Pre-workout supplements are insanely popular these days with many athletes, lifters, and fitness enthusiasts taking them in the hopes that they will get more effective workouts and better results.
Interestingly, there are a variety of different ways pre-workouts are designed depending on the ultimate goal. Some pre-workouts are designed to just get you jacked up and all intense, while others are designed to provide a channeled, calm focus and energy boost. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at one of the more “channeled” pre-workout supplements called Prevail Pre-Workout.
Is this pre-workout powder worth the purchase? We’ll tell you everything you need to know to make the final call in this complete Prevail Pre-Workout review. Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
About Prevail Pre-Workout
Cutler Nutrition Prevail (here on referred to just as Prevail or Prevail Pre-Workout) is a pre-workout supplement that comes from Jay Cutler’s supplement company (for those that don’t know, Jay Cutler is a famous and highly successful bodybuilder). In addition to Prevail Pre-Workout, Cutler Nutrition has produced a variety of other supplements including PROBIO-50, Total Iso Protein Powder, and Amplify Pre-Workout.
Right from the get-go, it’s clear that Prevail Pre-Workout is designed to deliver workout benefits primarily by increasing focus. Rather than adding an insane number of stimulants, Cutler Nutrition says that Prevail Pre-Workout includes research-backed dosages of only quality ingredients designed to give you controlled energy and maximum focus. With these elements, Prevail is designed to be a cut above other pre-workouts and is supposed to truly take your workouts to the next level.
Prevail Pre-Workout Benefits
The main benefit of Prevail Pre-Workout is increased focus, but it is also advertised to improve muscular pumps, increase energy, and improve mood.
Increased Focus
There are a number of ingredients in Prevail designed to improve focus and mental alertness, including a high dose of Alpha-GPC as well as theobromine, Huperzine A, and Neurofactor.
Better Pumps
Prevail also includes the classic l-citrulline ingredient, which is advertised to increase blood flow and improve muscle pumps and endurance.
Increased Energy
No surprise here that a pre-workout is designed to increase energy. Specifically, the use of a special blend of caffeine is advertised to give you a burst of energy without the crash.
Improved Mood
Lastly, there are some ingredients in here that they say will improve mood, such as theobromine and caffeine, which could make for a more enjoyable workout experience.
But can Prevail Pre-Workout really win the day when it comes to enhancing your workouts? Continue reading below to see for sure!
Prevail Pre-Workout Ingredients
Prevail Pre-Workout’s formula contains a blend of some common ingredients as well as some pretty unique ones. They say the serving size can be 1 or 2 scoops, so listed below are the dosages for each ingredient based on 1 scoop:
- L-Citrulline (2,000mg)
- Taurine (1,000mg)
- N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (375mg)
- Alpha GPC 50% (375mg)
- Caffeine Anhydrous (125mg)
- Dicaffeine Malate (75mg)
- Neurofactor Whole Coffee Fruit Extract (50mg)
- Theobromine 99% (30mg)
- L-Theanine (25mg)
- Cocoa Seed Extract (10mg)
- Huperzine-A 1% (250mcg)
L-Citrulline
The first ingredient in Prevail Pre-Workout is l-citrulline, an amino acid. Citrulline can increase plasma levels of arginine and nitric oxide, which ultimately can increase blood flow to the muscles. This not only creates a better pump, but it also may enhance strength and power. Research shows that citrulline supplementation can lead to increases in strength and power, and it may help improve recovery too. Typically, at least 3g is needed for optimal results.
Taurine
Up next is another amino acid in taurine. Taurine is abundant in skeletal muscle, and it also plays roles in energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation regulation. It can help increase muscular contractions and improve overall energy levels, and it may also increase certain neurotransmitters, which could improve the cognitive aspects of training. Research shows that taurine supplementation strength, power, endurance, and it helps to decrease muscle damage and increase recovery. Taurine needs to be taken chronically for optimal results, usually from 1 to 3 grams per day.
Tyrosine
Another amino acid included is tyrosine. The most notable effect of tyrosine is that it can increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain, which can improve cognitive function. The research on tyrosine shows that it is particularly beneficial for cognitive function when under stress; however, the effects on physical exercise are likely minimal or inconclusive at best. It could theoretically help individuals with low levels of the neurotransmitters mentioned but may not benefit people that already have healthy levels of these.
Alpha-GPC
Prevail also includes the well-known Alpha-GPC, which is a form of choline. Once ingested, it can increase acetylcholine levels in the brain and central nervous system (CNS). And acetylcholine not only improves focus and concentration, but it may also aid in stimulating muscular contractions. Relatedly, research has shown that Alpha-GPC can improve cognitive (e.g., reaction time) and physical (e.g., power) aspects of exercise performance, although some research shows null results. Typically, anywhere from 300 to 600mg is used.
Caffeine Sources
There are also two sources of caffeine in Prevail Pre-Workout: caffeine anhydrous and dicaffeine malate. Caffeine is one of the most potent CNS stimulants out there, and it is able to increase levels of various neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and norepinephrine. Furthermore, it can increase muscular contractions and decrease muscular fatigue.
Overall, research shows that anywhere from 3 to 6mg/kg of body weight is effective for improving exercise performance markers, such as strength, power, endurance, as well as various cognitive parameters, such as mood, attention, alertness, and focus. So, based on the guidelines, one could need anywhere from 150 to 600mg (or more) of caffeine depending on body weight and other factors. But risks come with higher dosages too.
And the combination of caffeine anhydrous and dicaffeine malate is thought to lead to longer-lasting effects due to dicaffeine malate’s ability to better absorb and release caffeine, although more research is needed on that.
