The “faces” of the dietary supplement companies we review include successful and serial entrepreneurs, astute businesspeople, product formulators, authors, scientists, and physicians. Some, like Dr. Steven Gundry of Gundry MD, a preeminent expert in microbiome and gut health, are all the above. This article reviews the company and a product offering from another noted physician, an expert in men’s health, performance, and vitality, Dr. Tracy Gapin, founder of Apex Laboratories and creator of Muscle Defense. As you will see, Dr. Gapin’s enterprises are a marketing powerhouse, and its products are backed by scientific research to help you Protect, Perform, and Provide.
This article discusses Dr. Gapin’s business, focusing on ApexLabs and its lead product, Muscle Defense. We discuss the underlying causes of age-related performance decline and how the product’s formulation and key ingredients can restore muscle, strength, and vitality. We detail the product’s features and advertised benefits and provide our analysis to see if it meets its marketing claims. Finally, we inform you where you can buy the product, review the cost-value relationship, and provide our rating in terms of effectiveness and value.
About Apex Labs and Its Founder
Down the rabbit hole! Should you Google Apex Labs, you are in for a challenging research project. There is Apex Labs headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 2018 by Peter Tomlinson, Ph.D. They bring psychedelic drug products to market for veterans and first responder patients suffering from depression and PTSD. Then there is Apex Laboratories of New South Wales, Australia, a privately owned veterinary pharmaceutical company that, unfortunately, is no longer in business. There is an APEX LABS, INC. in Tampa, Florida, with laboratories and health care services and facilities. Next, we have Apex Lab, a division of Northwell Health in New York, providing laboratory services to physicians and health agencies. There is another Apex Labs, per Bloomberg, headquartered in the United States and providing computer-related services and consulting. There is also Apex Labs in Oregon, USA, which offers a full range of organic and inorganic regulatory analyses. Keep drilling down; you’ll find even more companies using the Apex Labs name.
And finally, there is ApexLabs US (apexlaboratories.com), maker of Muscle Defense, formulated by Dr. Tracy Gapin.
Dr. Gapin, the founder of the Gapin Institute for High Performance Health, is a highly respected figure in the field of health optimization. With a career spanning over two decades, he has provided tailored health plans to elite athletes, CEOs, and successful entrepreneurs. His credentials as a board-certified urologist, a TEDx Talks speaker, a best-selling author, and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging, further underscore his expertise and credibility. This association with Dr. Gapin lends significant credibility to the products ApexLabs offers.
Although the Gapin Institute is unisex, Apex products are “by men, for men” to help them perform at their highest level. However, there is no reason a woman cannot take and benefit from Muscle Defense. Although the site states that “the company’s products are formulated according to the latest, cutting-edge scientific research, and manufactured to uncompromising standards,” we can find no mention of facility or product certifications such as GMP or Safe for Sport. We reached out to Apex Support for clarification. We heard nothing further after a quick notification that the company had received our inquiry and would get back to us shortly. Crickets.
To date, there are only three items in the company’s product range:
- Joint Ranger – for joint function
- Muscle Defense – a protein powder to help gain lean mass and burn fat
- Primal Drive – a natural testosterone booster
Being in their target audience, I understand the rationale behind their product offering, which puts real issues front and center and provides compelling evidence of their products’ effectiveness. Joints in older men are a constant issue. Knees, shoulders, hips, and elbows tend to wear out over time and with repetitive use. As growth hormone and testosterone levels decline, men tend to lose muscle (sarcopenia) and add midsection fat. Muscle Defense and Primal Drive are formulated and positioned to address these issues.
Gapin enterprises, including the Institute, with its extensive list of services for both men and women, its product catalog of branded supplements, media offerings, Ted Talks, podcasts, books, blogs, and ApexLabs, are some of the slickest advertisements you will encounter. As an older male, I virtually cannot open an article online without being inundated with ads, such as “Building Muscle After 60 Comes Down to This 1 Thing.” Follow the link, and you’re directed to Dr. Gapin’s 30-minute YouTube video on ApexLabs Muscle Defense, explaining how to build muscle and torch fat after forty. The video and the message are very compelling.
