Most Muscle Supplements Pass Consumerlab Test

WHITE PLAINS, NYAn investigation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and creatine in muscle-building supplements showed all but three products passed label claim and quality testing, according to Consumerlab.com. The watchdog group purchased several creatine- and BCAA-based products from retail outlets and had them tested to see if they contained the labeled amount of those ingredients and if they exhibited proper quality control. Specifically, creatine products were tested for creatinine or dicyandiamide, two byproducts of creatine degradation that do not appear dangerous in small amounts but reflect purity issues. Also, chewable delivery forms were tested for their ability to properly disintegrate, or break apart.

Results showed six of eight creatine products passed the testing requirements, meeting label claim and demonstrating sufficient quality control, and four of five BCAA products tested also passed laboratory scrutiny. One creatine product failed because the lab found about 32 mg creatinine  per 5 mL serving , or 7 percent of creatine content; and another creatine product had about 47 mg creatinine contamination per 5 mL serving, more than double the tested creatine content. The testing firm also noted the suggested doses of these two creatine products were substantially lower than the doses shown as effective in clinical trials for muscle-building.

On the BCAA side, one product contained less than the labeled amount of isoleucine.

The lab used High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to analyze the creatine products for lable claim and byproducts. BCAA were tested using quantitative analyses for amino acids before and after hydrolysis by an Amino Acid Analyzer. United States Pharmacopeia  (USP) recommendations in its "Disintegration and Dissolution of Nutritional Supplements publication were used to gauge tablet disintegration.

Of the thirteen products tested, 11 were chosen by Consumerlab.com, and two were submit for testing by a manufacturer.