About
Supernova is a pre-workout manufactured by Nutrabolics. It is designed to give you “unstoppable energy” and to “shock your muscles into rapid growth”, while also enhancing muscle pumps.
Supernova contains nine ingredients. These include citrulline malate and beta-alanine to enhance “training stamina” and between-set recovery, as well as increasing vasodilation and muscle pumps.
The manufacturer also says it uses a mix of caffeine, dendrobium, theobromine and synephrine to increase your energy and metabolism. Meanwhile, theanine and huperzine A are included to enhance mental focus.
Supernova does not contain any proprietary blends and is free from fillers, artificial colors, aspartame, gluten and sugar.
reviewking –
Supernova by Nutrabolics will definitely get you amped up!
—-Introduction—-
(About yourself, 1-3 sentences maximum)
I’m a natural bodybuilder from Canada, competed when I was just 16 years old and moved over to powerlifting for a couple of years where I’ve had provincial and national records. Now i’m primarily focused on improving my physique and knowledge in and outside of the gym to pass along to others.
1. I found out about SR through randomly searching supplement reviews on google and bouncing around websites.
2. I decided to write this review, because since Nutrabolics did a full relabel and changed some formulations I feel they deserved the recognition. I use to think they were a lot worse of a company than they actually are.
3. Since overcoming a lower back injury from powerlifting my main goal is to focus on a bodybuilding style of training and to lean gain consistently as I hadn’t had a chance to do this over the past couple years while powerlifting.
4. Over time, I plan on reviewing many products as i’ve taken so many. People deserve to know the good, and the bad ones!
—-Ingredient Profile—-
What I really liked about this formula, and every other one is the fact that it has zero proprietary blends. Along with 6g of Citrulline Malate (2:1) to give you that pump sensation. Addition to this I like how there is beta-alanine and betaine in this product. Betaine is a great ingredient often not found in pre-workouts. However, at a dosage of 1.5g it falls a bit shy of what I recommend should go into a pre-workout. Another good add to this pre is the theanine to help prevent anxiety and control mood/jitters that some people may get from taking stimulants. It will help with a “cleaner” energy feel. Finally, it has 200mg of caffeine, which is just above average dose and isn’t a ridiculous amount to keep you up all night but will kick you into action.
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
I have a very high tolerance for stimulants, so I could easily use a scoop and a half or two. However, I think you would be completely satisfies with a scoop / heaping scoop to get the results you need for an intense workout. Not to mention is you using two scoops you’re taking in 12g of Citrulline and 400mg of caffeine which isn’t a good idea on a consistent base.
Out of the flavors I did try, I enjoyed. You do get a little bit of bitterness towards the bottom of the pre even when consistently mixing but that isn’t a big deal. This is also one of those pre-workouts that leave a lot of little grains on the bottom regardless of how much you shake it so after drinking it you should toss in a little more water to get 100% of the scoop.
—-Effectiveness—-
I found supernova to be quite effective. I used a full tub and the first workout was just as good as the last. I didn’t need to resort to two scoops to feel it working and I had a great pump due to the high amounts of citrulline. If you feel you need more citrulline you can buy it separately and add it in, however 6g is plenty!
—-Value—-
Wasn’t overly happy with the value of the pre-workout. Yes it is a great formula, one of the better out there but I think it is over-priced. I know of other pre-workouts on the market with similar and better formulas (high doses and more ingredients per scoop) that are at the same or lower price. Also, this pre-workout only has 20 servings per container so you won’t get a full months use out of it.
—-Side Effects—-
No negative side effects. Good pump and increases energy and focus, no jitters.
—-Conclusion—-
Overall, this is a good pre-workout! If you have a couple extra dollars to spend on supplements and would like to try something new feel free to give this a shot. I hope this review helped and I don’t think you’ll regret your purchase, but if you’re very price-sensitive I recommend something more affordable.
onder18 –
Was Supernova a super pre workout. Read on to find out.
—-Introduction—-
What’s going on SR? Onder18 back with another review. This time we are gonna review Supernova from Nutrabolics. A competitor in the crowded pre workout market.
