Myprotein Pre-Workout, also called THE Pre-Workout, is a popular and relatively affordable pre-workout supplement. The company describes their supplement as “turbocharged…delivering an explosive boost when you need it most.”
But does THE Pre-Workout contain research-backed ingredients for supporting energy and performance at the gym, or are these just marketing claims? Does the supplement contain any questionable additive ingredients? How do real users rate and describe its effects? And does the supplement cause side effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Myprotein’s pre-workout based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not it’s likely to be effective for boosting energy and performance.
We’ll feature unsponsored customer reviews, and discuss the potential for side effects.
Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredients in Myprotein Pre-Workout are shown above.
Niacin, folic acid and vitamin B12 are all B-vitamins, and while these are commonly included in pre-workout formulations, we haven’t come across any clinical evidence that they increase energy levels or improve gym performance.
Folic acid supplementation is associated with increased prostate cancer risk according to a medical review published in the Current Nutrition Reports journal.
L-citrulline is an amino acid that increased athletic endurance in trained cyclists at a dose somewhat similar to that in Myprotein’s pre-workout, in a 2020 clinical trial.
Betaine was shown to increase athletic power at the same dose as exists in this supplement, in a 2010 clinical trial. Bench press, vertical jump and squat performance all increased in the group supplementing with betaine.
Creatine is clinically shown to improve muscle performance, as we documented in our review of Ryse Pre-Workout.
Beta-alanine can reduce fatigue while exercising according to a 2012 medical review.
Caffeine is one of the most well-studied ergogenic (exercise enhancing) compounds, and the 150 milligram (mg) dose in Myprotein Pre-Workout should improve both strength and endurance according to a 2021 meta-study.
Clearly, there are a number of research-backed and likely effective compounds in this pre-workout.
However, there are also some potentially questionable additives.
The inactive ingredients in the Grape flavor of this supplement are shown below:
Artificial flavors is a broad categorical term that fails to describe the specific flavoring agents used. Some synthetic flavoring additives have been clinically shown to be toxic to animals.
Citric acid is a preservative and flavor enhancer that can cause whole-body inflammation in some individuals, as we documented in our Ghost Pre Workout reviews article.
Acesulfame potassium and sucralose are artificial sweeteners, the former of which was shown to have negative effects on body weight and gut function in an animal study.
Overall, we consider Myprotein THE Pre-Workout very likely to enhance gym performance including energy levels, power and endurance. From an efficacy standpoint, this is one of the more impressive pre-workout formulations we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.
We don’t currently recommend this supplement overall due to the inactive ingredients highlighted above, and folic acid.
But how do real users rate and describe the effects of this supplement? We’ll feature some unsponsored customer reviews in the next section of this article.
Real People Review Myprotein Pre-Workout
A YouTube creator named “NoFate247” reviewed Myprotein’s pre-workout and even included a workout after consuming the supplement:
A TikTok creator named “Sam_Goatlifters” reviewed both the taste and performance effects of Myprotein’s pre-workout:
@sam_goatlifters Reviewing “the pre workout” @myprotein (honest review) #gymtok #fyp ♬ original sound - Sam_Goatlifters
Will it Cause Side Effects?
THE Pre-Workout doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it more challenging to assess the potential for side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on the ingredients.
Caffeine can cause anxiety and jitters, but the dose in Myprotein Pre-Workout is equivalent to around 1.5 cups of coffee, and unlikely to cause these effects in otherwise healthy adults.
Beta-alanine is clinically shown to cause tingling throughout the body in some individuals, as we discussed in our Total War Preworkout reviews article.
Overall, we do not consider Myprotein Pre-Workout likely to cause side effects in otherwise healthy adults, however we consider pre-workout supplements as a category to be more likely than other categories of supplements to cause side effects given that one of their primary functions is as a stimulant.
There is no mention of potential side effects on the product page on the brand’s website at the time of publishing this article.
Our Clean Pre-Workout Picks
The pre-workout supplement we recommend is Naked Energy by Naked Nutrition.
Like Alani Nu, it provides an effective dose of beta alanine and caffeine for power and stamina improvements.
The main difference is that it’s entirely free of questionable additive ingredients like artificial sweeteners and artificial colors. There are no inactive ingredients in this formulation at all, which makes it the healthiest pre-workout formulation on the market in our opinion.
Interested consumers can check out Naked Energy at this link to its product page on the official brand website.
Panax ginseng is clinically shown to reduce mental fatigue (source) and reduce physical fatigue (source). It’s one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world.
Illuminate Labs sells a Panax Ginseng extract supplement for only $15 on a subscription basis which is highly potent (minimum 8% ginsenosides) and is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy and purity. Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the product page on our website.
What are the Worst Pre-Workouts?
One of the most popular YouTube videos on the topic of pre-workouts is published by fitness influencer Sean Nalewanyj, who shares his thoughts on the worst pre-workouts on the market in a video with over 800,000 views:
Pros and Cons of Myprotein Pre-Workout
Here are the pros and cons of Myprotein Pre-Workout in our opinion:
Pros:
- Highly potent formulation
- Should increase energy
- Should increase power
- Should increase endurance
- Moderate caffeine dose
- Affordable compared to competitors
Cons:
- Contains folic acid
- Contains artificial sweeteners
- Contains artificial flavors
- Contains citric acid
- Doesn’t appear to be clinically tested
- Brand website charges for shipping
