brundel
Board Sponsor
- Awards
- 3
As time goes on we learn more and more about this amazing compound.
New studies keep coming out and every one solidifies what we have been saying all along. This stuff kicks ass.
Its not only anabolic but safe and even healthy.
"(−)-Epicatechin ((−)-EPI), a naturally occurring flavanol, has emerged as a likely candidate for cocoa based
product reported reductions in cardiometabolic risk. The present study aimed to determine the
safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of purified (−)-EPI administered to healthy
volunteers. In this phase I, open-label, two-part single- and multiple-dose study, subjects received either
a single dose (n = 9) of 50, 100 or 200 mg or multiple doses (n = 8) of 50 mg daily (q.d.) or twice daily.
blood samples were analyzed for NO
surrogates and follistatin levels as well as, platelet mitochondrial complexes I, V and citrate synthase
activity levels. (−)-EPI was well tolerated and readily absorbed with further phase 2 metabolism. On day 5,
in the q.d. and b.i.d. groups, there were significant increases in plasma nitrite of 30% and 17%, respectively
Average day 5 follistatin AUC levels
were ∼2.5 fold higher =250% higher!
Plasma follistatin levels were measured in subjects receiving
(−)-EPI q.d. for 5 days. At day 1, plasma levels averaged
∼254 pg ml−1 and peaked following (−)-EPI to ∼404 pg ml−1.
Following 5 days of (−)-EPI b.i.d., baseline values averaged
∼881 pg ml−1 and peaked at ∼1239 pg ml−1. Follistatin AUC
levels at day 5 were ∼2.5 fold higher vs. day 1, indicating that
repeated (−)-EPI dosing has a vigorous and sustained effect on
follistatin production. The biological roles of follistatin are not
completely understood, but beneficial effects on muscle
growth have been documented.19–21 The only known physiological
inducer of increased plasma follistatin levels is physical
exercise.22 To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration
that a small molecule can increase follistatin plasma levels.
Myostatin is the most effective inhibitor of muscle growth
known to date.23,24 Follistatin by binding to myostatin can
promote muscle growth resulting from interfering with myostatin
attaching to its receptor.
REF: Pharmacokinetic, partial pharmacodynamic and
initial safety analysis of (−)-epicatechin in healthy
volunteers†
Christopher F. Barnett,a Aldo Moreno-Ulloa,b,c Sruti Shiva,d
Israel Ramirez-Sanchez,b,c Pam R. Taub,b Yongxuan Su,e Guillermo Ceballos,c
Sundeep Dugar,f George Schreinerf and Francisco Villarreal
New studies keep coming out and every one solidifies what we have been saying all along. This stuff kicks ass.
Its not only anabolic but safe and even healthy.
"(−)-Epicatechin ((−)-EPI), a naturally occurring flavanol, has emerged as a likely candidate for cocoa based
product reported reductions in cardiometabolic risk. The present study aimed to determine the
safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of purified (−)-EPI administered to healthy
volunteers. In this phase I, open-label, two-part single- and multiple-dose study, subjects received either
a single dose (n = 9) of 50, 100 or 200 mg or multiple doses (n = 8) of 50 mg daily (q.d.) or twice daily.
blood samples were analyzed for NO
surrogates and follistatin levels as well as, platelet mitochondrial complexes I, V and citrate synthase
activity levels. (−)-EPI was well tolerated and readily absorbed with further phase 2 metabolism. On day 5,
in the q.d. and b.i.d. groups, there were significant increases in plasma nitrite of 30% and 17%, respectively
Average day 5 follistatin AUC levels
were ∼2.5 fold higher =250% higher!
Plasma follistatin levels were measured in subjects receiving
(−)-EPI q.d. for 5 days. At day 1, plasma levels averaged
∼254 pg ml−1 and peaked following (−)-EPI to ∼404 pg ml−1.
Following 5 days of (−)-EPI b.i.d., baseline values averaged
∼881 pg ml−1 and peaked at ∼1239 pg ml−1. Follistatin AUC
levels at day 5 were ∼2.5 fold higher vs. day 1, indicating that
repeated (−)-EPI dosing has a vigorous and sustained effect on
follistatin production. The biological roles of follistatin are not
completely understood, but beneficial effects on muscle
growth have been documented.19–21 The only known physiological
inducer of increased plasma follistatin levels is physical
exercise.22 To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration
that a small molecule can increase follistatin plasma levels.
Myostatin is the most effective inhibitor of muscle growth
known to date.23,24 Follistatin by binding to myostatin can
promote muscle growth resulting from interfering with myostatin
attaching to its receptor.
REF: Pharmacokinetic, partial pharmacodynamic and
initial safety analysis of (−)-epicatechin in healthy
volunteers†
Christopher F. Barnett,a Aldo Moreno-Ulloa,b,c Sruti Shiva,d
Israel Ramirez-Sanchez,b,c Pam R. Taub,b Yongxuan Su,e Guillermo Ceballos,c
Sundeep Dugar,f George Schreinerf and Francisco Villarreal