—-Ingredient Profile—-
Serving Size 1 Scoop (14.4 g)
Servings Per Container 20
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
L-Citrulline Malate (2:1)6,000 mg
CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine1,600 mg
Betaine1,500 mg
Dendrobium600 mg
Theobromine (12%)300 mg
Caffeine Anhydrous200 mg
Bitter Orange (30% Synephrine)100 mg
Theanine100 mg
Huperzine150 mcg
So I posted a copy of the of ingredient profile above. Lets go over the ingredients and I’ll give you guys a breif rundown of what I know about them.
Citrulline Malate- Amino acid that aids in blood flow and endurance. A precursor to arginine. Good dose here at 6 grams per scoop and at a good 2:1 ratio.
Carnosyn Beta-Alanine- Amino acid that aids in endurance and lactic acid buffering. Goes well with creatine. 1600 mgs. is half of the recommended dose.
Betaine- Comes from beets and is good for lowering triglycerides and has some studies showing increased power and strength. Also goes good with creatine. 1500 to 2500 mgs is the commonly accepted effective dosage.
This has 1500 mgs. per scoop.
Dendrobium- Primarily an adaptogen herb with antioxidant properties. Some possible performance enhancing abilities but not much really proven. Seems to actually be a pretty decent herb but is not the stimulant power that was made famous by Driven Sports Craze. That dendrobium was not actually dendrobium and that product was spiked. Anyone who has used that product in the past will l know what I’m talking about.
Theobromine- Caffeine like substance but not nearly as strong and seems to have mood enhancing qualities. Also seems to help with breathing. Commonly found in dark chocolate. Being that this says 12% on the label than that would mean 36 mgs. of actual theobromine which is a lower dose. Wasn’t sure if it was 36 mgs. or 300.
Caffeine- I’m sure everyone knows about this one. 200 mgs. per scoop is actually a pretty good amount and seems to be a safe dose.
Bitter Orange- Plant with fat burning constituents. Usually extracted for synephrine.
Theanine- Amino acid commonly found in tea that has calming but not sedating properties. Pairs well with caffeine helping to smooth out alot of the negative effects. 100 mgs. is a good dosage.
Huperzine- Pretty well known and effective nootropic. 150 mcgs. is a pretty decent dose. At 2 scoops and 300 mcgs. it becomes a powerful dose
—-Taste/Mixability/Dosing—-
The taste was BlackBerry Lime and it was decent. It was a little tart but not bad. As far as pre workouts go it was slightly above average. The dosing instructions say to access tolerance with one scoop before increasing dose. Most of the ingredient dosages seem to need 2 scoops for optimal dosing so thats what I used most of the time.
The mixability was decent.
—-Effectiveness—-
So let’s go over the effectiveness in different sections. Most of the time I ran this at two scoops so that’s what these ratings are based off. Sometimes I used 1 heaping scoop but most of the time 2.
Pump and endurance- Slightly above average for both. Not bad but not great. At two I scoops I was ingesting 12 grams of citrulline malate and I did expect a little more. This did help me squeeze out a couple extra reps in my earlier heavier sets but wasn’t as strong in that aspect later in my workout.
Strength- Slightly above average again. My strength was good in the first stages of my workout especially in my lower rep ranges but didn’t quite last as long as I would have liked. My lifts were still good. Just better in the first parts of my workout. I rotated this with other pre workouts so I’m not sure about the long term strength gains but I’m sure the 3 grams of betaine and beta alanine were effective. But as far as the acute strength gains they were decent. Not great but not bad and better in the first parts of my workout. Like I said, slightly above average.
Energy and focus- Slightly above average again. Focus was pretty decent but I expected more from the energy. I was using 2 scoops of this most of the time which was 400 mgs of caffeine. It didn’t feel like it to me. I’m a pretty stim tolerant guy but I did expect this to hit harder. I don’t use exotic stims anymore(dmha, etc.) so this seemed right up my alley. It wasn’t bad I just expected a little stronger kick. I think maybe this could use less theanine. The energy lasted a little longer than an hour than died down. Didn’t crash but slowly faded.
—-Value—-
This is a red flag for me. I got this on Bodybuilding.com for 39.99 for 20 scoops. I used 2 scoops at a time so this didn’t yield alot of workouts for me. That and the fact that this was only decent and not great for me makes me not wanna spend this kind of money on this again.
