Products

What is IO Genix's Magnesium Citrate?

It is a magnesium supplement in tablet form, dosed at 375 mg of magnesium per two tablets, which is exactly 100% of the nutrient reference value. The bottle holds 60, covering 30 days at the recommended dose.

The composition fits in two lines: magnesium citrate and silicon dioxide as an anti-caking agent. No colouring, no preservative, no sweetener. It is a formula with no dressing up, and on a mineral that is rather good news: you are paying for the magnesium, not the coating.

Citrate is a salt of magnesium and citric acid. It stands apart from the other forms in this section on two counts, one good and one to be aware of: it is well absorbed, and it speeds up transit. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

What is in a two-tablet dose?

* Column calculated from the value declared for two tablets. Other components: magnesium citrate, anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide). NRV for magnesium within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 375 mg. Packaging: 60 tablets, i.e. 30 doses.

Here is a case where the figure calls for a frank explanation, because it is higher than what you usually see. 375 mg of magnesium in a single dose is 100% of the European reference value — and it is also above the 250 mg a day that EFSA sets as the safety limit for magnesium supplied by supplements. These two benchmarks do not say the same thing and are often confused: the NRV is a labelling reference, the EFSA limit a threshold of digestive tolerance.

In practice that means two things. First, a single tablet, at 187.5 mg, stays within bounds and already covers half the reference value — a perfectly sensible option, and often the right one. Second, if you take both tablets and you are also taking a multivitamin or a ZMA containing magnesium, do the sum: stacking is the real trap with this mineral.

On what magnesium does, European regulation is precise and generous: magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to normal muscle function, to electrolyte balance, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to normal psychological function, to the maintenance of normal bones and to normal protein synthesis. Those are the exact wordings, and they are enough.

A final word on what you will not see here: the weight of the citrate salt is not published, only elemental magnesium. That is the right way to do it, and it deserves credit — plenty of labels display the big salt figure in the hope that it will be mistaken for the mineral.

How do you take Magnesium Citrate?

Dose: 2 tablets, or 1 to start with. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: 30 minutes before bed. Frequency: once a day. Duration: a 30-day course, repeatable as needed.

Our advice, and it differs slightly from the label: start with a single tablet for a week. Citrate speeds up transit, that is its signature, and 375 mg all at once causes loose stools in some people from day one. At 187.5 mg tolerance is much better, and you can then see whether you need the second.

If you do take both tablets, split them — one at midday, one in the evening. That improves digestive tolerance more reliably than any change of form, and absorption is slightly better for it.

Three combination instructions given by the manufacturer, and they are sound. Leave two hours between this and any calcium, iron or zinc you take: these minerals compete for the same transporters. Avoid very high-fibre meals at the same time, since phytates reduce absorption. And drink enough throughout the course.

On the time of day, the manufacturer settles on the evening. That is a convenient habit rather than a necessity: magnesium has no acute effect, and what counts over thirty days is not forgetting it. Take it whenever you will remember.

Who is this magnesium for, and who is it not for?

It suits those who want a straightforward dose and a simple product, with no additives and no capsule, and those whose transit is on the slow side — the accelerating effect of citrate then becomes an advantage rather than a drawback. It also suits people who sweat a lot or who are in a prolonged calorie deficit, two situations in which intake drops.

It is not recommended in cases of severe renal insufficiency: that is the contraindication carried by the manufacturer, and it is essential. The kidney is the route by which magnesium is eliminated; when it works poorly, magnesium accumulates. If you are on medical treatment, consult a healthcare professional — magnesium notably interferes with the absorption of thyroid hormones, of certain antibiotics and of bisphosphonates taken at the same time. Traces of gluten, egg, milk, fish and soya are possible.

It is not for you if you have a sensitive gut or an already rapid transit. That is the real limit of this form, and we would rather say so before purchase than after: at 375 mg of citrate, digestive discomfort is common. In that case a bisglycinate will suit you far better.

What not to expect from it. It is not a sleeping aid: the evening dose is a habit, not a demonstrated effect, and no claim about sleep is authorised. If your problem is falling asleep, our melatonin section answers the question better. Nor is it a treatment for exercise cramps: those come down first of all to hydration and sodium losses, which our electrolytes cover. And it is not a performance product: securing an intake is not the same as moving heavier loads.

Magnesium citrate or bisglycinate?

This is the only trade-off that really matters in this section, and it is not settled on absorption — both forms are properly absorbed — but on transit and on price.

Bisglycinate is magnesium chelated to two glycine molecules. It is the best-tolerated form in the magnesium section, the one that causes the fewest loose stools, and it is the better choice if your gut is sensitive, if you have tolerated a magnesium badly in the past, or if you are planning a long course. Its drawback: the salt weighs a lot for little mineral, which means multiplying the capsules, and it costs considerably more per milligram of elemental magnesium.

Citrate, the form on this page, does exactly the opposite. It reaches 375 mg in just two tablets and costs far less. Its accelerating effect on transit is a real drawback for some and an advantage for others — if you tend towards constipation, this is the form you want, and nobody is going to say so on your behalf.

The practical advice: start with citrate, at one tablet. It is cheaper, and within a week you will know whether you tolerate it. If the answer is no, move to bisglycinate without hesitating. And if your needs also cover zinc, a ZMA brings the two minerals together in one dose, at the cost of absorption competition between them. The vitamin D section usefully rounds the whole thing out in winter.

Frequently asked questions

375 mg a day, isn't that too much?

