Full Description

Kodiak Ammo™ is a Branched Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) powerhouse that was developed to address the nutritional opportunity between pre worout and post workout, commonly referred to as the intra workout period, when critical nutrients are needed to fuel performance, blunt fatigue, and accelerate recovery.

Collectively made up of Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine, the BCAAs are known as essential amino acids because the human body cannot produce them, and they must be consumed through diet or supplementation. Independently, each BCAA plays an important physiological role in the body.

However, it is their synergistic combination that produces one of the most important processes involved in muscle building and recovery; the process known as muscle protein synthesis (MPS).

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Supplement Facts

Ingredient Profile

BCAAs (collectively):

The essential amino acids Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine collectively form what are referred to as the Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs). These amino acids are essential because they cannot be produced in the body and must be provided through supplementation or diet.

BCAAs comprise approximately 30% of the total muscle protein pool and are the primary amino acids oxidized in the muscle during exercise and catabolic stress.  For these reasons, athletes supplement with BCAAs for the purpose of increasing muscle mass, reducing muscle damage, blunting fatigue, and increasing energy during exercise.

Hundreds of studies exist on the ergogenic benefits of BCAAs.  The majority of them show that BCAAs, whether consumed pre, during, or post-exercise; decrease protein catabolism (breakdown) and support muscle protein synthesis, a physiological process responsible for muscle growth and repair. 

Furthermore, BCAAs are vitally important to glucose (energy) production; contributing over 40% of total glucose production during sustained endurance exercise.

A study conducted in 2009 found that subjects who supplemented with BCAAs while following an 8-week resistance training program had a greater decrease in body fat, an increase in lean mass, and greater strength gains in the bench press and squat exercises compared to the placebo group.

L-Leucine

Leucine is one of the essential branched chain amino acids (BCAA). By itself it can stimulate muscle protein synthesis; the process responsible for muscle growth and recovery.  This is why it is often referred to as the “main” amino acid.

• Supplementation with at least 2 grams daily has been shown to decrease muscle soreness, lessen recovery time between workouts, and increase lean muscle mass.
• Howatson et al. (2012) discovered that leucine (combined with isoleucine and valine) administered before muscle-damaging resistance exercises reduced indices of muscle damage and accelerated recovery in resistance trained males.

Leucine Whey Peptides

Leucine Peptides contain high levels of leucine-rich peptides isolated from whey proteins to deliver the essential amino acid L-Leucine in a soluble and highly bioavailable form.

• PepForm Leucine Peptides are designed to improve the delivery of amino acids to muscle tissue. More efficient nutrient delivery helps PepForm Leucine Peptides contribute to muscle synthesis and growth.
• PepForm Leucine Peptides’ ability to provide Leucine more efficiently is a significant step in addressing the growing concern over age-related muscle loss or sarcopenia.
• Research shows that many individuals can decrease the rate of muscle loss by exercising and consuming proteins that are quickly absorbed and have significant levels of leucine.

L-Isoleucine

Isoleucine, like leucine, is another BCAA that can stimulate muscle protein synthesis, but to a lesser degree when not combined with the other BCAAs.  However, isoleucine significantly increases glucose uptake and the usage of glucose during exercise; leading to greater energy production and BCAA preservation.

• Isoleucine may also play in role in the fat burning abilities of BCAAs.
• Nishimura et al. (2010) found that mice consuming a high-fat diet in conjunction with isoleucine gained less fat mass than mice not receiving isoleucine. This was due to isoleucine’s ability to stimulate receptors (PPAR) that inhibit fat storage and increase fat burning.

L-Valine

Valine, the third BCAA, promotes muscular endurance and decrease fatigue during exercise.

• When exercising, tryptophan is converted to serotonin and signals the brain that the body is fatigued, ultimately leading to a decrease in muscle strength and endurance
• Since Valine competes with tryptophan for entry into the brain, less serotonin gets to the brain. Ultimately, this leads to stronger muscular contractions, quicker recovery between sets, and prolonged muscular strength and endurance.

FAQs

Q: How should I take Kodiak Ammo?

