The science behind SpeedON

SpeedON performance muscle lotion  

We specifically developed this product as an ergogenic aid with the objective of enabling any athlete to increase and extend peak performance during training efforts at or above the lactate threshold. Ultimately resulting in allowing the athlete to reach their full potential in racing and in competition.

SpeedON lotion is a formulation based on Carnosine and Sodium Bicarbonate to specifically buffer extra and intra cellular acidosis caused by the accumulation of hydrogen ions during strenuous exercise and racing efforts.

Performance during continuous or intermittent high-intensity exercise can be limited, at least in part, by the accumulation of hydrogen ions (H+) which reduce muscle pH and interfere with muscle contractile and metabolic processes.

Exercise performance at or above lactate threshold is related to energy supply through both oxidative and non-oxidative metabolic processes. Because the energy demand is close to or in excess of the maximal rate of O2 consumption, there will be an appreciable contribution to the energy supply from anaerobic glycolysis, resulting in a significant production of lactate and hydrogen (H+) ions. These large increases in [H+] may reduce muscle pH from ~ 7.1 at rest to as low as 6.4 at the point of exhaustion.

Although fatigue is clearly multi-factorial in these (and other) sports events, performance limitation appears to be related to the extent of the muscular acidosis which is developed along with associated ionic disturbances which may affect muscle excitation. Metabolic acidosis can impair performance through direct interference with the muscle contraction process and by limiting the resynthesis of high-energy phosphates and inhibiting the rate of anaerobic glycolysis.

During high-intensity exercise, several systems contribute to both intracellular and extracellular buffering in attempts to maintain pH homeostasis, with intramuscular carnosine and plasma bicarbonate both having important roles (Juel, 2008; Harris and Sale, 2012). 

INTRACELLULAR BUFFERING: CARNOSINE

Carnosine, a potent intramuscular buffer, is a dipeptide found at high concentrations in the cytosol of skeletal muscle and especially concentrated in fast-twitch muscle fibres (Artioli et al., 2010; Derave et al., 2010).

Animonal species who rely on anaerobic energy production and exercise for survival (e.g. horses and greyhounds) or who have adapted to cope with bouts of hypoxia (e.g. diving whales) have particularly high muscle carnosine concentrations (Harris et al., 1990). Moreover, higher concentrations have been found in sprinters than in marathon runners (Parkhouse & McKenzie, 1984) and sprint training increases muscle carnosine concentration (Suzuki et al., 2004).

The contribution of muscle carnosine to total intracellular muscle buffering capacity has been suggested to be approximately 7% under normal conditions.

EXTRACELLULAR BUFFERING: SODIUM BICARBONATE

A high rate of anaerobic glycolysis in skeletal muscle during high-intensity exercise can produce hydrogen ions (H+) in excess of the intracellular buffering capacity. Increasing the bicarbonate concentration and elevating pH in the extracellular space, however, increases the efflux of H+ from the muscle (Juel, 1996). Because of the negative consequences of H+ accumulation within muscle cells, this greater H+ efflux may reduce the fall in muscle cell pH and therefore retard the rate of muscle fatigue development and enhance performance by facilitating enhanced energy supply through anaerobic glycolysis (Hollidge-Horvat et al., 2000).

Bicarbonate plays an important role in maintaining pH and electrolyte gradients between intracellular and extracellular environments. The rationale for “bicarbonate loading” via SpeedON muscle lotion is that it can temporarily increase the bicarbonate concentrations and pH, thereby enhancing the buffering capacity of the extracellular space.

H+ and bicarbonate combine to form carbonic acid which in turn dissociates to form carbon dioxide and water. For reasons outlined earlier, bicarbonate loading may be most effective in sporting events which are heavily dependent on the generation of energy through anaerobic glycolysis with consequent challenges to acid-base homeostasis which may contribute to performance limitation.

Further key ingredients of the SpeedON lotion are white camphor oil, menthol and magnesium chloride. White camphor oil (antioxidant) and menthol are common ingredients in traditional pain relief medications, including topical analgesics. It may help treat muscle aches and pains, while stimulating circulation, by interacting with receptors on the sensory nerves. With dual hot and cold action, camphor oil and similarly menthol numbs and cools nerve endings, and then warms the painful area as it increases circulation to stiff joints and muscles.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25451841/

Magnesium chloride is a key component to optimise the delivery of Carnosine through the stratum corneum into the underlying tissue by up to 60%. file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/cosmetics-05-00067.pdf