It is 100% of the nutrient reference value, but above the 250 mg a day that EFSA sets as the limit for magnesium supplied by supplements. A single tablet, at 187.5 mg, stays under that threshold and already covers half the reference. Start there, and only add the second if you tolerate it well.

Why does citrate cause loose stools?

Because it exerts an osmotic effect in the gut: it draws water into the intestinal lumen and speeds up transit. That is not a manufacturing fault, it is a property of the form, known and predictable. It eases off if you split the dose and take the tablets during a meal.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach or with food?

The manufacturer advises an empty stomach for absorption, and avoiding very high-fibre meals. In practice, if taking it on an empty stomach gives you loose stools, take the tablets in the middle of a light meal: you will lose a little on absorption, and you will get through the thirty-day course.

How long does a bottle last?

Thirty days at two tablets a day, sixty if you take only one. The manufacturer settles on a repeatable thirty-day course; with a mineral you have to think in weeks, since no effect shows up within a few days.

Does magnesium help you sleep?

No claim of that kind is authorised, and we are not going to make one. The permitted wordings speak of normal functioning of the nervous system and normal psychological function, which is not a sedative effect. The evening dose recommended by the manufacturer is a matter of habit, not of demonstration.

Can it be combined with a multivitamin?

Yes, but do the sum first. Most multivitamins already contain 50 to 100 mg of magnesium, and many ZMAs provide 150 to 450 mg. Stacking two sources takes you easily beyond EFSA's 250 mg limit, with digestive discomfort as the only result.

Is the product suitable for vegetarians?

These are tablets, not capsules: there is therefore no gelatine shell. The composition consists only of magnesium citrate and silicon dioxide, two ingredients of non-animal origin. The manufacturer does, however, flag possible traces of egg, milk and fish linked to manufacturing.

Where to buy IO Genix Magnesium Citrate?

The 60-tablet bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. One bottle covers a full month's course, which makes it one of the simplest ways to secure a magnesium intake.

At the Vendargues counter, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the question we always ask in this section is not remotely technical: how is your transit? That is what decides between a citrate and a bisglycinate, far more than any absorption argument. The rest of the minerals can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix MAP EAA?

This is a powdered essential amino acid drink mix, with a serving of 12.6 g, or three scoops. The flavours we stock: Lemon, Raspberry, Pomme Verte and Ice The Peach.

What sets it apart is the sourcing of three of its amino acids: the leucine, valine and isoleucine are Kyowa Quality®, a designation from the Japanese manufacturer Kyowa Hakko, which produces its amino acids by fermentation. Naming the raw-material supplier rather than simply writing “amino acids” is something few brands in the EAA aisle bother to do, and it at least lets you know what you are buying.

Added to this are 35 mg of AstraGin®, a blend of astragalus and Panax notoginseng extracts, and 2.8 mg of vitamin B6. The rest is citric acid, silicon dioxide, flavouring, sucralose and acesulfame K. The manufacturer declares the formula sugar-free, fat-free and lactose-free, and of plant origin. The full Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What is in a 12.6 g serving?

The manufacturer publishes neither an energy value, nor macronutrients, nor salt, nor the number of servings per tub — divide the weight printed on the packaging by 12.6 g to work it out.

One gap deserves to be flagged rather than glossed over: the lysine content is not quantified, even though it appears third in the ingredients list. Since descending order is mandatory, that means it weighs more than the isoleucine, so more than 1,334 mg — but we cannot give a precise figure. Adding up the eight quantified amino acids gives 8,468 mg; with the lysine, the total comfortably exceeds 9.8 g.

The headline figure remains 2,400 mg of leucine per serving, with a leucine-isoleucine-valine ratio close to 2:1:1.3. That is a sound dose, in the upper half of the category. Note that tryptophan is genuinely present at 134 mg and histidine at 466 mg: these are the two amino acids that budget formulas most often “forget”, because they are expensive.

As for what we can state, the framework is clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for free amino acids, nor for astragalus, nor for notoginseng. The improved-absorption percentages that circulate about AstraGin® cannot be repeated, and we will not repeat them. The only usable wording comes from the vitamin B6, at 200% of the NRV: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Our vitamin B aisle offers dedicated products if that is your main requirement.

How do you take MAP EAA?

Serving: 12.6 g, or three scoops. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before the session, or sipped during training. Frequency: one serving a day, without exceeding 12.6 g. Duration: ongoing, as no fixed course is set.

Two hundred and fifty millilitres for 12.6 g makes for a tight dilution. A free-form amino acid powder is acidic and concentrated; if your first attempt tastes harsh, go up to 400 ml before drawing any conclusions about the flavour. Use cold water: it dissolves less well when warm.

The manufacturer gives one unusual and relevant instruction: avoid taking it at the same time as complete proteins. The reasoning is competition between amino acids for intestinal transport — a whey shake taken at the same moment puts everything on the same transporters. Leave an hour between them if you take both.

The most relevant use remains during the session, sip by sip: that is where a clear drink beats a milky shake, and it gets you drinking at the same time. Thirty minutes beforehand also works if you train fasted.

Close the tub carefully and store it somewhere cool and dry: these powders draw in moisture and clump.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at people who train fasted or a long way from a meal, those who cannot handle a milky shake during exercise, and those who want an identified raw material rather than an anonymous “amino acid blend”. As the formula is of plant origin and lactose-free, it suits dairy-free diets.

The list of contraindications here is longer than on an ordinary EAA, and we reproduce it in full because it is surprising. The manufacturer rules the product out for pregnant or breastfeeding women, for under-18s, for women with a personal or family history of breast cancer, and for anyone on antidiabetic medication without medical advice. Those last two are unusual on an amino acid powder; if they apply to you, the question is one for your doctor, not for a product page.

