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OptygenHP - Questions and Answers

Q: How is OPTYGEN-HP different than the original Optygen formula?
A: Beta-Alanine is a beta-amino acid that is a precursor to L-Carnosine in muscle. L-Carnosine is synthesized in muscle when Beta-Alanine is bound to histidine, another amino acid. With intense training, you can increase your carnosine levels with a limiting factor: the body cannot produce enough Beta-Alanine to allow the body to continue to increase carnosine levels. Clinical studies show that supplementing with Beta-Alanine allows the body to produce significantly higher carnosine levels. Through its effect on carnosine levels, beta-alanine synthesizes lactic acid to be re-used as fuel. The result is a highly effective mechanism for the metabolism of lactate, which in-turn improves endurance capacity allowing you to train and race at a higher level.

Q: What is Beta-Alanine and how does it work?
A: Beta-Alanine is an amino acid that interacts directly with the amino acid carnosine to buffer lactic acid. With intense training, you can increase your carnosine levels with a limiting factor: the body cannot produce enough Beta-Alanine to allow the body to continue to increase carnosine levels. Clinical studies show that supplementing with Beta-Alanine allows the body to produce significantly higher carnosine levels. The result is a highly effective mechanism for the metabolism of lactate, which in-turn improves endurance capacity.

Q: What are the benefits of taking Beta-Alanine?
A: Cutting edge human clinical studies show Beta-Alanine supplementation significantly improves muscular endurance, exercise capacity (so you can exercise longer) and total work done. The mechanism supporting Beta-Alanine works synergistically with the adaptogens, chelated chromium and ATPro in OPTYGEN-HP to help endurance athletes maximize performance.

-Increases Total Work Done by 13%
-Boosts strength
-Increases endurance capacity
-Improves Ventilatory Threshold
-Delays onset of neuromuscular fatigue

Q: What is the itching/tingling I feel after I take Optygen-HP?
A: A very small percentage of athletes will feel an itching or tingling sensation when they first start using Optygen-HP. This tingling is due to the Beta-Alanine. Researchers theorize that it is caused by the activation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons being activated by Beta-Alanine. In the presence of Beta-Alanine, DRG neurons cause multiple action potentials, whereas in the absence only a single action potentials occur. There is no cause for concern. The tingling & itching called paraesthesia should go away after a week of use. Athletes can also split up their dose to two capsules in the AM and two in the PM which should also help reduce the acute tingling/itching sensation.

Some commonalties among these governing bodies include banned substances which fall into one or more of the following categories as listed in Section I A-E of the UCI Prohibited Classes of substance and Prohibited Methods document. A) Stimulants B) Narcotics C) Anabolic agents D) Diuretics and E) Peptide hormones, mimetics and analogues. This document goes on to list banned substances within each of these classes. Regulations also ban 'Compounds chemically or pharmacologically related to the products mentioned'.

OPTYGEN-HP contains NO ingredients, which are explicitly listed under the banned substance list, nor are any of the ingredients related chemically or pharmacologically. First Endurance has also contacted the USADA and received verbal confirmation that our ingredients are not banned based on their regulations. Note: USADA, WADA and UCI do not offer any certification or written confirmation.

First Endurance manufactures its formulations to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards available. In addition we use a proprietary manufacturing method for added safety and assurance. Following the Supplement Facts panel you will notice we list 'NO processing aids' under Other Ingredients. The only ingredients found in Optygen, are those listed in the Supplement Facts Panel.

Part XIV Article 7 of the Anti-doping Examination Regulations contains the following warning: riders must refrain from using any substance, foodstuff or drink of which they do not know the composition. It must be emphasized that the composition indicated on a product is not always complete. The product may contain prohibited substances not listed in the composition.

For a complete list of regulations and banned substances please use one of the following links:

UCI Banned Substance List

WADA

Q: How should I use Optygen-HP?
A: For best results, use OPTYGEN-HP during all intense training. OPTYGEN-HP will allow you to train at a higher level by improving the body's ability to adapt to physical stress, increasing aerobic threshold and reducing lactic acid. These improvements will help you race at a higher level. For best results, OPTYGEN-HP should be used consistently for many months. If you start taking OPTYGEN-HP a week before a race, benefits will be minimal.

