoSyn Patented Beta-Alanine 2000mg (see above)
• L-Tyrosine: An amino acid that is a building block of protein, this ingredient is found naturally in many foods including meat and dairy products. In existing trials, L-Tyrosine appears to effectively improve cognition and memory during stressful periods. Source
• L-Aspartic Acid: This amino acid that has been proven to raise testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) levels in men who have low testosterone levels. LH is used by the body to produce more testosterone. Source
• Red Beet Extract High in Nitrates
• (DMG) Dimethylglycine HCl

Cellular Transport and Insulin Activator 2952mg

• Dextrose
• L-Glycine
• Ribose: This sugar is known to increase the release of insulin and dramatically lower blood sugar. Source
• Cinnulin PF (Cinnamomum Burmanii) Bark Extract: Several studies have found a link between cinnamon and the regulation of blood glucose levels, and it may play a small role in improving insulin sensitivity. In terms of its effects upon weight, this area has been under researched. Source

Athlete Performance Blend (featuring Ion-3 Nitrate Technology Matrix) 2000mg

• Creatine Nitrate
• L-Arginine Nitrate: This essential amino acid is plentiful in foods and can be made by the body. Important for wound healing and circulation, l-arginine is thought to boost the levels of Nitric Oxide in the body. Source
• BCAA Nitrate 3:1:2 Ratio (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine): Though individually these amino acids are not particularly distinctive, collectively they form the Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). BCAAs are sometimes taken during workouts to improve exercise performance, although the scientific evidence seems to suggest that this effect is only observable in inexperienced athletes. Supplementation is also not always useful, as many people will get sufficient stocks of BCAAs from their normal diet. Source

Energy & Neuro Igniter 1750mg

• Choline Bitartrate: Choline supplementation appears to improve attention, and could improve memory. Choline is required to make increased levels of acetylcholine in the brain, a neurotransmitter which is linked with improved learning, memory retention, and recall. Source
• Glucuronolactone: This ingredient is commonly found in energy drinks, but virtually no scientific research has been conducted on it. One trial conducted on rats found that glucuronolactone failed to affect exercise performance or energy/exhaustion levels. Source
• PureEnergy Matrix (Caffeine Anhydrous, Pterostilbene)
• Huperzine A: Huperzine-A is found in Huperzia serrata. Huperzine-A is thought to be a cognitive enhancer. Because of the relatively long half-life of this compound, its use should be cycled, with breaks in usage every few weeks. Source

Hydration System 1200mg

• Taurine
• Coconut Water Powder
• L-Glutamine: This is an essential amino acid, which is a building block of protein. It is the most abundant free amino acid in the body, and is produced in the muscles and distributed where it is needed via the circulatory system. Supplementation can only help to build muscle in limited circumstances, as (once again) most people enjoy sufficient stocks of glutamine from their regular diet or from protein powders. Source

Does MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder Have Any Side Effects?

The side effects list for the new and old versions of Assault Pre-Workout Powder are broadly similar. So as to ensure that this section doesn’t get painfully long, we will focus jut on the side effects expected of the new version.

Like most pre-workouts, this product uses a high quantity of protein. High doses of caffeine can cause headaches, jitteriness, insomnia, an increased heart rate, heart palpitations, increased urination, dehydration, and increased blood pressure. Customers that are extra sensitive to caffeine should consider avoiding it altogether, or at least avoid other sources of caffeine whilst using it.

This product also uses massive quantities of certain vitamins and minerals, which can cause serious issues. High doses of Vitamin E can cause stomach problems, fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, and bruising. The high dose of Vitamin B6 used may also cause flushing.

Creatine can cause some side effects including stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea, and muscle cramping. Creatine causes muscles to draw water from the rest of your body. L-carnitine is generally thought to be safe for use, although it can occasionally cause stomach problems, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhoea, seizures, and a fishy odour from the urine, sweat, and breath.

The most common side effect of Beta Alanine is a tingling sensation in the muscles; many consider this a sign that the Beta-alanine is working, and as evidence that the supplement is indeed correctly dosed. Some people may dislike the tingling sensation, but it is not a sign of anything negative or more serious. Flushing is also a side effect caused by taking high doses of Beta alanine.

Are There Any Customer Reviews For MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder?

The older version of MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder seemed to be remarkably unpopular with customers, garnering a far lower-than-average response in the Amazon customer reviews section. Since the reformulation, customers appear to enjoy the mix far better it seems, with customers typically praising this product’s effectiveness and fair price. The selection of comments presented below is for the newer version.

For those of you looking for a pre-workout that doesn’t give you the jitters this is it. I have tried so many pre-workouts and found that I really don’t like the feeling some of them give you. This one does exactly what it says, focus, energy, drive. I would recommend this product.

Musclepharm Assault is my go to for preworkout supplements, I’ve tried other products but nothing comes close to this. I don’t get any side effects and the taste is amazing. I don’t tend to take a full scoop as the effects is just the same from a half so it tends to last a lot longer!

An excellent re-formulation which delivers great energy/endurance & tastes much better than the original. I liked that 1 scoop delivers adequate fuel for light-moderate workouts and 2 scoops seemed perfect for heavier/long sessions; additional pump ingredients will need to be added. I certainly recommend Assault to everyone as it provides the endurance essentials & is naturally colored!

After trying several different top of the line pre workouts, this one Is the worst. Feels like drinking water and sugar. The kick fades after my third use, because my tolerance is high I don’t feel the kick anymore. My body is pretty tolerated to pre workouts and coffee and so I felt I needed more of it to get that kick. Not recommended for casual pre workout users. Might be good for someone’s first time taking pre workout. Not gonna buy this product again Unfortunately!

Had a great 2 hour work out… but when it came time to sleep my heart was still beating fast had to go to the emergency i couldn’t sleep… still at the hospital its 5:30 AM and my heart rate just started to slow down… this is the first time i use this pre-workout.. never again !!

Does MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder Offer a Money-Back Guarantee?

On the official MusclePharm website, customers are told that they can apply for a refund within 90 days of purchase. All refunds will be apparently granted if the product is not more than 75% used, and the company will reportedly pay for the return shipping.

Where Can I Buy MusclePharm Assault Pre-Workout Powder?

MusclePharm products tend to be widely available, and Assault Pre-Workout Powder is no exception. Customers can find the new version available to buy on the official MusclePharm website, Amazon, www.bodybuilding.com, Lucky Vitamin, Predator Nutrition, iHerb, and many more. The older version is still available to buy in a limited supply on Amazon.

The cheapest price we could find for the new version of Assault Pre-Workout Powder was $21.99 for a 30-serving tub on www.bodybuilding.com. Customers looking for the older version can be purchased from Amazon UK for around £25 for a month’s supply.