Traces of NUTS, PEANUT, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible, as the product is made in a facility that handles these allergens. Do not exceed 12.6 g per day.

It is less suitable if you want to compare down to the gram: the missing lysine content makes it impossible to calculate the exact total. It also contains sucralose and acesulfame K.

What you should not expect from it: an EAA is not a replacement for a protein intake. Roughly 10 g of amino acids is not worth 25 g of complete protein, and the cost per gram is far higher. If your daily intake is already adequate, this product will add nothing measurable.

MAP EAA or a whey isolate?

This is the comparison that decides it, and it turns on use rather than quality.

A whey isolate delivers 25 to 27 g of complete protein per serving, of which roughly 2.5 to 3 g is leucine — as much as this EAA, if not more — at an incomparably lower cost per gram. It is the better choice in the vast majority of cases: a thin breakfast, a snack, after the session. If you are only going to buy one product, buy that one, and our protein aisle covers every variant.

MAP EAA wins on one specific front, and it is its own: the training drink. Clear, tart, free of lactose and fat, it goes down where no shake would. It also wins for those who train fasted early in the morning, when a complete protein sits heavily on the stomach.

One last option exists and costs less: our BCAA aisle delivers only three of the nine amino acids. The saving is real, and so is the trade-off — an incomplete profile stays incomplete, and that is precisely what a complete EAA like this one puts right.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kyowa Quality®?

It is the trade designation for amino acids produced by the Japanese manufacturer Kyowa Hakko, by fermentation. Here it applies to the leucine, valine and isoleucine. Mentioning it commits the brand to a specific origin rather than to an adjective: we report this information as the manufacturer publishes it.

How much lysine is in a serving?

The manufacturer does not quantify it, and we will not invent it. It appears third in the ingredients list, which is ordered by descending weight: it therefore weighs more than the isoleucine, so more than 1,334 mg. The label on the tub you receive is the authority.

Why avoid taking it with a protein?

This is a manufacturer's instruction, and it rests on competition between amino acids for intestinal transport: a whey shake taken at the same moment saturates the same pathways. In practice, leave an hour between them if you take both on the same day.

What is AstraGin® for?

It is a blend of astragalus and Panax notoginseng extracts, dosed at 35 mg. As no health claim is authorised in Europe for these plants, we cannot state anything about its effect. We mention it because it appears on the label, and because it partly explains this product's unusual contraindications.

Why so many contraindications on a simple EAA?

The manufacturer rules out, among others, women with a history of breast cancer and anyone on antidiabetic medication without medical advice. These do not appear on a conventional EAA and are probably linked to the plant extracts in the formula. We reproduce them as they stand: if they apply to you, seek advice before buying.

How many servings are in a tub?

The net weight of the packaging is not included in the labelling data supplied, so we cannot calculate it. Divide the weight printed on the packaging by 12.6 g, which is the reference serving behind every figure on this page.

Is the formula suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer states a plant origin for the amino acids and a lactose-free formula, which is consistent with production by fermentation. Do note, however, the possible traces of milk, eggs and fish declared on the label, as the facility handles these allergens.

Where can you buy IO Genix MAP EAA Kyowa?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product for the seasoned user: it assumes the rest of your diet is already in place.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a label we read line by line with the customer, because it is at once very detailed on eight amino acids and silent on the ninth. Knowing how to spot that sort of detail is what lets you genuinely compare two tubs. The rest of the amino acids can be compared in our sports nutrition aisle.

What is IO Genix Melatonin 1 mg?

IO Genix Melatonin 1 mg is a single-ingredient supplement: one tablet supplies 1 mg of melatonin, with no added plant extracts, no added vitamins, no complex. The bottle holds 100 tablets, which is more than three months at one intake a day.

Melatonin is a hormone the body produces itself, secreted by the pineal gland as light levels fall. It does not bring on sleep as such: it tells the body that night is beginning, and it is that signal which triggers falling asleep. The distinction matters, and it explains everything about how the product is used.

It is also the only ingredient in the whole sleep category that holds a health claim authorised in Europe, which makes it a case apart. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

What does a Melatonin tablet contain?

1 mg is not a cut-price dose: it is precisely the dose that counts. The claim authorised in Europe is specific and worth quoting as it stands: melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep, and that effect is obtained by consuming 1 mg shortly before bedtime. A second claim exists for jet lag: melatonin contributes to the alleviation of subjective feelings of jet lag, with at least 0.5 mg taken on the first day of travel, close to bedtime, and on the following days after arrival.

In other words, this tablet delivers the exact amount on which the approved dossier rests. That matters because the customer's instinct is often to look for the highest dose: with melatonin, going up to 5 or 10 mg improves nothing and increases the risk of lingering drowsiness the next morning. In France, the ceiling permitted in a food supplement is in any case 2 mg a day.

The second thing this product has going for it is its short formula. Many references in the category pair melatonin with five or six plants, none of which holds a claim, which pads out the label without adding anything demonstrable. Here you have one active, three bulking agents, one anti-caking agent. You know exactly what you are taking, and you can combine it with something else without any risk of overlap.

The formula contains no artificial colouring, no preservative and no animal gelatine. The manufacturer does, however, flag possible traces of gluten depending on manufacturing conditions.

Ingredients list

Bulking agents: calcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose; melatonin 1 mg; bulking agent: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; anti-caking agent: magnesium salts of fatty acids. No artificial colouring, no preservative, no animal gelatine. May contain traces of GLUTEN depending on manufacturing conditions.

How should you take Melatonin 1 mg?

