Niteworks® Improves Exercise Performance in Older Cyclists

The body uses arginine, an amino acid, to produce Nitric Oxide (NO), which has beneficial effects on the circulatory system and supports exercise. Data collected from a recent clinical study shows that:

• Niteworks®, containing arginine, led to an improvement in exercise performance in male cyclists between the ages of 53 and 70 by increasing the anaerobic threshold – a point during exercise at which exhaustion typically sets in.
• If people can increase their anaerobic threshold, then they may exercise longer; improved performance could mean better fitness and healthier lives. The results of this study were published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in March 2010.

NOTE: This study, conducted at UCLA* and funded by Herbalife, used Herbalife’s original Niteworks® formula. The current product has a slightly different formula, although no changes were made to the active ingredients.

Niteworks® was created based on research conducted by Lou Ignarro, Ph.D., Nobel† Laureate in Medicine for his work on Nitric Oxide. Ignarro is a member of Herbalife’s Scientific and Nutrition Advisory Boards.

The University of California does not endorse specific products or services as a matter of policy.

The Nobel Foundation has no affiliation with Herbalife and does not review, approve or endorse Herbalife® products.

Arginine and antioxidant supplement on performance in elderly male cyclists: a randomized controlled trial

Steve Chen, Woosung Kim, Susanne Henning, Catherine Carpenter, Zhaoping Li; UCLA Center for Human Nutrition

What was the study about? This study enrolled 16 very fit male cyclists, aged 50-73, to see if NiteWorks would have any effects on their exercise performance.

What did the study attempt to find out? The researchers wanted to see if NiteWorks would increase the anaerobic threshold in these subjects. This is a point in exercise where the body produces more lactate (a normal product of metabolism) than it can clear from the bloodstream, which makes it harder to continue with exercise. If people can increase their anaerobic threshold, then they can exercise longer.

What did the study subjects have to do? The subjects were divided into two groups and the subjects in the groups took either a serving of NiteWorks or a placebo (look-alike, taste-alike) powder every night for three weeks. Before they started taking the powder, they exercised on an exercise bike until they were exhausted, and then they were tested again three weeks later.

What happened? In the men taking the NiteWorks, the anaerobic threshold increased by 16.7 percent after one week, and remained increased, at 14.2 percent, at week three. The men in the placebo group had no increase in their anaerobic threshold.

Have the results been published yet? Yes, the study was published in March, 2010, in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

NOTE: The study, conducted at UCLA and funded by Herbalife, used Herbalife’s original formula Niteworks. The current product has a slightly different formula, although no changes were made to the active ingredients.

Niteworks was created based on research conducted by Lou Ignarro, Ph.D., who received the Nobel Prize in 1998 for his work on nitric oxide. Ignarro is a member of the company’s Scientific and Nutrition Advisory Boards.

HERBALIFE’S NITEWORKS PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN CLINICAL STUDY

LOS ANGELES, April 6, 2010 - Avid cyclists over the age of 50 had an improvement in their performance after taking arginine supplements for three weeks, according to a study just published in the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

“As people age, their exercise capacity may decline – leading in turn to a decline in overall fitness that can impact health”, noted Luigi Gratton, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Herbalife.

A group of 16 male cyclists, aged 50 to 73 years, were randomly assigned to receive either the supplement (NiteWorks; Herbalife International, Los Angeles, CA) containing 5.2 grams of L-arginine, or a look-alike placebo and instructed to continue with their usual cycling regimen over the three week study period.

After three weeks, those taking the supplement had an increase in their anaerobic threshold – the point at which lactate begins to accumulate in the blood, leading to fatigue.

“Arginine is involved in the production of nitric oxide in the body,” notes Gratton, “and nitric oxide has been associated with the improvement of exercise performance through its beneficial effects on the vascular system.” As people age, production of nitric oxide declines, so the researchers believed that arginine supplementation could support the production of nitric oxide and enhance performance.

The anaerobic threshold of the study subjects was assessed both before and after the three week study period. In those receiving the supplement, their anaerobic threshold increased by 16.7% after one week, and held steady during the three weeks, whereas those in the placebo group experienced no change.

“This indicates a potential role for arginine in improving exercise performance in older subjects,” said Gratton, “and improved performance could mean better fitness and healthier lives.”

NOTE: The study, conducted at UCLA and funded by Herbalife, used Herbalife’s original formula Niteworks. The current product has a slightly different formula, although no changes were made to the active ingredients.

Niteworks was created based on research conducted by Lou Ignarro, Ph.D., who received the Nobel Prize in 1998 for his work on nitric oxide. Ignarro is a member of the company’s Scientific and Nutrition Advisory Boards.