What is Muscle Defense from Apex Labs
Muscle Defense is a nutritional supplement in powdered form, positioned as an easy-to-drink protein shake, fortified with several other potent and clinically proven ingredients to provide a muscle growth formula. The doctor recommends the product as a morning meal replacement or post-workout shake. In the YouTube video, Dr. Gapin refers to a limited public release; however, based on the website’s statement of 250,000 packs sold, we assume the introductory and limited release has passed.
The proprietary formula, which consists of hydrolyzed whey protein, the amino acids leucine and HMB, Ursolic Acid, and Velositol, prevents age-related muscle loss and helps manage weight. In a later segment, we will discuss the ingredients and their specific roles in more detail.
The product was created to address anabolic resistance, help maintain and gain lean muscle mass, and aid in healthy fat loss. Each 16.27-gram serving delivers ten grams of protein and 59 calories, low carbs, 3.8 grams, and only .2 grams of Sugar. Muscle Defense is only available in naturally flavored vanilla and only online at the company website.
Muscle Defense Key Ingredients & Their Role
Before reviewing the specific ingredients in Muscle Defense and their intended purpose, let’s address a concept introduced in Dr. Gapin’s YouTube video: “anabolic resistance.” The doctor relates that he discovered the concept while reviewing a Harvard University study on age-related muscle decline. The study claims that losing muscle as we age is virtually inevitable, with as much as 1% of your mass declining every year.
The NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) states, “Anabolic resistance describes the reduced stimulation of muscle protein synthesis to a given dose of protein/amino acids and contributes to declines in skeletal muscle mass.” The article explains that this resistance eventually leads to muscle atrophy, skeletal muscle decline, and illness.
So, Muscle Defense is Dr. Gapin’s attempt to address anabolic resistance and reawaken muscles without steroids or hormone replacement therapy. The concept is three-pronged: to increase muscle mass and strength and reduce excess body fat for improved health, appearance, and performance.
Mass
For muscle mass, the doctor first turns to amino acids, the building blocks of muscle, and the most potent amino acid for muscle growth, Leucine.
Leucine is one of the three BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) frequently found in pre-, intra-, and post-workout sports supplements. The typical ratio is two parts Leucine to one part each Isoleucine and Valine. The good doctor cites several clinical studies as to the effectiveness of Leucine on muscle growth, even in the absence of exercise. In one study, two groups of men with sarcopenia (muscle wasting with age) are given Leucine versus a placebo. A whopping 70% of those receiving the Leucine reversed their sarcopenia.
The second amino acid in Muscle Defense is HMB (Hydroxymethylbutyrate). Dr. Gapin cites over ninety clinical studies showing that HMB, a chemical made when the body breaks down Leucine, promotes muscle growth – claiming in one trial that those taking HMB over 12 weeks added fifteen pounds of lean mass, more than one pound of muscle per week.
Strength
Strength was the second objective for Muscle Defense, and the doctor included Velositol in the formula. This patented ingredient from Nutrition 21, when combined with protein, is designed to accelerate and boost muscle protein synthesis for added strength and power. Velositol contains Chromium and Amylopectin and is supported by eleven patents and six published research studies. Per Nutrition 21, Velositol will ensure you get the most out of your workout, even after your workout.
Fat Reduction
It’s been said, and quoted by Dr. Gapin in his video, that the quickest way to look like you’ve gained ten pounds of muscle is by losing five pounds of fat. Further, fat is one of the triggers for anabolic resistance. Ursolic acid is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory found in the skin of the Japanese (Fuji) apple. It uses energy from your body’s fat reserves to fuel muscle. Dr. Gapin quotes a clinical trial that supports those using Ursolic acid can lose up to 25% of their body fat while gaining lean muscle. A separate study significantly reduced body weight, BMI (body mass index), and waist circumference.
