Universal Nutrition Products

[Moose81]

How reliable are products from universal? I am currently on Animal stak and test. They seem to be pretty potent, But I am not totally sure if they are helping or the change in diet and training style is what has brought on the positive changes. If anyone has input I would like to hear what you guys have to say.

[youngbber]

the guys i train with take some of this stuff. the test thing. the seem to like it
i use animal pak and i think its good. gives me floresant pee

[JMP]

the guys i train with take some of this stuff. the test thing. the seem to like it
i use animal pak and i think its good. gives me floresant pee

^^^
:laugh

[ProteinJunkie]

I consider Universal/ANIMAL to be a superior brand and have always had great feedback on their supplements. Granted any supplement will do well when combined with a well built diet and training routine but feel they are well worth it. They have been around since 1977 (Universal) and 1983 (ANIMAL) and have a longevity in the industry you don't see much. Last but not least, if you ever do buy one of their supplements and do not like its result, simply return it back from where you bought it within 30 days of purchase and the retailer should take it back as per their ‘ANIMAL Ironclad Guarantee”: http://www.animalpak.com/html/article_details.cfm?ID=58.

Hope this helps…

[allofthisforyou]

Yes, very reputable company. They have a large fan base as well.

If you're <30 years old you probably don't need a test booster, as your natural test levels are likely high enough. My guess is that the positive changes that you've noticed are, for the most part, the result of changes to training and diet.

Unless you've got cash to burn I'd stick with: protein (or a gainer), creatine (if you're not genetically predisposed to baldness), and BCAAs (or just leucine). A decent multi (Animal Pak would fit the bill, but there are others) may be beneficial as well, and possibly a preworkout.

Of course, you can make respectable gains without using any of those things.

Best,
-A

[dainbramaged]

Creatine will make you bald? Or speed up balding?

[mrOxy]

i always loved their line of products back in the day as it seem 2 be more hardcore with its products .. i used 2 love the animal cuts back in the day

[mrOxy]

Creatine will make you bald? Or speed up balding?


creatine has nothing 2 do with dht or losing your hair .. there is creatine in everyday food that we eat so no worries .. it will just put a bit of water in the muscles

[allofthisforyou]

creatine has nothing 2 do with dht or losing your hair ..

Recent research suggests otherwise:



Clin J Sport Med. 2009 Sep;19(5):399-404.
Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players.

van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KH.

Department of Physiological Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Comment in:
Clin J Sport Med. 2010 May;20(3):220; author reply 220-2.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated resting concentrations of selected androgens after 3 weeks of creatine supplementation in male rugby players. It was hypothesized that the ratio of dihydrotestosterone (DHT, a biologically more active androgen) to testosterone (T) would change with creatine supplementation. DESIGN: Double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study with a 6-week washout period. SETTING: Rugby Institute in South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: College-aged rugby players (n = 20) volunteered for the study, which took place during the competitive season. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects loaded with creatine (25 g/day creatine with 25 g/day glucose) or placebo (50 g/day glucose) for 7 days followed by 14 days of maintenance (5 g/day creatine with 25 g/day glucose or 30 g/day glucose placebo). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum T and DHT were measured and ratio calculated at baseline and after 7 days and 21 days of creatine supplementation (or placebo). Body composition measurements were taken at each time point. RESULTS: After 7 days of creatine loading, or a further 14 days of creatine maintenance dose, serum T levels did not change. However, levels of DHT increased by 56% after 7 days of creatine loading and remained 40% above baseline after 14 days maintenance (P < 0.001). The ratio of DHT:T also increased by 36% after 7 days creatine supplementation and remained elevated by 22% after the maintenance dose (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Creatine supplementation may, in part, act through an increased rate of conversion of T to DHT. Further investigation is warranted as a result of the high frequency of individuals using creatine supplementation and the long-term safety of alterations in circulating androgen composition. STATEMENT OF CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although creatine is a widely used ergogenic aid, the mechanisms of action are incompletely understood, particularly in relation to dihydrotestosterone, and therefore the long-term clinical safety cannot be guaranteed.

PMID: 19741313 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[SupDeals]

Great line I really like the Stak and the Test by Universal