Neurofactor
Next in line is Neurofactor, which is a patented form of whole coffee fruit extract. Various polyphenols in this extract have been proven to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is important neuronal health and overall brain health and function. Some research shows that 100mg can improve reaction time and attention in people with cognitive impairments, but there isn’t much to say about how it affects exercise performance.
Theobromine
Another stimulant included is theobromine, although its actions are milder than caffeine. Nonetheless, theobromine may increase dopamine and serotonin, among other neurotransmitters, which may improve mood and well-being. The research on theobromine in exercise performance is very limited, but some research shows it may improve endurance performance. Overall, more evidence is needed.
L-Theanine
Prevail also includes the amino acid l-theanine, which is widely studied for its calming effects. Theanine can increase levels of GABA and alpha waves in the brain, and possibly dopamine and serotonin, all of which may increase feelings of calmness and relaxation. When combined with caffeine, theanine is shown to improve attention, alertness, and other aspects of cognitive function. Around 200mg is what most research uses.
Cocoa Seed Extract
There is also cocoa seed extract in Prevail. The primary compound in cocoa seed extract worth looking into is coumaroyldopamine, which is a beta-adrenergic agonist. And some research shows that these beta-adrenergic agonists can increase muscle mass and decrease body fat, although more specific studies are needed.
Huperzine-A
The final ingredient in Prevail Pre-Workout is Huperzine-A. This compound works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, which usually breaks down acetylcholine. So, inhibiting this enzyme leaves more acetylcholine freely available, which can improve focus, attention, memory, and overall cognitive function. However, there is a lack of research specifically on Huperzine-A in exercise, and the most recent study found no significant benefit of Huperzine-A for cognitive function or perceived effort during exercise.
Does Prevail Pre-Workout Work?
As a whole, it is likely that Prevail will work as a pre-workout supplement. It contains pretty well-researched ingredients for the most part, and the dosages are usually at effective levels. The doses for caffeine, Alpha-GPC, taurine, and citrulline are the most well-researched.
You will likely get a boost in energy, strength, power, and overall performance thanks to caffeine, taurine, Alpha-GPC, and possibly theobromine. Also, the inclusion of citrulline should further improve exercise performance and also give you a better pump, and cocoa seed extract may help you to add a little more muscle mass, though the latter claim isn’t fully conclusive.
Plus, various ingredients could improve focus, alertness, and overall cognition, such as Alpha-GPC, taurine, Huperzine-A tyrosine, Neurofactor, and caffeine plus l-theanine. However, there needs to be more exercise-specific research for Neurofactor, Huperzine-A, and other ingredients before definitive claims can be made. Also, the dose of l-theanine is far too low based on research guidelines.
Overall, Prevail Pre-Workout has the ability to stimulate the CNS, increase neurotransmitters, improve muscular power, strength, and overall function, and improve cognition to some degree, all of which are involved in workout performance. Some of the ingredients lack evidence, and some of the dosages are too low, but overall, it appears to be a pretty solid pre-workout supplement.
Claims vs. Reality
Some claims made by Cutler Nutrition are more truthful than others. First, they say it will increase focus, and this should happen, but there isn’t a whole lot of research showing how the ingredients in here enhance focus during exercise, so it’s unclear exactly how much of a boost you’ll get.
One thing that is clear is that citrulline will give you better pumps, so they can stand by that claim.
Another thing that’s very clear is that caffeine, taurine, citrulline, and (usually) Alpha-GPC can increase energy and overall exercise performance, so they can stand by that claim too. The dosages are all solid here, so I’d expect a moderate increase in energy and performance.
You can also expect to get a slightly better mood due to the inclusion of various ingredients (e.g., caffeine, theobromine) that increase dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters.
Overall, since Prevail Pre-Workout doesn’t list any outlandish claims, such as increasing workout capacity by 300% or improving reaction time by 200%, they can stand by most of what they say.
Who is Prevail Pre-Workout Best For?
Prevail Pre-Workout is likely a great supplement for bodybuilders, weightlifters, and other athletes looking to get both a mental and physical boost in their training. While they say it contains a low amount of stimulants, there is still a pretty high amount of caffeine, especially if you take two scoops, so anyone overly sensitive to stimulants should be cautious. But for people who usually handle moderate amounts of stimulants well and also want a “cleaner” boost in workout performance, Prevail Pre-Workout may be just what you’re looking for.
As noted, you can take one or two scoops depending on your size and/or desired effects. Keep in mind that the possibility for side effects increases as you up the dose—more on that below.
Is Prevail Pre-Workout Safe?
Prevail Pre-Workout has ingredients that are generally considered safe, but here are some potential side effects:
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Nervousness, anxiety, agitation, irritability, insomnia, and restlessness
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, bloating, heartburn, and stomach upset
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Decreased appetite
Where to Buy Prevail Pre-Workout
You can purchase Prevail Pre-Workout on the Cutler Nutrition website at this link.
There are 40 servings per container (if you do one scoop), and it comes in 7 different flavors. The price for a one-time purchase is $34.99, or you can choose the Subscribe and Save option, which saves you 15% and lowers the price to $29.74.
If you do one scoop, the price per serving is under a dollar regardless of what option you choose, making this product very affordable. If you need two scoops, however, the product can seem rather expensive. But based on the research for effective dosages, most people shouldn’t need two scoops.
Prevail Pre-Workout Review Ratings
- Ingredient Quality: 4.0
- Ingredient Dosage: 4.3
- Effectiveness: 4.2
- Safety: 3.8
- Value: 4
- Company Trustworthiness: 4.2