Typically the ECA stack is consumed two or three times per day in a 1:10:10 or 1:10:15 ratio of ephedrine:caffeine:Aspirin. These ratios vary across studies and across users but despite variance they all seem to be effective.[citation needed] Usually, no more than 25 mg of ephedrine, 200 mg of caffeine and 325 mg of Aspirin is consumed in a single dose. It is not recommended that the stack be taken past late afternoon as this may contribute to insomnia.
Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, natural flavors, guarana, citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, ascorbic acid, FD&C yellow #6, pyridoxine HCL, cyanocobalamin
Ephedrine acts to increase energy by its actions as a sympathomimetic amine. It directly acts in the brain to increase the release of norepinephrine into the synaptic cleft, and also partially serves as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, thereby also partially functioning as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor due to the shared action between the two terminals. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors which lessens feelings of tiredness, and also increases dopamine levels, resulting in greater concentration, focus, and memory. The effects of caffeine on dopamine levels are usually short lived, but ephedrine’s partial action as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor lengthens the duration.[citation needed]
The effects of the ECA stack in weight loss are primarily due to the ephedrine component. Ephedrine acts both as a beta agonist and stimulates the release of norepinephrine. Increased circulating norepinephrine in the body then acts on white adipose tissue by increasing cAMP levels. This causes a thermogenic effect, raising body temperature and increasing the user’s metabolism in conjunction with the rest of the stack.[citation needed]
However, the body’s negative feedback system then activates to normalize the metabolism. This is done via the production of phosphodiesterase inside the cells, and prostaglandins outside the cell, which both lower cAMP levels within the cell.
Caffeine inhibits the production of phosphodiesterase inside the cell and therefore slows cAMP breakdown. It also binds with and competitively inhibits adenosine receptors in the brain, triggering the release of epinephrine and increasing cAMP levels further.
Aspirin inhibits prostaglandin production outside of the cells, which, in conjunction with caffeine, greatly prolongs the thermogenic effects and increased metabolism by sustaining elevated cAMP levels.[citation needed]
Ephedrine also has an anorectic, or appetite-suppressing, effect. However, these effects only last for about two weeks if the stack is not cycled, as the body becomes tolerant to ephedrine to some degree.[citation needed] It is estimated that 60%–75% of the weight loss from using the ECA stack comes from the anorectic effect, and the remainder from thermogenesis.[citation needed]
The final component in weight loss of the ECA stack is that of a simple stimulant; the higher epinephrine and norepinephrine levels result in increased aerobic exercise performance and less fatigue.[citation needed]
180 (2001) is an energy drink brand produced and distributed by Anheuser-Busch of St. Louis, Missouri. The beverage is the only non-alcoholic energy drink to be produced by a beer company. It is available 8.2 fl oz (243 mL) cans. Contains 11.25ml/fl oz of caffeine
The ECA stack is a drug combination used as a stimulant and in weight loss. ECA is an acronym for ephedrine, caffeine, and Aspirin.
Creatine administration was shown to significantly improve performance in cognitive and memory tests in vegetarian individuals involved in double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trials.[29] Vegetarian supplementation with creatine seems to be especially beneficial as they appear to have lower average body stores, since meat is a primary source of dietary creatine. [29]
In 2002 CCL Container and Mistic Brands, Inc., part of the Snapple Beverage Group, worked together on the national launch of Mistic R?, which used a recyclable aluminum bottle. Since its introduction, many energy drinks are now packaged in the aluminum bottlecans produced by CCL.
Coca-Cola marketed two Powerade brand energy drinks in bullet-shaped, screw-top aluminum bottle cans. Capri Sun targeted 16-25 year-olds with its Island Refreshers line, graduating from a foil pouch design to a bottlecan. In the UK, Coca-Cola has marketed a direct Red Bull competitor, ‘Sprite 3G’, in a similar 250 mL can and has also launched ‘Relentless’, a juice-based energy drink in 500 mL cans.
UK supermarkets have launched their own brands of energy drinks at lower prices than the major ones. These are mostly produced by US beverage maker Cott. Tesco supermarkets sell ‘Kick’ in 250 mL cans and 1 L bottles, Asda sell ‘Blue Charge’ in similar packaging and Morrison’s sell ‘Source’ in 250 mL cans. Cott sells a variety of other branded energy drinks to independent retailers in various containers.
liftoff® is a not first-to-market effervescent energy drink tablet in the US
Some current studies indicate that short-term creatine supplementation in healthy individuals is safe, although those with renal disease should avoid it due to possible risks of renal dysfunction, and before using it healthy users should bear these possible risks in mind.[15][16][17][18] Small-scale, longer-term studies have been done and seem to demonstrate its safety.[19][20][21] There have been reports of muscle cramping with the use of creatine, though a study showed no reports of muscle cramping in subjects taking creatine-containing supplements during various exercise training conditions in trained and untrained endurance athletes.[22][23] The cause of the reported cramping by some users may be due to dehydration, and extra water intake is vital when supplementing with creatine.