Dose: 1 tablet. Liquid: a large glass of water, 250 ml. Timing: 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. Frequency: one intake a day. Duration: occasional or short-term use; beyond four weeks, the manufacturer asks that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional.

The timing of the intake is the decisive parameter, far more than the dose. Melatonin acts as a time signal: taken too early, it brings your night forward and wakes you at four in the morning; taken in bed, it has no time to do its job. Thirty to sixty minutes before lights out is the right window.

Switch off the screens after taking it. This is not a comfort tip: blue light suppresses the natural secretion of melatonin, and looking at your phone during the hour that follows amounts to cancelling out part of what the tablet has just delivered. It is by far the most common mistake, and it explains the majority of disappointed reports.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the evening for the same reason. A coffee at 17:00 is still active at 23:00, and no tablet makes up for that. If you train late, look at your pre-workout first: that is often where the cause lies.

The manufacturer suggests pairing the intake with magnesium or a ZMA, magnesium contributing to the normal functioning of the nervous system. It is a coherent pairing, provided you do not start everything on the same evening: add one product at a time, a fortnight apart, otherwise you will never know which one is working.

Who is melatonin for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult whose problem is specifically falling asleep: difficulty dropping off, shifted hours, coming back from a trip, a change in work pattern. On that ground it is the only ingredient in the category with an approved dossier, and that is reason enough to start with it.

The list of situations in which it is not advised is a long one, and it is drawn from the French public health recommendations as much as from the manufacturer. Melatonin is not advised for pregnant or breastfeeding women, for children and adolescents, for people with epilepsy, asthma, an inflammatory or autoimmune disease, or for those with mood, behavioural or personality disorders. It is also not advised for people on medication, in which case a doctor's advice is essential before taking any.

One safety point the manufacturer does not spell out: do not drive and do not operate machinery in the hours after taking it. Melatonin can cause drowsiness, and that is precisely the intended effect. This recommendation appears in the French public health opinions and is worth repeating.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a sleeping pill. It reduces the time it takes to fall asleep; it does not increase how long you sleep, it does not improve sleep quality, and it does not treat established insomnia. Insomnia lasting more than three weeks calls for a medical consultation, not a bottle of tablets. That is the most useful thing we can write on this page.

Melatonin or magnesium in the evening?

Both are sold for the same moment of the day and yet they answer distinct needs.

Magnesium works on physiological ground: it contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to energy-yielding metabolism and to normal muscle function. It is taken every day, over several weeks, and its value lies in correcting an insufficient intake — something common among athletes who sweat a great deal. It is the better choice if you get night cramps, if your diet is low in magnesium, or if you are after an underlying effect.

Melatonin corrects no intake: it sends a time signal, on an occasional basis, that same evening. It is the better choice if your problem is how long it takes you to drop off, if you are crossing time zones, or if your rhythm has shifted after a run of late nights. It is of no use at all, on the other hand, if you fall asleep quickly but sleep badly.

Two other options exist, with no authorised claim but with different rationales: GABA, an amino acid taken in the evening, and ashwagandha, a plant extract used in courses lasting several months. Neither can lay claim to any effect, and that is worth knowing before you compare labels.

Frequently asked questions

Why only 1 mg?

Because that is the amount on which the claim authorised in Europe rests: melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep, through the consumption of 1 mg shortly before bedtime. Going higher does not improve the effect and increases the risk of drowsiness the next day. In France, the ceiling in a food supplement is 2 mg a day.

How long before going to bed?

Thirty to sixty minutes. Taken in bed, melatonin has no time to act; taken two hours beforehand, it shifts the night and causes an early waking. This window is the most important parameter of the product, more so than the dose.

Can it be taken every evening?

The manufacturer intends it for occasional or short-term use, and asks that you seek the advice of a healthcare professional beyond four weeks. That is not an excessive precaution: beyond a month of sleep difficulties, the question is no longer about the supplement but about the cause, and it is one for a doctor.

Can you become dependent on it?

Melatonin does not create physical dependence in the way some sleep medicines do. The risk is more psychological: that of no longer going to bed without it. That is one more reason to use it over short periods and to work on your hours and your light exposure alongside it.

Can you drive after taking it?

No. Melatonin can cause drowsiness, which is the intended effect but remains incompatible with driving or operating machinery. Take it once you are home, when the evening is over.

Is this product suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. The formula contains no animal gelatine and is limited to melatonin and a few bulking agents of mineral or plant origin. The only thing to watch is the traces of gluten flagged by the manufacturer depending on manufacturing conditions.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months at one tablet a day, the bottle containing 100. Given the recommended use — occasional, or over a few weeks — a bottle actually covers several separate episodes across the year.

Where can you buy IO Genix Melatonin 1 mg?

The bottle of 100 tablets can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the sleep product we recommend first, and often the only one: when one ingredient has an approved claim and the others have none, you may as well start with that one. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Milk Protein Isolate 100?

It is a powdered milk protein isolate, providing 23.64 g of protein per 30 g serving for 102 kcal. The sizes listed here: 1 kg, around 33 servings, and 2 kg, around 66 servings.

A milk protein isolate is neither a whey nor a casein: it is whole milk stripped of its fat and its lactose, with its two protein fractions kept in their natural proportions — around 80% casein and 20% whey. That is what really sets it apart from the rest of the aisle: you get both digestion speeds in the same shaker, without having to buy two tubs. The raw material chosen is Solmiko HD MPI, and naming the supplier rather than writing “milk proteins” is something few brands in the proteins aisle take the trouble to do.

