If you’ve been on the lookout for a BCAA supplement which can help give you a much-needed jolt for your daily activities or workouts, today is your lucky day: Universal Amino Octane may be right up your alley. This review will break down everything you need to know about this up-and-coming player in the bodybuilding supplement industry.
Table of Contents
About Universal Amino Octane
Universal Amino Octane “provides the anabolic benefits of all the essential amino acids in one delicious beverage. It will also give you the energy you need to get you through your day and your workouts,” per the manufacturer’s official website. Formula notes:
- Contains time-tested bodybuilding supplement ingredients. BCAAs, taurine, glutamine, and beta-alanine, to be precise.
- Solid EAA profile. Contains eight of the nine essential amino acids.
- Versatile. Can double as a pick-me-up or pre-workout supplement.
Universal Amino Octane Supplement Facts (Blue Raspberry, 198 grams) |
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Serving Size: 1 Scoop (6.56 g) Servings Per Container: 30 |
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Nutrient | Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value |
Amino Blend | 5,000 mg | ** |
[L-Taurine, L-Glutamine, Instant BCAA (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine), Beta Alanine, L-Tyrosine, L-Arginine, L-Lysine HCl, DL-Methionine, L-Phenylalanine, L-Threonine, L-Histidine] | ||
Amino Octane Energy Blend | 175 mg | ** |
[Caffeine Anhydrous (125 mg), Green Tea Leaf Extract, Theacrine] | ||
Other Ingredients: Natural & Artificial Blue Raspberry Flavors, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, FD&C Blue #1. | ||
Directions: Mix one scoop in 8-10 oz. of your favorite beverage of choice (vary amount by taste preference). This product can be used any time you need energy or aminos. For maximum energy and amino support, use up to 3 servings before training. |
Fuel Your Day, Fuel Your Workout
Perhaps you’ve been neglecting your intake of essential amino acids (EAAs). If you’re into bodybuilding, this is a big no-no. As the name implies, EAAs are necessary. The body doesn’t synthesize them. Hence, one must obtain them from whole-food sources and supplements. The nine EAAs are leucine, isoleucine, valine, histidine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, and tryptophan.
In a nutshell, essential amino acids help ward off muscle breakdown (catabolism), increase fat burning and muscle protein synthesis (MPS, and shorten recovery time. If you’re trying to muscle up and lean out, these benefits will serve you well.
We’ve seen our fair share of products with impressive essential amino acid profiles. Take MuscleTech Platinum Amino + Energy, for example. It has eight of the nine EAAs. It also has five grams of BCAAs (including three grams of muscle-building l-leucine) per scoop. Had the manufacturer removed several fillers, we would’ve given it a higher grade.
On the other hand, BlackMarket RECOVERY AMINO also has eight essential amino acids. Its 4.5 grams of l-leucine and 1,000 percent of the daily value for vitamin B12 (a minimum daily value of 15 percent is high) make it one solid BCAA supplement.
With that, we’re eager to see if Universal Amino Octane can do them one better. This supplement “provides the anabolic benefits of all the essential amino acids in one delicious beverage. It will also give you the energy you need to get you through your day and your workouts,” per the manufacturer’s official website.
“Any time you need anabolic energy, Amino Octane is there. Fuel your day, fuel your workout,” per the same source. We love the term “anabolic energy.” Any time a bodybuilding supplement can help you muscle up and ramp up your energy levels, it’s worth considering (provided it has a clean ingredient profile and great transparency). If you’re curious if Universal Amino Octane can help you kick that caffeine habit to the curb, we’re just as eager to find out.
Amino Blend, 5,000 mg
Universal Amino Octane’s Amino Blend takes up five grams per one 6.56-gram scoop. Here, you’ll find eight of the nine essential amino acids plus a few time-tested bodybuilding supplement ingredients.
Unfortunately, the Amino Blend is proprietary in nature: the manufacturer fails miserably to break down the individual ingredient amounts. This doesn’t bode well for customers at all. A little honesty would’ve gone a long way.
