Arnold Iron Pump is a pre-workout supplement, and part of the Arnold Series produced by MusclePharm.
It’s designed to improve your workouts though increased energy and pumps.
The Arnold Series is named after Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, and includes a range of supplements including protein powders, hormone-boosters, and more.
Ingredients Label
Active Ingredients
Arginine Nitrate
Arginine an amino acid that boosts nitric oxide production (1).
Nitric oxide is a compound that causes the blood vessels to dilate, improving endurance levels and “the pump”.
It’s also produced from nitrates, which means that arginine nitrate boosts this effect in more than just one way.
Agmatine
Agmatine is a compound that has shown some promise for improving both mood levels and pumps.
It needs to be further researched, but is already included in many supplements.
Beet Root
Beet root is a great source of nitrates which, as mentioned above, contribute to nitric oxide production (2).
The human body builds a tolerance to nitrates with long-term use, so other ingredients are often needed to offset this.
L-Ornithine
L-ornithine is an amino acid that may reduce fatigue (3).
An effective dose is about 2g.
Choline Bitartrate
Choline is a brain-booster, which can increase levels of the “learning neurotransmitter”, acetylcholine, in the brain.
This can improve cognitive performance and memory (4).
The bitartrate form isn’t as effective as others for this purpose.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is a compound that reduces the production of stress hormones (5).
It can improve performance in those who are fatigued.
An effective dose is 500-2,000mg.
Caffeine
Caffeine increases alertness and athletic performance, especially when taken at higher doses (6).
An effective dose is between 200-500mg.
Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine is a compound that may restore tolerance to nitrates (7).
This may prevent the effects of nitrates disappearing with long-term use in Arnold pump.
Who Takes It?
Athletes wanting to improve their pumps and energy levels during their workouts will benefit from using Arnold Pump.
How to Take
Mix 1 scoop (6g) with 250mL cold water, and consume 30 minutes before your workout.
Side Effects
Large doses of caffeine can trigger anxiety or rapid heartbeat.
Nitrates can cause headaches or dizziness.
Pros
- A variety of pump-inducing ingredients are used
- Vinpocetine included to make sure nitrates stay effective.
Cons
- Not many ingredients for anything other than pumps and energy
- The form of choline used is cheap and less effective than others.
Conclusion
Arnold Pump is a simple product that does what it says – improve pumps.
It will also improve energy and reduce fatigue, but other than that there’s not much to it.
If you’re looking for strength and performance enhancement rather than pumps, this isn’t the pre-workout for you.