Added to this are the DigeZyme® enzyme complex and vitamin B6, then the ingredients that make up the formulation: fat-reduced alkalised cocoa in the chocolate flavours, potassium carbonate as an acidity regulator, flavouring, sodium chloride, sucralose and acesulfame K. The full Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

This is one of the most complete tables in the aisle: two columns, the kilojoules, the saturates, the sugars and the salt are all there, which many brands do not publish. Missing are the full amino acid breakdown, the fibre and the DigeZyme® content, which is not quantified.

The figure that defines this product is 102 kcal for 23.64 g of protein. Per serving, that means 93% of the calories in the shaker come from protein. It is hard to get any cleaner: 0.21 g of fat and 0.57 g of sugars per serving are amounts that count for nothing in any food diary, however strict.

The second figure is the protein content: 78.8 g per 100 g. That is the level of a good premium concentrate, below a whey isolate at 85-90 g. It is not a shortcoming, it is the nature of a milk protein isolate — and a gap of two or three grams per serving does not weigh heavily against what you get in return: a complete casein-whey profile.

Third point, the one the manufacturer does not put forward: 0.5 mg of vitamin B6 per serving, that is 35% of the NRV. That is above the 15% threshold that permits a regulatory wording, and it is therefore the only micronutrient we can say anything about: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism, as well as to normal energy-yielding metabolism. As for the protein itself: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass. On DigeZyme®, by contrast, nothing can be asserted — no digestive claim is authorised in Europe for an enzyme complex. We mention it because it appears on the label.

How do you prepare Milk Protein Isolate 100?

Dose: 30 g, roughly one scoop. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water, skimmed milk or plant drink. Timing: on waking, between meals, or in a recipe. Frequency: 1 to 2 servings a day depending on your needs. Duration: continuous, as the manufacturer sets no course length.

The detail that matters with this kind of protein: casein thickens. At 200 ml the texture is dense, almost creamy; at 250 ml it stays fluid. It is a personal preference, but if you are coming from a whey, expect something thicker — and do not read it as a failure to dissolve. Pour the liquid in before the powder and shake for twenty seconds.

The manufacturer settles on three moments, and they are well chosen. On waking, when the previous meal is a long way behind. Between two main meals, as a snack. And in a recipe that is low in protein — porridge, fromage frais, pancakes — where the thick texture becomes an advantage rather than a drawback.

On the timing of the serving, let us stay sober: the twenty-four-hour protein total weighs far more heavily than the hour at which you drink the shaker. This product simply lends itself better than others to the moments when the intake has to last, thanks to its casein share.

Keep the tub tightly closed, in a cool, dry place.

Who is this isolate for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who wants a single protein for the whole day rather than a whey in the morning and a casein in the evening. It also suits anyone watching their calories closely: 102 kcal for 23.6 g of protein is one of the best ratios in the aisle. And the 2 kg size will interest those getting through two shakers a day.

The product contains MILK and SOYA — worth noting in passing that soya appears among the declared allergens without appearing in the ingredient list supplied to us; if you have an allergy, work on the most cautious assumption and check the packaging. Traces of NUTS, EGG, GLUTEN, FISH, SULPHITES and CELERY are possible. The manufacturer reserves it for healthy adults and asks that it not be given to children or to pregnant women.

It is not suitable if you are allergic to milk proteins: “isolate” does not mean “free from milk proteins”, quite the opposite — that is precisely what you are buying. Nor is it suitable for vegans. And if your digestive discomfort is pronounced, be aware that the residual lactose, though low — the carbohydrates top out at 1.26 g per serving — is not nil.

What not to expect from it: an effect tied to digestion speed. Casein's reputation as the “night-time protein” dies hard; no claim allows it to be stated, and we will not write it. What you are buying that can be verified is a complete protein profile, very little fat and very few sugars.

Milk protein isolate or casein?

This is the comparison that counts, and it is subtler than the one between a whey and a casein.

A pure casein, generally micellar, contains only the slow fraction of milk proteins. It is the better choice if you are specifically after a very thick texture that can be eaten with a spoon, or if you already round out your day with a fast whey around training. It is often denser in the mouth and more filling.

The milk protein isolate supplies both fractions in their natural proportions. It is the better choice if you want a single tub for the whole day, and that is a genuine economic argument: one product instead of two, with a profile that works on waking as well as for a snack. Its values are excellent besides — 0.7 g of fat per 100 g.

If your priority is the highest protein content per serving and fast digestion around training, a whey isolate is where you should go: 85 to 92 g per 100 g, against 78.8 here. And if your difficulty is purely digestive, the digestive enzymes aisle offers dedicated products you dose yourself, rather than an unquantified complex built into a powder.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference from a whey?

A whey contains only the fast fraction of milk proteins. A milk protein isolate keeps both fractions, casein and whey, in their natural proportions — around 80% and 20%. In practice, the texture is thicker and the intake lasts longer, for a slightly lower protein content.

How many servings per tub?

Around 33 for the 1 kg size and 66 for the 2 kg, at 30 g per serving. At one shaker a day, that comes to a month and a little over two months respectively. The 2 kg does not exist in the Meringue Milk flavour: check availability before ordering.

78.8 g of protein per 100 g, is that low?

It is the level of a good concentrate, below a whey isolate at 85-90 g. Look instead at how the calories break down: 93% of those in the shaker come from protein, with 0.21 g of fat and 0.57 g of sugars per serving. On that criterion, the formula is very clean.

Is it suitable for people who are lactose intolerant?

