To determine the role of Velositol on strength, endurance, and power, Nutrition21 conducted a new study that produced significant benefits for sports nutrition consumers.
The eight-week study observed men, ages 35-55, who followed a resistance training program designed by a certified strength and conditioning specialist. They were also broken up into three groups, which received 15 grams of whey protein (control), 30 grams of whey protein (control), or 15 grams of whey protein combined with 2 grams of Velositol (experimental).
To observe the impact on strength, endurance, and power, the study was segmented into three primary areas. Below, we highlight each test and explain the results.
Muscle Endurance Results - Squat Reps-to-Failure
Testing for endurance really means testing slow-twitch muscle fibers (Type I) and the ability to exert oneself, remain active for an extended period, and recover. Slow-twitch muscle fibers support endurance because of their high mitochondrial density, which creates energy to sustain muscle use overtime.
This endurance-focused part of the study produced two key results when adding Velositol to 15 grams of whey protein and then comparing it to 15 grams and 30 grams of whey protein alone:
a.) Velositol increased muscle endurance as early as 4 weeks1
b.) Velositol doubled squat reps-to-failure1
c.) Velositol improved strength and enhanced jumping power1
To understand what these results really mean, it is also important to define reps-to-failure (RTF). RTF is the repetition of an exercise until the muscles reach a certain point at which they can no longer perform that exercise.
In relation to the study, this means that combining Velositol with 15 grams of whey protein increases the muscles’ ability to perform squat reps-to-failure. Furthermore, when Velositol was added to 15 grams of whey protein, it doubled the number of squat reps-to-failure compared to 15 grams of whey protein alone1.
Strength Results - Squat 1-Rep Max (1RM)
The amount of force exerted by the muscles in a single effort is known as muscular strength. Weightlifting is a good example of muscle strength because it challenges the muscles to exert maximum energy in fewer reps.
The study results showed that Velositol significantly increased strength by 20 lbs. in squat one-rep max over 30 grams of whey protein alone1.
Muscle Power Results - Vertical Jump
Muscle power refers to the exertion of energy over a short period of time. In this test, the effects of Velositol on muscle power were determined by measuring vertical jump power and calculating vertical jump height.
During the vertical jump power test, it was found that adding Velositol to 15 grams of whey protein more than doubled the increase in vertical jump power compared to 15 grams and 30 grams of whey protein alone.
In addition, vertical jump height increased with Velositol plus 15g of whey protein, revealing that:
- Vertical jump height increased 5x more than 15 grams of whey protein alone
- Vertical jump height increased 7x more than 30 grams of whey protein alone
Both vertical jump power and height are related to explosive muscle power, which involves fast-twitch muscle fibers (Type II). In contrast to the slow-twitch muscle fibers (Type I) mentioned earlier, these fibers are key for short bursts of strength and speed. For example, a runner who is better at sprinting uses fast-twitch muscle fibers as opposed to a long-distance runner who harnesses the power of slow-twitch muscle fibers.
Overall, this new clinical data examines the significance of Velositol for strength, endurance, and power, and shows why Velositol is considered Protein’s Perfect Partner.
1In a clinical study with 15g of whey protein.
