It’s well established that exercising at higher altitudes allows athletes to maximize training benefits. Since 1968, nearly 95% of Olympic medals from endurance events have gone to athletes who dedicated substantial time to high-altitude training. Training where oxygen is scarce forces the lungs and heart to work harder, ultimately enhancing their efficiency when returning to sea level.
Enter Altitude Boost. This drug-free training supplement aims to replicate high-altitude training effects to improve overall aerobic capacity. Altitude Boost markets itself as a way to capture the benefits of mountain training without leaving sea level.
A few things first: Since Altitude Boost is labeled as a “dietary supplement” rather than a drug, the creators can make various claims about its capabilities without providing evidence. Today we’re examining whether Altitude Boost lives up to the hype.
Altitude Boost: Overview
Altitude Boost is an exercise supplement designed to replicate the effects of high-altitude cardio training. The product claims to boost energy and stamina, expand lung capacity, enhance mental performance, delay muscle fatigue, and improve training load and recovery. That’s an extensive list of promises, making it hard to believe a single supplement could deliver all these benefits.
Like all dietary supplements, there’s a disclaimer specifying that none of their claims have been evaluated by the FDA, so approach these assertions with skepticism. The manufacturer recommends taking 2 tablets daily with meals and maintaining consistency for optimal results.
Altitude Boost contains various ingredients and has garnered endorsements from world-class athletes, including Todd Parker, a renowned cyclist and triathlete.
Who Makes Altitude Boost?
Altitude Boost is manufactured by BRL Sports Nutrition, an offshoot of Biomedical Research Laboratories, a global nutrition company founded in 2008 by bioengineers from UCSD. BRL Sports Nutrition has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for three consecutive years. BRL claims dedication to providing products that naturally enhance endurance and performance during exercise.
BRL asserts that all their formulations are clinically proven and that all products are 100% drug-free, allowing athletes to use them without fear of failing drug tests. Unfortunately, we couldn’t locate links to these purported studies.
Moreover, many of the provided studies for each ingredient don’t actually support the manufacturers’ claims. For example, their webpage states that choline in the blend “improves blood flow,” but the linked study only mentions that choline can decrease sodium concentrations in plasma and alter red blood cell membrane properties. The issue is that many ingredient descriptions are so broad and vague that virtually any study can be twisted to support the claims. This doesn’t necessarily mean Altitude Boost doesn’t work, but it’s worth noting.
How Does Altitude Boost Work?
Altitude Boost allegedly works by stimulating hemoglobin and hematocrit production. The website claims it mimics high-altitude training effects, though the mechanism remains unclear. The presumed benefit of high-altitude training is that it forces the body to produce more red blood cells while strengthening lung and heart muscles. Altitude Boost also claims to help the body absorb more iron so hemoglobin carries oxygen more efficiently.
While their claims sound promising, the supporting research is limited and thin. If Altitude Boost can actually increase red blood cell production, then it stands to reason that it’s at least minimally effective. However, there’s a notable lack of evidence regarding the product itself.
Ingredients in Altitude Boost
Altitude Boost contains numerous ingredients, so we’ll focus on the major ones here.
- Choline: Choline works primarily to create fats that comprise part of cell membranes. Too much choline can be dangerous though.
- Boron: Dietary boron is believed to increase blood lymphocyte levels and regulate plasma composition, making blood flow easier.
- Lutein & Lycopene: Both lutein and lycopene are antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and broccoli. Both have been shown to reduce inflammation
- N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): NAC stimulates red blood cell production by acting as a bio-signaling molecule.
- Folate: Folate has been shown to assist in red blood cell production.
Safety and Side Effects
All BRL nutritional supplements are legal for sporting events and they claim no side effects occur. Some users report experiencing mild nausea or upset stomach, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. Some users also report that the vitamins can deteriorate quickly.
Where to Buy and Cost
You can purchase Altitude Boost directly from the company’s website or from third-party online retailers like Amazon. You can also buy Altitude Boost from select physical retailers that you can locate using their store locator. A single bottle 30-day supply costs $54.95.
Altitude Boost: Is it Worth It?
Honestly, it’s difficult to determine. With so many claimed effects, Altitude Boost proves challenging to evaluate comprehensively. Furthermore, it’s unclear whether positive customer reviews and claimed benefits result from the product actually working or from placebo effects. It’s also quite expensive for a 30-day supply.