In addition, experiments have shown that creatine supplementation improved the health and lifespan of mice.[24] Whether these beneficial effects would also apply to humans is still uncertain. It also led to a rise in allergic lung reactions in an animal test on mice with pre-existent allergic disease.[25]
Creatine supplementation, in the dosages commonly used, results in urinary concentrations that are 90 times greater than normal. The long term effects of this have not been investigated, but there is possibility for a variety of nephrotoxic, i.e., kidney damaging, events. There is potential for direct toxicity on renal tubules where urine is formed, and for acceleration of kidney stone formation.[26] Creatine has been shown to accelerate the growth of cysts in rats with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). [27] Studies have not yet determined if Creatine supplementation will accelerate the growth of cysts in humans with PKD. PKD is prevelant in approximately 1 in 1000 people and may not be detectable until affected individuals reach their thirties.
One case study suggested that there was increased risk of rhabdomyolysis and thence renal failure after the use of a tourniquet during surgery.[28]
Creatine is often taken by athletes as a supplement for those wishing to gain muscle mass (bodybuilding). There are a number of forms but the most common are creatine monohydrate - creatine complexed with a molecule of water, and Creatine ethyl ester (CEE). A number of methods for ingestion exist - as a powder mixed into a drink, or as a capsule or caplet. Once ingested, creatine is highly bioavailable, whether it is ingested as the crystalline monohydrate form, the free form in solution, or even in meat. Creatine salts will become the free form when dissolved in aqueous solution. Conventional wisdom recommends the consumption of creatine with high glycemic index carbohydrates, though research indicates that the use of high GI carbs in combination with protein is also beneficial.[5]
There is scientific evidence that taking creatine supplements can marginally increase athletic performance in high-intensity anaerobic repetitive cycling sprints, but studies in swimmers and runners have been less than promising, most likely because these activities are sustained at a given intensity and thus do not allow for significant intra-exercise synthesis of additional creatine phosphate molecules. Ingesting creatine can increase the level of phosphocreatine in the muscles up to 20%. It must be noted creatine has no significant effect on aerobic endurance, though it will increase power during short sessions of high-intensity aerobic exercise.[6][7]
Since body mass gains of about 1 kg can occur in a week’s time, many studies suggest that the gain is simply due to greater water retention inside the muscle cells. However, studies into the long-term effect of creatine supplementation suggest that body mass gains cannot be explained by increases in intracellular water alone.[8] In the longer term, the increase in total body water is reported to be proportional to the weight gains, which means that the percentage of total body water is not significantly changed. The magnitude of the weight gains during training over a period of several weeks argue against the water-retention theory.
Also, research has shown that creatine increases the activity of satellite cells, which make muscle hypertrophy possible. Creatine supplementation appears to increase the number of myonuclei that satellite cells will ‘donate’ to damaged muscle fibers, which increases the potential for growth of those fibers. This increase in myonuclei probably stems from creatine’s ability to increase levels of the myogenic transcription factor MRF4.[9][10].
In another study, researchers concluded that changes in substrate oxidation may influence the inhibition of fat mass loss associated with creatine after weight training when they discovered that fat mass did not change significantly with creatine but decreased after the placebo trial in a 12-week study on ten active men. The study also showed that 1-RM bench press and total body mass increased after creatine, but not after placebo.[11] The underlying effect of Creatine on body composition if there is indeed one has yet to be determined, as another study with a similar timeframe suggests no effect on body composition, but had less overall emphasis on metabolic effects. [12]
Creatine use is not considered doping and is not banned by the majority of sport-governing bodies. However, in the United States, the NCAA recently ruled that colleges could not provide creatine supplements to their players, though the players are still allowed to obtain and use creatine independently.
Creatine ethyl ester
Main article: Creatine ethyl ester
CEE is a form of commercially available creatine touted to have higher absorption rates and a longer serum half-life than regular creatine monohydrate by several supplement companies. No peer-reviewed studies have emerged on creatine ethyl ester to conclusively prove these claims, however, a study presented at the 4th International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) annual meeting demonstrated that the addition of the ethyl group to creatine actually reduces acid stability and accelerates its breakdown to creatinine. The researchers concluded that creatine ethyl-ester is inferior to creatine monohydrate as a source of creatine.[13]
As a supplement, the compound was developed, patented and licensed through UNeMed, the technology transfer entity of the University of Nebraska Medical Center.[14]