The carbohydrates top out at 1.26 g per serving, of which 0.57 g are sugars: the residual lactose is therefore very low, but not nil, and the manufacturer does not publish the exact figure. Most intolerant people tolerate it well. If you are allergic to milk proteins, however, this product is ruled out.

Why is the shaker so thick?

Because casein accounts for around 80% of the protein, and casein gels on contact with liquid. It is not a failure to dissolve. If the texture bothers you, go up to 250 ml rather than 200; if you like it, stay at 200 ml and eat it with a spoon.

What is the vitamin B6 in the formula for?

At 0.5 mg per serving, that is 35% of the reference value, it goes beyond the regulatory threshold of 15% and allows an authorised wording to be used: vitamin B6 contributes to normal protein and glycogen metabolism. That is consistent with a protein product, and rarely done in the aisle.

Can it be used in cooking?

Yes, and that is in fact one of its most interesting uses. The manufacturer suggests it in low-protein recipes: porridge, fromage frais, pancakes. The thick texture of casein, which can be a nuisance in a shaker, becomes an advantage here — it binds the mixture without adding any fat.

Where can you buy IO Genix Milk Protein Isolate 100?

Both sizes and the full range of flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and in Europe. If this type of protein is new to you, start with the 1 kg: the texture is frankly different from a whey, and you either like it or you do not.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we bring out when a customer is torn between buying a whey and a casein. Nine times out of ten, a single tub is enough to cover both uses, and the saving is immediate. The rest of the aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition section, and the associated vitamins in vitamin B.

What is IO Genix Multivit?

It is a vitamin and mineral supplement in capsules, whose daily serving comes down to a single unit. That capsule brings together twelve vitamins and eight minerals, twenty micronutrients in all.

It is a classic multivitamin format: one serving in the morning, nothing to measure out, nothing to split. Its distinctive feature is that it contains iron at 100 % of the reference value, which not every formula does — and that point deserves reading before you buy, as we come back to below.

One point of composition to know straight away: the capsule coating is gelatine, coloured with calcium carbonate and starch sodium octenyl succinate. The product is therefore suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

What does a capsule contain?

NRV within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011. The exact number of capsules per box does not appear in the labelling data passed on to us; the manufacturer refers to a 60-day course corresponding to a full box, which suggests 60 capsules — check it on the packaging rather than taking our word for it.

An honest reading of this table yields three lessons. The first is good: five nutrients reach 100 % of the NRV (B2, B3, biotin, folate, vitamin D, plus iodine and iron), and zinc goes as far as 150 %. All of them are well above the 15 % threshold that permits the regulatory wordings to be used, which is not the case for every multivitamin on the market.

The second is more qualified. Vitamin D at 5 µg covers 100 % of a reference value that is itself very low: in winter, at our latitudes, that dose will not do much for your status. If that is your concern, a dedicated product from the vitamin D section will be far more useful. The same goes for vitamin B12 at 40 %, which is not enough on a vegan diet.

The third is the most important, and nobody writes it: this multivitamin contains 14 mg of iron, as ferrous fumarate. For a menstruating woman, that is relevant. For an adult man or a post-menopausal woman, diet generally covers the requirement, and iron is not easily cleared: it builds up. It is not a nutrient to be taken “just in case” all year round for no reason. If that is your situation, choose an iron-free multivitamin instead, and keep the iron section for cases where a blood test has justified it.

The regulatory wordings available here are numerous; the main ones are these: iron contributes to normal oxygen transport in the body, to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue; vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to the normal function of the immune system and increases iron absorption; iodine contributes to normal thyroid function; zinc contributes to normal protein synthesis and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress; vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

How do you take Multivit?

Serving: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning, with breakfast. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a course of at least 60 days, with the option of a week off every three months.

The instruction to take it at breakfast is not a matter of convenience. Four of the nutrients in this formula — vitamins A, D and E and beta-carotene — are fat-soluble: they need fat in the stomach in order to be absorbed. A capsule swallowed on an empty stomach with a black coffee means part of what you paid for leaves again untouched. A breakfast containing a little fat — eggs, full-fat fromage frais, nuts — is more than enough.

Two points about combining. The iron and the zinc in this formula are present at a full dose: do not add a zinc or iron supplement on top without doing the sum first. And if you take magnesium or calcium as a supplement, leave two hours between them: these minerals compete for the same intestinal transporters.

On duration: do not judge it after a week. A multivitamin corrects intakes, it does not produce a sensation. That is in fact the best criterion for spotting a product that promises too much.

Who is this multivitamin for, and who is it not for?

It suits adults whose diet is irregular, periods of heavy training load, and phases of prolonged calorie deficit — three situations in which micronutrient intakes drop as a matter of course. It suits menstruating women particularly well, for whom iron at 100 % of the NRV is a real advantage.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and in case of allergy to any of the ingredients. Traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible. Store in a dry place, away from light, out of the reach of children.

It is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as the coating is gelatine. Nor is it suitable, and we will say so plainly, for an adult man who eats a balanced diet and has no reason to supplement with iron: in that particular case, an iron-free formula is more appropriate. Finally, two of the forms chosen here are not the best in their category — zinc oxide and calcium carbonate are among the least well absorbed salts.

What not to expect from it: a multivitamin does not replace vegetables, does not give energy to someone whose status is normal, and improves no performance. “Contributing to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue” means filling a gap, not powering up an ordinary day. It is a safety net, not an engine.

A multivitamin or separate supplements?

That is the real trade-off in this category, and it depends on how precisely you know what you need.

The multivitamin wins on simplicity and on coverage. One capsule, twenty nutrients, a single bottle to reorder, and the assurance of not leaving any one micronutrient at absolute zero. If you do not know what you are short of — which is true of most people — it is the rational choice, and by far the cheapest.