Other Ingredients
The other compounds include 10 grams of Whey Protein Hydrolysate, Vitamin D3 (50 mcg), and Vitamin B12 (1.5 mcg).
Apex Labs Muscle Defense Recommended Dosage
As previously mentioned, Muscle Defense may be used as a meal alternative, along with your breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or as a pre- or post-workout shake. Simply add one 16.27-gram scoop to a glass of water and mix until evenly dispersed.
Apex Labs Muscle Defense Benefits
The messaging on the website and the YouTube video is consistent: Muscle Defense prevents age-related muscle loss – promising lean muscle gains, reduced body fat, increased strength, and enhanced overall health and well-being.
- Helps maintain/regain lean muscle
- Reduced cravings
- Healthy fat loss
- Stay active
- Great natural flavor
How Well Does Muscle Defense Perform – Claims vs. Reality
Muscle Defense is an excellent formulation with sound scientific research supporting the various ingredients. Those who follow a sensible diet, engage in consistent resistance training, and take the product as recommended will see results—particularly those who have been away from the gym for a while and haven’t supplemented regularly.
If you take a quality pre-workout, eat sensibly, and supplement with protein, results will be less noticeable, but you can anticipate less inflammation, quicker recovery, and added energy. Plus, ursolic Acid may enhance fat loss and boost GH levels.
In his video, Dr. Gapin mentions feeling the effects of Muscle Defense in a matter of days; we suggest that most people will need at least thirty to sixty days to notice any body recomposition.
Is Muscle Defense Safe?
Apex Labs has reported no adverse side effects, and the ingredients in Muscle Defense are generally considered safe. However, whey protein and amino acids may cause digestive issues in some individuals. As with any new supplement, we suggest you consult your healthcare provider before adding Muscle Defense to your regimen.
Apex Labs Muscle Defense Pricing
In his YouTube video, Dr. Gapin mentions expensive diet plans and gym memberships, perhaps to offset the sting of a one-time price of $89.95 for fifteen servings!
On the company website, each Muscle Defense pack contains fifteen servings at a cost of $89.95. Buying multiples saves, as 2 packs are $159.60 and 3 packs are $209.85. At $5.32 per serving, delivering only ten grams of Whey Hydrolysate, Muscle Defense is easily one of the more expensive protein products available. That said, there are additional clinically proven ingredients, including:
- HMB
- Leucine
- Velositol – Chromium and Amylopectin complex
- Ursolic Acid
- Vitamins D3 and B12
The company’s “Subscribe and Save” option, with shipments of two packs every thirty days, is a more palatable $109.90 per month or $3.66 per serving.
Muscle Defense is only available through the company website. It is not available on Amazon, other websites, or traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
Our Rating
- Efficacy – 4.75
- Value – 4.0
Summary: Apex Labs Muscle Defense
Although the price per serving of Muscle Defense may seem relatively expensive, the clinically proven ingredient profile makes this one worth trying. Attempting to replicate the formulation with your favorite protein shake, additional Leucine and HMB, Ursolic Acid, and Velositol would have gaps versus the Muscle Defense formulation, and your savings, if any, would be negligible. Most quality whey proteins are more than $1.00 per serving, Ursolic Acid is $.50 per serving, the amino acids are about $.50 per serving, and Velositol can only be accessed by a manufacturer. Plus you still need Vitamin D3 and B12.
Using the Subscribe and Save option at $3.66 per serving moderates the cost/value relationship, and the easy mix-and-serve, all-in-one serving of Muscle Defense is more convenient.
The plethora of trials on the various compounds gives us confidence that Muscle Defense, coupled with resistance training and a healthy diet, will help maintain or regain lean muscle and improve body composition.
Plus, if you are not satisfied with the product for any reason, Apex Labs offers a sixty-day money-back guarantee.