ISO 9:2:2 is an amino-acid supplement made by Performix.
It’s designed to improve workout duration, performance, and recovery.
Performix is a health and fitness supplement company, based in the United States.
Ingredients Label
Active Ingredients
BCAAs
Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are what we call “branched chain amino acids”, or BCAAs.
These are amino acids which prevent muscle breakdown during exercise, as well as improve growth and recovery (1).
Citrulline Malate
Citrulline is an amino acid which is known to increase nitric oxide levels.
Nitric oxide is well-known as a vasodilator – it can expand the blood vessels. This allows better blood flow, endurance, and pumps while exercising.
Citrulline malate has been shown to also reduce muscle soreness, and aid with muscle recovery and growth (2).
An effective dose is 6-8g.
Glutamine
Glutamine is also a type of amino acid which may be useful for muscle growth and repair.
It’s been shown to be useful when used on its own, but doesn’t add any benefits when used with BCAAs (3).
Taurine
Taurine is another amino acid, commonly added to energy drinks.
It’s useful for improving water and mineral uptake into the muscles, which can reduce fatigue during exercise (4).
Coconut Water Powder
Coconut water is a natural electrolyte source.
Research shows that it can significantly improve rehydration after exercise (4, 5).
Betaine
Sugar beets contain a compound called betaine.
It’s been shown to boost power output, and may also improve body composition (6).
The effective dose is 2500mg.
Who Takes It?
Athletes wanting to improve their performance and recovery, as well as retain muscle mass, may enjoy using ISO 9-2-2.
How to Take
Mix 1 scoop (14.1g) with 250mL water daily, and consume either before, during, or after your workout.
Side Effects
There are no significant side effects known for the ingredients used in ISO 9:2:2.
Pros
- Open-label formula
- Prevents muscle breakdown
- Improves performance and recovery
- Range of flavours to choose from.
Cons
- Some ingredient doses are lower than the effective dose
- Glutamine may not provide any benefits alongside BCAAs
- Strange BCAA ratio (9:2:2).
Conclusion
ISO 9:2:2 is an amino acid product with a bunch of added benefits.
In addition to the 5g of BCAAs, the formula also includes a range of ingredients to help with performance and recovery.
The BCAA ratio isn’t optimal, but it contains plenty of leucine to improve muscle retention and growth.
You can expect good muscle retention, improved recovery time, and longer workouts.