First off, many bodybuilding enthusiasts want to know how much l-leucine a BCAA product has. You can’t blame them one bit. This is the most anabolic amino acid which helps kickstart the muscle protein synthesis process. Plus, it helps preserve muscle mass, increase fat loss, and keep inflammation at bay.
A study which researchers published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine on March 8, 2017 involved 48 healthy subjects who exercised thrice a week (half an hour each time) and consumed a leucine-rich supplement for 12 weeks. The authors concluded, “The principle findings show that leucine-rich amino acid supplementation can counteract the negative effects of eccentric exercise. The treatment resulted in a reduction of exercise-induced strength loss.”
The key takeaway: leucine is not just a potent muscle builder. It can also help boost exercise results and increase strength levels, among other things. Too bad consumers don’t know how much l-leucine they’re getting from Universal Amino Octane. Three grams per serving or so would’ve been great.
Where there’s leucine, you’ll find the two other branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) l-isoleucine and l-valine. Both help increase exercise endurance and energy levels, maintain a positive nitrogen balance, and repair muscle tissue. L-isoleucine also helps produce hemoglobin and play a key role in blood clot formation. For its part, l-valine also helps improve sleep quality, quell anxiety, and suppress appetite.
This supplement also has l-taurine, a versatile amino acid. Here’s what it can do for your health:
- Keeps stress levels in check
- Incinerates fat
- Improves insulin sensitivity, sleep quality, and cardiovascular function
- Ramps up testosterone levels
- Increases exercise endurance
- Enhances cognitive function
It turns out taurine also helps shorten recovery time. According to the October 17, 2017 issue of the journal Antioxidants (via NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov), “Our study suggests that supplementation with taurine twice daily for 72 hours following eccentric-exercise-induced muscle damage may be a result of taurine’s antioxidant and cytoprotective roles within skeletal muscle.” No wonder you can find taurine in many post-workout supplements.
We’re also stoked Universal Amino Octane has l-glutamine, the most abundant amino acid in the body. It has several key benefits:
- Preserves hard-earned muscle mass
- Increases human growth hormone (HGH) levels and fat burning
- Improves athletic performance
- Enhances cognitive function
- Regulates blood sugar levels
- Boosts metabolism
- Keeps free radicals at bay
Glutamine provided “a therapeutic benefit by promoting recovery from eccentric-exercise-induced muscle damage. L-glutamine supplementation attenuated the magnitude of strength loss, improved the time course of strength recovery, and diminished muscle soreness more rapidly in comparison with an isoenergetic placebo,” per the March 2015 issue of the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (via ResearchGate.net). Clearly, l-glutamine is an invaluable aid in exercise recovery. No question about it. We’re glad it’s in Universal Amino Octane.
Another powerhouse ingredient is beta-alanine, a naturally-occurring beta amino acid which synthesizes muscle carnosine levels. This, in turn, increases work capacity and delays the onset of muscular fatigue. Long story short, beta-alanine allows you to start and finish your workouts strong.
As hard evidence, the January 24, 2012 issue of Amino Acids (via NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov) says, “Β-alanine supplementation elicits a significant ergogenic effect on high-intensity exercise, particularly in exercise capacity tests and measures, and where the exercise lasts between one and four minutes.” If you want a second wind for your workouts, beta-alanine supplementation is the way to go (hence, you can also find beta-alanine in top-notch pre-workouts such as Dymatize Pre W.O. and Nutrex OUTLIFT AMPED).
Universal Amino Octane’s next key component is l-tyrosine, an amino acid you can find in many top-notch nootropics. This ingredient helps enhance cognitive function, regulate thyroid function, ward off exercise-related stress, and increase dopamine levels.
“While evidence for an effect of TYR (tyrosine) on physical performance is limited, TYR supplementation does appear to prevent declines in various aspects of cognitive performance and mood associated with both acute and chronic exposure to stress,” per the Gatorade Sports Science Institute’s official website. The simple implication: if you need something to fire you up mentally at the gym, l-tyrosine should be up to the daunting task.