Separate supplements win as soon as the need has been identified. A dedicated vitamin D goes up to 25 or 50 µg where this multivitamin stops at 5. A vitamin C dosed at 1,000 mg bears no comparison with the 60 mg here. And above all, they let you avoid taking what you do not need — iron, once again, being the textbook case.

The advice we give most often: start with the multivitamin for two months. If a deficiency is suspected, have it measured, then target it. It is less spectacular than buying eight bottles, but it is how you avoid stacking three sources of zinc without noticing.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a multivitamin if you eat a balanced diet?

No, not as a matter of course, and nobody in the category will tell you so. A multivitamin makes sense when the diet is irregular, in a calorie deficit, or on a restrictive diet. In someone who eats a varied diet and eats enough, the extra intake brings nothing that has been demonstrated.

Why does this product contain iron?

Because it is a nutrient that is frequently insufficient in menstruating women. In an adult man or a post-menopausal woman, on the other hand, dietary intake is generally enough and iron builds up. If that is your case, an iron-free formula is more suitable, and a blood test will settle the question better than any product page.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The coating agent is gelatine, of animal origin. It is a point rarely highlighted on this type of product, and yet it rules out a proportion of buyers: check it as a matter of habit before buying a multivitamin, whatever the brand.

Can it be combined with other supplements?

Yes, provided you add up the totals. Zinc here is at 150 % of the NRV and iron at 100 %: a second product containing either will push you over with no benefit. Leave two hours, too, between it and any calcium or magnesium serving, as those compete with these minerals for absorption.

Why take it at breakfast rather than in the evening?

For two reasons. Vitamins A, D and E are fat-soluble and are absorbed far better in the presence of fat, so with a meal. And the B vitamins are involved in energy metabolism: the manufacturer prefers to place them at the start of the day, which is a sensible habit.

How long does a box last?

The manufacturer refers to a 60-day course for a full box, at one capsule a day. The exact number of capsules does not appear in our labelling data: check it on the packaging. It recommends a week's break every three months.

Is zinc at 150 % of the NRV too much?

Not in itself: 15 mg remains well below the safety benchmark of 25 mg a day set by EFSA for zinc from supplements. The risk is not this product on its own, but stacking — an evening ZMA commonly adds 15 to 30 mg, and you go over without meaning to.

Where can you buy IO Genix Multivit?

The box can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. One capsule a day, two months of it: this is the easiest supplement to fit into a routine.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this category prompts a question we always ask first: is there iron in what you are already taking? It is the micronutrient where invisible stacking is most common, and the one it is best not to pile up. The rest of the micronutrients can be compared in our sports nutrition selection.

What is IO Genix NAC600?

IO Genix NAC600 is a single-ingredient supplement. Each capsule provides 600 mg of N-acetylcysteine, and the rest of the formula comes down to the shell and an anti-caking agent. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which is two months of daily use.

N-acetylcysteine, abbreviated to NAC, is an acetylated derivative of L-cysteine, a sulphur-containing amino acid. Food supplies cysteine through animal protein, eggs, garlic and pulses. The acetylated form is more stable, which is why it is the one favoured in supplements.

Its biochemical interest rests on one precise point: cysteine is the rate-limiting amino acid in glutathione synthesis, glutathione being a tripeptide the body makes itself and one that takes part in the cellular mechanisms handling oxidative stress. Put another way, the availability of cysteine determines what the cell is able to produce. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section, and the other products in the category in our NAC section.

What does one NAC600 capsule contain?

600 mg per capsule is the benchmark dose for this molecule, and it fits into a single serving. That is a practical detail which matters more than it seems: many products in this category require you to swallow two or three capsules to reach the same amount. Here, one capsule in the morning and the day is taken care of.

The formula is about as short as you could imagine: the active, the shell, the anti-caking agent. No colouring, no flavouring, no added sugar, no additional complex. That is a sound selection criterion, and it lets you know exactly what you are taking and at what dose.

On the regulatory side, we should be blunt: no health claim is authorised in Europe for N-acetylcysteine or for cysteine. Not on oxidative stress, not on the body's defences, not on the airways, not on the liver. Cysteine's role as a precursor of glutathione is an established and documented fact of biochemistry; what oral supplementation actually produces in a healthy adult is another question, and one with no validated dossier at European level. So we describe the molecule and its dose, and promise nothing.

A final word on a statement we have removed from the previous version of this page: the manufacturer referred to a pharmaceutical grade raw material. That is a phrase we cannot verify and one that has no precise definition in the food supplement framework. We are not passing it on.

Ingredients list

N-acetylcysteine (600 mg per capsule), GELATINE (capsule shell), magnesium stearate (anti-caking agent). GMO-free, no artificial colouring, no added preservative.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGG, MILK, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take NAC600?

Serving: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast, or two hours after a meal. Frequency: one serving a day, not to be exceeded. Duration: a 2 to 3 month cycle, followed by a one-month break.

The instruction to avoid protein-rich meals around the time you take it is not a whim, and it deserves an explanation. N-acetylcysteine is an amino acid derivative: it uses the same intestinal transporters as the amino acids in a protein meal, and so ends up in direct competition with them. Taken with a protein shake or a plate of meat, it is absorbed far less efficiently. First thing in the morning on an empty stomach is the window that solves the problem.

If your mornings do not lend themselves to it, the two-hours-after-a-meal rule works just as well. What matters is not taking it right alongside a protein intake.

