A single dose of an ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) supplement, marketed as PEAK ATP by TSI Group, was shown in a recent clinical study to improve exercise performance across four resistance training tests in a group of healthy, recreationally-trained men just 30 minutes after administration. The dose of the ingredient used in the study, which is an endogenous compound linked to cellular energy metabolism, was 400 mg. PEAK ATP is a proprietary form of ATP disodium which is identical to the structure of ATP produced and used by the human body.
 
Two previously-published clinical studies showed that an acute, one-time dose of ATP has significant benefits for athletic performance by stimulating ATP production, increasing ATP signaling, and preventing declines in ATP pools during times of increased energy needs, the company said. These past studies also substantiated the bioavailability of orally-administered ATP. This differentiates the ingredient from others used for workout performances, which must be used chronically in order to achieve clinical significance, Larry Kolb, TSI Group president, said.
 
“Peak ATP is real ATP, it’s not a precursor that converts downstream in the body into ATP. If you want to boost ATP for human performance, take the real thing, not a precursor,” Kolb added.
 
The most recent clinical study, which awaits publication, was designed in order to establish a minimum effective dose of ATP to increase performance. The authors, form Brazil’s Federal University of Piaui, evaluated the benefits of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg doses of the supplement, which was administered as a premix powder. The 20 recreationally-trained men who participated in the study were asked to complete four sets of resistance training exercise until movement failure, with two minutes of rest between each set.
 
“This study confirmed our previous results which showed that one-time supplementation of ATP improved training performance, as measured by the number of set repetitions and total weight lifted. The 400 mg dose was established as the minimum effective dose, with 200 mg and 100 mg doses showing no significant effect,” study co-investigator Ralf Jager, PhD, said. “However, participants in the 100 mg group reported significant benefits on the rate of perceived exertion, the feeling of how easy it feels to work out. It is very unique for one ingredient to be able to deliver this benefit, especially at such a low dose.”
 
As a compound, ATP is found in every cell, and affects every physiological process requiring energy. It can communicate signals across cells once released into the cellular space, the authors added.
 
“These results confirm the immediate benefits of PEAK ATP for athletes, weekend warriors, and everyday exercisers,” Kolb said. “We feel that there is a huge advantage for consumers who are able to feel the performance benefit from the first use onward, instead of waiting for weeks for supplementation to take full effect. PEAK ATP helps exercisers to push harder during high-intensity and/or exhaustive exercise. And because PEAK ATP supports increased work volume, it can help anyone make the most of time spent exercising. This is crucial to helping everyday people exercise harder and more frequently as they pursue their long-term wellness goals.”