Universal Amino Octane also has l-arginine, the alpha amino acid which acts as a vasodilator, increases blood flow and muscle pumps, promotes healthier blood pressure levels, and improves nutrient uptake. The bad news: it doesn’t work as well as l-citrulline (which you can find in superb pre-workouts such as MusclePharm Wreckage), which has the same benefits but has much better bioavailability. Plus, experts say l-arginine’s effects are short-lived.
The good news: it seems l-arginine is more than just a popular vasodilator. According to the University of Michigan Medical School’s official website, “Some recent publications suggest l-arginine supplementation reduces plasma lactate, ammonia, and blood glucose. Build-up of lactate and ammonia lead to fatigue during exercise.” If this holds true, we like the energy-boosting potential of l-arginine, BCAAs, and beta-alanine in Universal Amino Octane. You’ll be able to crank out more reps at the gym.
As for the five remaining essential amino acids (l-lysine hydrochloride, dl-methionine, l-phenylalanine, l-threonine, and l-histidine), they should help you muscle up and lean out in conjunction with regular exercise, sound nutrition, and enough sleep.
Long story short, Universal Amino Octane’s Amino Blend is an interesting yet flawed combination which should still help you achieve your fitness goals.
Amino Octane Energy Blend, 175 milligrams
Universal Amino Octane’s Energy Blend contains several components which should help perk you up for your workouts and everyday activities.
“Caffeine anhydrous is a tried and true consistent go-to for energy and focus. It won’t overstimulate you despite a solid 125 mg of caffeine per serving. Green tea extract has a myriad of health benefits and also provides energy. Theacrine is a good complement and works hand in hand with caffeine to give longer-lasting energy and focus without a crash,” per the manufacturer’s official website.
Caffeine anhydrous is the pure, powdered form of caffeine. This is arguably the world’s most popular stimulant which has a ton of health benefits:
- Increases energy levels and fat burning
- Improves physical performance
- Regulates blood sugar levels
- Boosts liver function
- Wards off free radicals
In terms of high-intensity aerobic performance, “it is evident that caffeine supplementation provides an ergogenic response for sustained aerobic efforts in moderate-to-highly-trained endurance athletes. The research is more varied, however, when pertaining to bursts of high-intensity maximal efforts,” per the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition’s January 27, 2010 issue.
Unfortunately, overconsumption may result in a spike-crash effect, jitters, nervousness, and sleeplessness. Surprisingly, caffeine anhydrous is the only ingredient which the manufacturer was honest with (125 milligrams per scoop, which is equal to one cup of brewed coffee or so). This isn’t an exorbitant amount, if you ask us. However, please skip Universal Amino Octane if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
Green tea leaf extract also has impressive benefits:
- Enhances cognitive function
- Ramps up fat loss
- Improves physical performance and heart health
- Keeps free radicals at bay
- Stifles bacterial activity
- Regulates blood sugar levels
Green tea leaf extract’s caffeine content (one eight-ounce serving yields roughly 35 milligrams) is modest compared to caffeine anhydrous’. It should produce a modest energy boost without the unwanted jitters.
The final component is theacrine, a natural compound which helps increase energy levels and improve mood, motivation, and mental clarity. In short, it gives you similar benefits as caffeine’s without the side effects. The downside: Theacrine doesn’t have caffeine’s stellar track record in terms of ergogenic benefits. Perhaps it would’ve been better if the manufacturer did not include it at all.
Alas, this supplement’s Energy Blend is also proprietary in nature (except for the caffeine anhydrous content). Universal Nutrition products have a reputation for shady transparency. It’s sad the trend continues with Universal Amino Octane.
All in all, Universal Amino Octane’s Energy Blend is nothing out of the ordinary: you can find this combination in many bodybuilding supplements (the aforementioned Dymatize Pre W.O. has 300 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous and 125 milligrams of theacrine per serving). Nonetheless, it should help give you the jolt you need for your training sessions.