—-Side Effects—-
None. Some tingles from the beta alanine but that’s to be expected. Surprisingly no upset stomach with the 12 grams of citrulline malate.
—-Conclusion—-
A slightly above average pre workout with a way above average price. Did decent for me but didn’t wow me.
Improvements I would like to see-
1. Add creatine. Formula looks like it’s calling for creatine.
2. Add more servings for same price or reduce price.
3. Cut the theanine dose in half.
So I hope all of you enjoyed my review. Any constructivecriticism is welcome. Thanks.
Daemonium –
Nutrabolics: SUPERNOVA – Review
[b]Introduction[/b]
I received a bottle of Peach Mango Supernova from Nutrabolics for the purpose of writing a review following use. I have used around 30 different pre workout products since I started lifting (maybe more, that’s just a ballpark number), and usually opt for a pre that is high in stims and provides a strong mental focus. This will come up as I discuss my experience with Supernova and what I look for in a good pre to enhance my training (strength/powerlifting). I have no affiliation with the company. This is my unbiased review.
[b]Ingredient Profile[/b]
Serving Size 1 Scoop (14.4 g)
Servings Per Container 20
L-Citrulline Malate (2:1)6,000 mg
Beta Alanine 1,600 mg
Betaine 1,500 mg
Dendrobium 600 mg
Theobromine (12%) 300 mg
Caffeine Anhydrous 200 mg
Bitter Orange (30% Synephrine)100 mg
Theanine 100 mg
Huperzine 150 mcg
As a researcher (not in the field of sport nutrition, but exercise science none the less), this is something that should be weighed very heavily when choosing a pre workout product. The profile should always be carefully chosen based on scientific findings indicating an ergogenic effect from the ingredients chosen. I have to give a shoutout to Nutrabolics for not hiding dosages under a “proprietary blend”. All dosages are listed.
There is a fairly high dose of [b]Citrulline malate[/b] (6g) which is great, as there is some evidence to support CM in reducing fatigue during exercise and post exercise soreness. It has also been shown to increase plasma arginine which has been recognized for some time (most people seem to supplement with it for the pump, but no hate). If a pre can reduce my fatigue and allow me to increase my training volume to any extent, ill take it.
The [b]beta alanine[/b] dosage is a lower (half/less than half) than what has been shown to be beneficial for performance – additional supplementation may provide more of a benefit in endurance/lactic capacity. Some people just like it for the tingles (which is more mental than anything), but to each their own.
There seems to be some emerging research on [b]betaine[/b] for muscular endurance and blood flow improvement, so this could prove beneficial the the aforementioned ingredients.
There seems to be some research on [b]dendrobium[/b] on immune function and inflammation, which may be beneficial for recovery, those this is more of a potential implication than anything.
[b]Theobromine[/b] is a vasodilator, simple as that (where the pump chasers at).
I’m used to more than 200mg of [b]caffeine[/b] pre-workout, but I think the combination of this with bitter orange/[b]synephrine[/b] (more stims) allows for a good amount of energy. [b]Theanine[/b] does seem to have a synergistic effect with stims in taking away those jitters (for those of you with lower tolerance).
[b]Huperzine[/b] is something I’m less familiar with, but some research seems to suggest neuroprotective properties. Being an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, improved neurotransmission may be a potential benefit, though I’m not sure any ergogenic benefits have been recognized at this point.
In addition, I’m happy that they didn’t waste any room on creatine, as I feel that (with the research available and cost of creatine) it’s a waste of space to include it when it can be supplemented separately for cheap.
[b]Taste and Mixability[/b]
I went with the Peach Mango flavour. I’ve probably only tried 3-4 other supplements with this flavouring and have yet to come across any that I really disliked. I have to say Nutrabolics really hit the nail on the head here. The one main difference that I noticed compared to similar flavourings is that Supernova doesn’t have as much of a tart aftertaste as others I’ve tried. I typically toss my pre into my mouth and mix it around with water. For the sake of the review, I mixed this in water a few times with no issues mixing in – all powder dissolves quickly and easily. It’s a decent amount of powder so I used at least a half shaker bottle of water so it isn’t super strong. Very refreshing though. It’s actually really easy to just toss a scoop in my mouth and chug down without that really tart taste.
