K-OS is a pre-workout supplement by BodyScience.
It aims to boost power, endurance, and energy, for more effective workouts.
BodyScience is an Australian-owned supplement brand, which has been around since 1999.
Ingredients Label
Active Ingredients
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine is an organic acid that increases the production of energy (ATP) in muscle.
This causes increases in power output and endurance (1, 2).
The effective dose is around 3-5g daily.
L-Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid that boosts nitric oxide levels.
This contributes to improved pumps and endurance, by dilating blood vessels (3).
An effective dose is around 3-6g.
Beta Alanine
Beta Alanine is a beta-amino acid.
It generates extra carnosine, which delays fatigue by reducing the acid and free-radical build-up caused by exercise (4).
The recommended daily dose is 2-5g.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is an amino acid that reduces the production of stress hormones. It can improve mood and concentration under stressful conditions (5).
A standard dose is 500-2,000mg.
Caffeine
Caffeine can significantly increase alertness and athletic performance, in terms of power and endurance (6).
An effective dose is about 200-500mg.
Carnitine Tartrate
Although carnitine is commonly used for fat-loss, this particular form has shown promise for boosting power output (7).
The best dose for this is 4g.
Schisandra Extract
Schisandra is a type of berry.
It’s shown promise in reducing stress hormones and anxiety (8).
Who Takes It?
Athletes wanting to boost energy and performance levels during their workouts will benefit from using K-OS Pre-Workout.
How to Take
Mix 1 or 2 scoops with 250mL cold water, and consume 30-60 minutes before your workout.
Side Effects
Creatine can upset the stomach when taken without food, or with insufficient water.
Beta alanine can cause a harmless tingling sensation in the face and skin.
Pros
- Simple, yet effective formula for energy and enhanced performance
- Open-label formula shows individual ingredient quantities.
Cons
- Poor dose of pump and mood/focus ingredients
- May need 2-scoop servings to optimise effectiveness, which would reduce the true number of servings per tub.
Conclusion
K-OS Pre-Workout is a basic but effective formula for performance enhancement, using well-proven compounds like creatine, caffeine, and beta alanine.
The mood and concentration-boosting ingredients are somewhat under-dosed, however, as are carnitine and arginine.
This means aside from energy and performance enhancement, there will not be many extra benefits to the formula.