Let’s check out the formula ingredients:
Amino Blend, 5,000 mg
- L-taurine: A versatile amino acid which helps keep stress levels in check, boost fat loss, improve insulin sensitivity, sleep quality, and heart health; increase testosterone levels and exercise endurance, and enhance cognitive function.
- L-glutamine: The most abundant amino acid which helps preserve muscle mass, increase HGH levels, improve athletic performance, boost brain function and metabolism, regulate blood sugar levels, and ward off free radicals.
- L-leucine: The most anabolic amino acid which helps kickstart the muscle protein synthesis process, preserve muscle mass, increase fat loss, and keep inflammation at bay.
- L-isoleucine: A BCAA which helps increase energy levels, repair muscle tissue, maintain a positive nitrogen balance, and produce hemoglobin.
- L-valine: A BCAA which helps increase energy levels, repair muscle tissue, maintain a positive nitrogen balance, quell anxiety, improve sleep quality, and suppress appetite.
- Beta-alanine: A naturally-occurring beta amino acid which helps synthesize muscle carnosine levels for increased work capacity and ability to delay the onset of muscular fatigue. Beta-alanine allows one to work out longer and harder.
- Tyrosine: An amino acid which helps enhance cognitive function, regulate thyroid function, keep exercise-related stress in check, and ramp up dopamine levels.
- L-arginine: An alpha amino acid which helps increase blood flow, vasodilation, and muscle pumps. L-arginine also helps keep lactate and ammonia levels in check for increased endurance levels.
- L-lysine HCl: An esssential amino acid (EAA) which stifles free radical activity, quell anxiety, boost calcium absorption, promote healthy blood sugar levels, and improve gut function.
- Dl-methionine: This EAA helps ward off free radicals, strengthen bones, increase weight loss, and improve liver function.
- L-phenylalanine: An EAA which helps increase dopamine levels and keep depression at bay.
- L-threonine: This EAA helps boost liver, bone, connective tissue, and immune system function.
- L-histidine: An EAA which helps keep free radicals at bay and improve nervous system, digestive, and joint health.
Amino Octane Energy Blend, 175 mg
- Caffeine anhydrous (125 mg): The pure, powdered form of caffeine which helps ramp up energy levels and fat burning, improve physical performance, promote healthy blood sugar levels, improve liver function, and keep free radicals at bay. Overconsumption may result in a spike-crash effect, jitters, nervousness, and sleeplessness.
- Green tea leaf extract: Green tea helps enhance cognitive function, increase fat loss, improve physical performance, ward off free radicals, keep bacterial activity in check, and regulate blood sugar levels.
- Theacrine: A natural compound which helps increase energy levels and improve mood, motivation, and mental clarity.
Formula Analysis
On paper, Universal Amino Octane looks like an amino acid supplement which helps fire you up physically and mentally. After a thorough analysis, we say it will. The supplement facts speak loud and clear.
First off, the Amino Blend contains five grams of impressive components. You can’t go wrong with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) – these help increase muscle protein synthesis (MPS), fat loss, and energy levels. The combo of l-leucine, l-isloleucine, and l-valine is time-tested and versatile: with their help, you can achieve your fitness goals any time and anywhere.
Universal Amino Octane also includes proven and versatile bodybuilding supplement ingredients such as taurine, beta-alanine, and glutamine. Their combined benefits include lower stress levels, increased fat loss, human growth hormone, testosterone levels, and ability to delay the onset of muscular fatigue; and improved athletic performance as well as neurological and cardiovascular function. These are impressive, to say the least.
While l-arginine has certain strengths (increased vasodilation, blood flow, and muscle pumps and shorter recovery time), it’s not as effective as l-citrulline. The reason: l-arginine has poor absorption properties. When you consume Universal Amino Octane, it may still make a difference. However, it would’ve been better if the manufacturer included black pepper fruit extract to improve l-arginine’s bioavailability.
Nevertheless, we like the inclusion of l-tyrosine. This amino acid should help improve cognitive performance, enhance mood, keep exercise-related stress at bay, and ramp up dopamine levels. Sometimes, your mind is just not up to it. With l-tyrosine around, you’re sure to improve your physical and mental performance at the gym.