[b]Effectiveness[/b]
I have to say that I definitely enjoyed Supernova. It’s lower in stims than the pre I normally take (which are normally very high, 3-400mg), so in comparison the amount of energy I get from it is quite a bit less. However, it’s definitely a different overall feel. The energy is more smooth an consistent, and I’ve never had an issues with jitters or any sort of crash from it. With higher stim pre’s (especially if I haven’t eaten much), sometimes I find myself getting super hyped-up in the beginning of my lift with some inconsistency toward the end (either I can maintain my energy and mental focus or it drops off very quickly). Supernova gives me consistent energy, though some days I feel like I need to up the dose to really get the energy and tunnel vision that I want for a heavy lift. Though I train for strength (powerlifting) and am not necessarily chasing the pump, on my volume days I get a pretty gnarly pump going which is always a nice feeling. I feel that the formula would be hugely beneficial for people training more for hypertrophy, as it does do a great job of increasing blood flow. I did notice a slight increase in endurance as well on those volume days, which I definitely need, and could prove to be beneficial for both hypertrophy and endurance training.
[b]Value[/b]
It’s priced at $2.00/$2.58 per serving US/CAN, which is more on the expensive side for a pre, though this may be justified through the profile. I think the profile is fairly complete, but at that price point I would want to feel the tunnel vision I want from a pre in addition to the other aforementioned ergogenic effects. I would have an easier time double-scooping a less expensive pre workout for the purpose of getting more stims, but couldn’t justify it at this price. If anything I’d just consume some additional caffeine.
[b]Side Effects[/b]
No side effects were noticed with use.
[b]Conclusion[/b]
Overall, Supernova is a solid pre-workout. The flavouring is spot on for peach mango. It gives me less intense mental focus than I like from a pre but always gives smooth and consistent energy, and can definitely bring on a solid pump with the right training as well as potentially improving endurance. It’s got a great, simple profile with a high dose of CM (for those of you who like CM in your pre’s). I would recommend it to those of you looking for a well dosed, fairly well rounded pre workout supplement. Personally, I’m not sure if I would purchase unless it was on sale just because of the price point.
eric650ninja –
Supernova will pump you up!
This is my first time trying this preworkout and I was very impressed. I have been using and abusing pre workouts for 5 or 6 years now and have come to know what I like and do not like. To begin with, beta alanine is a must for me. Although it is dosed a little lower in this product than some other preworkout I have used, I found I felt the effect of the beta alanine faster and stronger in this pre than many others with more in it.
Citrulline has become one of my favorite ingredients and dosed at 6000mg, its awesome. The pumps I get from this product are unreal. Betaine is another ingredient I’ve newly become familiar and fond of. Some may criticize Supernova for having less caffeine than others but I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. At 200 mg per serving, it’s actually a good dose without going overboard. I’ve become all too used to using high dose of caffeine pre workouts lately, and the anxiety I sometimes get afterwards is not good. I get more than enough energy from this preworkout with 200 mg of caffeine and do not feel any jitteriness or anxiety afterwards.
One thing I noticed since using Supernova is a feeling of happiness and well-being. Maybe it’s all in my head or maybe it’s the nootropics in here. I don’t know but either way I really like it. Reviews and research on dendrobium seems to have just as many positive as well as negative comments about it. This is the first preworkout I have used with dendrobium in it and I don’t know if that is what has led to this amazing mental feeling of wellness, but if it is, I like it!
The flavor was black cherry lime. I don’t know what that supposed to taste like but this is one of the best tasting, easiest to drink pre-workout was I’ve ever had. The flavor is a definite 10 / 10.
FLAVOUR 10/10
ENERGY 10/10 (clean, not crazy like DMAA, which i dont like)
PUMP 10/10
MIXABILTY 10/10
VALUE 8/10…. Its hard to comment on this. Its not cheap at about $2 per serving. But, for me at least, its a true 1 scooper. So a 20 serving tub will actually last 20 workouts. I have often bought cheaper 30 serving pwos, but ended up using 1.5 to 2 scoops.
So for that actual 20 servings, amazing taste, transparent profile, amazing pumps, clean energy and mental wellbeing, this is a definite two thumbs up! I will buy in the future!