A: As a dietary supplement, mix on serving (one scoop) with 8-10 oz. of water. Shake well and consume during exercise on training days, or sip throughout the day on non-training days.

Q: What are BCAAs?

A: The branched chain amino acids are collectively made up of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are essential amino acids that cannot be produced by the body and can only be obtained through diet or supplementation.

The BCAAs are the primary drivers behind muscle protein synthesis; arguably the most important physiological process for maximal muscle growth and recovery. Research has shown that the BCAA content of protein source is directly related to lean muscle gain.

Q: What other Kodiak products can I stack with Ammo?

A: In order to promote maximal recovery and performance we recommend stacking Ammo with our pre workout, Attack, 1Whey protein, and CarniShred.

Q: When is the best time to take Kodiak Ammo?

A: Pre, intra, and post workout as well as in between meals in order to maximally stimulate muscle protein synthesis throughout the day.

References

BCAAs (Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine)

1. Norton, L. E., & Layman, D. K. (2006). Leucine regulates translation initiation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after exercise. The Journal of nutrition, 136(2), 533S-537S.

2. Shimomura, Y., Inaguma, A., Watanabe, S., Yamamoto, Y., Muramatsu, Y., Bajotto, G., … & Mawatari, K. (2010). Branched-chain amino acid supplementation before squat exercise and delayed-onset muscle soreness. International journal of sport nutrition, 20(3), 236.

3. Gualano, A. B., Bozza, T., Lopes, D. C. P., Roschel, H., Dos Santos, C. A., Luiz, M. M., … & Herbert, L. J. A. (2011). Branched-chain amino acids supplementation enhances exercise capacity and lipid oxidation during endurance exercise after muscle glycogen depletion. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 51(1), 82-88.

4. Hamel, F. G., Upward, J. L., Siford, G. L., & Duckworth, W. C. (2003). Inhibition of proteasome activity by selected amino acids. Metabolism, 52(7), 805-809.

5. Nicastro, H., Artioli, G. G., dos Santos Costa, A., Solis, M. Y., Da Luz, C. R., Blachier, F., & Lancha Jr, A. H. (2011). An overview of the therapeutic effects of leucine supplementation on skeletal muscle under atrophic conditions. Amino Acids, 40(2), 287-300.

6. Ra, S. G., Miyazaki, T., Ishikura, K., Nagayama, H., Suzuki, T., Maeda, S., … & Ohmori, H. (2013). Additional effects of taurine on the benefits of BCAA intake for the delayed-onset muscle soreness and muscle damage induced by high-intensity eccentric exercise. In Taurine 8 (pp. 179-187). Springer New York.

7. Stoppani, J., Scheett, T. P., Pena, J., Rudolph, C., Charlebois, D., & Charleston, S. C. (2009). Consuming branched-chain amino acid supplement during a resistance training program increases lean mass, muscle strength and fat loss. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 6(Suppl 1), P1.

Potassium

Kanbay, M., Bayram, Y., Solak, Y., & Sanders, P. W. (2013). Dietary potassium: A key mediator of the cardiovascular response to dietary sodium chloride. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 7(5), 395-400. Zhou, X., Zhang, Z., Shin, M. K., Horwitz, S. B., Levorse, J. M., Zhu, L., ... & Pan, Y. (2013). Heterozygous disruption of renal outer medullary potassium channel in rats is associated with reduced blood pressure. Hypertension, 62(2), 288-294.

Sodium

1. Sims, S. T., van VLIET, L. I. N. D. A., Cotter, J., & Rehrer, N. (2007). Sodium loading aids fluid balance and reduces the physiological strain of trained men exercising in the heat. Medicine and science in sports and exercise,39(1), 123.

2. Sims, S. T., Rehrer, N. J., Bell, M. L., & Cotter, J. D. (2007). Preexercise sodium loading aids fluid balance and endurance for women exercising in the heat. Journal of Applied Physiology, 103(2), 534-541.

WARNING

California’s Proposition 65 entitles California consumers to special warnings.

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65warnings.ca.gov/