Another strong suit of Universal Amino Octane is its impressive essential amino acid (EAA) profile: it has eight of the nine essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, and histidine). Not only will these help you muscle up and lean out, but they will also shore up your long-term health (healthier blood sugar levels, lower stress levels, and better immune, digestive, and nervous system function, etc.).
This product’s Amino Octane Energy Blend (175 milligrams per serving) should give you the additional kick you need. The combination of caffeine anhydrous, green tea leaf extract, and theacrine should perk you up for your workouts and daily activities. While Universal Amino Octane’s 125 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous per serving isn’t an alarming amount, steer clear if you’re sensitive to this ingredient.
These are great attributes. Make no mistake about it. However, Universal Amino Octane is not a perfect supplement by any stretch. The first weakness is transparency: the manufacturer resorts to two shady proprietary blends. It doesn’t reveal the exact ingredient amounts (except for the 125 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous). That’s not good at all.
Universal Nutrition also has a reputation of including dirty ingredients in its products. Unfortunately, the trend continues with Universal Amino Octane. The Blue Raspberry flavor has sucralose (an artificial sweetener which has ties to obesity) and FD&C Blue No. 1 (an artificial food coloring which has several side effects).
The clear takeaway: Universal Amino Octane is a bodybuilding supplement with great upside but several glaring loopholes. We say the ingredients are well-thought-out, but the manufacturer didn’t do a great job in applying the finishing touches. You can still give it a shot, but we’d rather the manufacturer iron out the kinks sooner than later.
Universal Amino Octane Benefits
Universal Amino Octane “provides the anabolic benefits of all the essential amino acids in one delicious beverage. It will also give you the energy you need to get through your day and your workouts,” per the manufacturer’s official website.
Who Takes It?
The manufacturer intended Universal Amino Octane for healthy and active individuals who are at least 18 years of age who want to increase muscle mass, fat loss, and energy levels; shorten recovery time, enhance cognitive function, and achieve their daily fitness goals.
Any Side Effects?
Universal Amino Octane contains 125 milligrams of caffeine anhydrous, an ingredient which may cause a spike-crash effect, jitters, nervousness, and sleeplessness in some individuals.
This supplement also contains sucralose (an artificial sweetener with links to obesity) and FD&C Blue No. 1 (an artificial food coloring with certain side effects).
Finally, Universal Amino Octane also has beta-alanine, an ingredient which may cause a flushing and tingling sensation underneath the skin (a harmless effect known as the “beta-alanine itch”).
If these, or any other ingredient, make you feel doubtful, please consult your doctor before buying Universal Amino Octane.
The manufacturer also issues a warning:
Universal Amino Octane Review Summary
Pros
- Impressive components. The supplement facts say it all.
- Time-tested bodybuilding ingredients. BCAAs, taurine, glutamine, and beta-alanine, to be precise.
- Solid EAA profile. Contains eight of the nine essential amino acids.
- Versatile. Can double as a pick-me-up or pre-workout supplement.
- Flavor options. Comes in Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, and Mango Peach flavors.
Cons
- L-arginine inclusion. Awesome benefits, poor solubility.
- Caffeine content. Bona fide double-edged sword.
- Poor transparency. Product has two shady proprietary blends.
- Fillers. Contains sucralose and FD&C Blue No. 1.
Pricing & Where to Buy
- 1 198-gram container (30-Day Supply): $26.95
- Available online and in retail
Final Word on Universal Amino Octane
Universal Nutrition Amino Octane’s name should be a dead giveaway: it’s one bodybuilding supplement which should fire you up for your workouts and daily activities. Unfortunately, it has a few glaring chinks which the manufacturer needs to address. If it can come up with a cleaner advanced formulation with better transparency, it would bode well for customers.
For now, we recommend you try Universal Amino Octane, but with reservations. You’re better off buying better BCAA supplements such as EVLUTION NUTRITION LEAN BCAA or the aforementioned BlackMarket RECOVERY AMINO.
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