Q: Is it OK to use OPTYGEN-HP everyday even though it has phosphates in the formula?
A: Through its role in 2,3 DPG synthesis, phosphorous may reduce lactate accumulation by enhancing oxygen release to tissues. The clinical research recommends taking 1g of sodium phosphate four times per day for at least three days leading up to a race. Prolonged use at a level of 4g per day may adversely affect calcium absorption. The research clearly indicates that sodium phosphate should be used acutely prior to a race.

OPTYGEN-HP’s ATPro matrix is designed to assure Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP) production. All the ingredients in the ATPro matrix play critical roles in ATP formation, including Sodium and Potassium Phosphate. The phosphate levels used in OPTYGEN-HP on their own are not enough to elicit an ergogenic response, nor are they enough to affect PH balance or Calcium absorption.

Q: Are First Endurance products safe from Cross Contamination?
A: Since our primary market is elite endurance athletes we have everything to lose if someone were to test positive and trace it back to our product. Positive tests which have been traced back to supplements are always traced back to a supplement which does not directly market their products to Pro Endurance Athletes. I.E.. The bodybuilding supplements can legally sell androstenedione, DHEA, and precursors. Cross contamination that happens at the manufacturing site is not an issue with these companies. There is a level of tolerance set by the FDA which allows for a certain level of cross contamination. These supplement companies will manufacture an androstene type product, clean the blender and then manufacture an amino acid. The amino acid supplement may contain a small (parts per million) level of androstenedione.

Realize that nothing is absolute. When you purchase any packaged food you have a risk of a contaminated product. Packaged foods, pharmaceutical companies, OTC products and supplements use many of the same ingredient suppliers. IE The cereal you eat in the morning is fortified with vitamins which come from the same supplier of vitamins found in your multivitamin. Some vitamin suppliers also supply pro-hormones. The key is to minimize your risk. First Endurance takes all the available steps to assure there is no cross contamination.

At First Endurance we take all the necessary steps to prevent this.

a) Our manufacturing and packaging facilities do not allow a single banned substance (except caffeine) to enter the facility.
b) First Endurance requires a wet wash between products. FDA approved facilities require a high standard of cleanliness in order to minimize contamination. We take it a step further by requiring the machines, blenders to be cleaned with water.
c) We source ingredients only from manufacturers who DO NOT supply pro-hormones. This eliminates the risk of cross-contamination at the supplier level.

-Due to our level of concern, you can feel safer taking our product then your cereal.

Dunnett M., R.C. Harris. Influence of oral beta-alanine and L-histidine supplementation on the carnosine content of the gluteus medius. Equine Vet J. 30 (suppl): 499-504, 1999.

Harris R. C. Muscle Carnosine elevation with supplementation and training, and the effects of elevation on exercise performance. (ISSN conference, 2005).

Hill CA, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Harris BD, Sale C, Boobis LH, Kim CK, Wise JA; Influence of beta-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity. Amino Acids. 2007 Feb: 32(2) 225-33

Stout JR, Cramer JT, Soeller RF, Torok D, Costa P, Hoffman JR, Harris RC, O’Koy J.; Effects of beta-alanine supplementation on the onset of neuromuscular fatigue and ventilatory threshold in women. Amino Acids 2007 April; 32 93): 381-6

Zoeller RF, Stout JR, O’Kroy JA, Torok DJ, Mielke M.; Effects of 28 days of beta-alanine and creatine monohydrate supplementation on aerobic power, ventilatory and lactate thresholds, and time to exhaustion. Amino Acids. 2006 Sept 5.

Suzuki Y, Ito O, Mukai N, Takahashi H,; High levels of skeletal muscle carnosine contributes to the latter half of exercise performance during 30s maximal cycle ergometer sprinting. Jap Journal of Physiology 52 199-205, 2002.