The manufacturer also recommends drinking at least two litres of water a day during the course. That is a standard instruction with sulphur compounds, and it costs nothing to follow.

Two to three months on, one month off: a bottle of 60 capsules covers two months, so one complete short cycle. This is not a product to take all year round without a break, and the manufacturer does not intend it that way.

It combines without redundancy with a vitamin C, a coenzyme Q10 or a standardised turmeric — three products from the same family of uses that do not act on the same pathways. Introduce them one at a time, a fortnight apart. A multivitamin complex can sit alongside it too, provided you check that it does not already supply cysteine.

Who is NAC600 right for, and who is it not right for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult, athletic or not, who wants a single active properly dosed rather than a twelve-line complex. That is the main appeal of this format: one ingredient, one dose, one capsule, no ambiguity.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the shell is gelatine. That is the most frequent limitation across this range, and for some customers it decides the purchase.

The product is for adults only and must be kept out of reach of children. The manufacturer asks you to consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medical treatment. That last situation deserves to be taken seriously: N-acetylcysteine is a molecule also used in a medical setting, and adding it to ongoing treatment is not a decision to take on your own.

It logically fits into a routine where the diet is already solid: no single active makes up for a shaky plate, and our protein section answers a far more fundamental need. A note on tolerance: at 600 mg and on an empty stomach, mild digestive discomfort is possible in the first few days for some people. It usually settles; if it persists, the two-hours-after-a-meal rule is a comfortable alternative.

The product may contain traces of gluten, egg, milk, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: this is not a treatment, it is not a stimulant, and you will feel nothing when you take it — which is entirely normal for this type of molecule. Nor is it a performance or a weight-loss product. Any question relating to the airways, the liver or ongoing treatment is one for your doctor or your pharmacist, never for a capsule bought on its own.

NAC or glutathione as a supplement?

The question comes up constantly, and it has a clear answer that often comes as a surprise.

Glutathione sold directly as a supplement has a known problem: it is a tripeptide, and a swallowed tripeptide is largely cut apart by digestion before it reaches the circulation. It is a little like tipping an already-built brick into a wall: it will be knocked down at the door.

N-acetylcysteine takes the opposite route: it supplies the rate-limiting material the cell uses to make its own glutathione. That is what explains why it is widely preferred at doses which, for the same amount, cost less. That is the reasoning behind this product.

If what you need is instead a short-formula antioxidant from another family, three routes exist with us: vitamin C, the simplest and the best regulated; coenzyme Q10, which acts at mitochondrial level; and standardised turmeric. None is interchangeable with the others, and it is better to try one at a time than to stack three.

Frequently asked questions

Why take it on an empty stomach?

Because N-acetylcysteine uses the same intestinal transporters as the amino acids in a protein meal and ends up competing with them. Taken with a shake or a plate of meat, it is noticeably less well absorbed. First thing in the morning, or two hours after a meal, settles the matter.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months, at one capsule a day for 60 capsules. The manufacturer recommends cycles of two to three months followed by a one-month break: a bottle therefore covers one complete short cycle, which keeps the maths simple.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. It is the most common limitation across this range and there is no plant-based version of this particular product.

Do you need to take breaks?

The manufacturer explicitly builds them in: one month off after two to three months of use. This is not a product for permanent use, and that alternation is part of the instructions rather than an optional precaution.

Do you feel anything?

No, and you should not expect to. It is a precursor that acts at cellular level, with no associated sensation. A product in this category that delivered a noticeable effect within the hour should arouse suspicion rather than satisfaction.

Can it be taken alongside medication?

Not without medical advice. The manufacturer explicitly asks for it, and the reason is a serious one: N-acetylcysteine is also a molecule used in a medical setting. If you are on treatment, the question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist before you buy.

Is there a taste or a smell?

The capsule masks most of it, which is welcome: N-acetylcysteine is a sulphur compound with a pronounced smell in powder form. That is in fact one of the arguments for the capsule format over powder versions of the same active.

Where can you buy IO Genix NAC600?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues store, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we are happy to sell, on one condition: that the customer accepts they will feel nothing. It is a background active, and saying so upfront heads off a good deal of disappointment ten days later. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Omega 3?

It is a fish oil supplement in softgel capsules, with a daily serving of two capsules providing 2,000 mg of fish oil and 12 mg of vitamin E. The bottle covers 45 servings, that is a month and a half.

The formula is short: fish oil, vitamin E in the form of d-L-alpha-tocopherol acetate, and a shell made of gelatine, glycerine and water. Because the shell is gelatine, the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans — this is something few product pages mention, and it rules out a proportion of buyers straight away.

The vitamin E is not there by chance: polyunsaturated fatty acids oxidise, and adding a fat-soluble antioxidant to the oil is the usual way of slowing that process inside the capsule. At 12 mg per serving, it also reaches 100% of the nutrient reference value. The product sits in our omega 3 and IO Genix sections.

What does a two-capsule serving contain?

Pack size: 45 servings of 2 capsules. NRV for vitamin E within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 12 mg.

The two “not disclosed” lines deserve a pause, because they are the single most important point on this page. The manufacturer declares 2,000 mg of fish oil but does not publish, in the labelling data available to us, the EPA and DHA contents. Yet those two figures, and those alone, are what makes it possible to compare one omega 3 with another. A fish oil can contain 18% EPA-DHA or 60%: the weight of oil tells you nothing.

The direct consequence, and we own it: we cannot use any of the authorised claims for omega 3. The wording “EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart” assumes an intake of at least 250 mg a day, and “DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision” assumes 250 mg of DHA. With no declared content, those thresholds cannot be verified. We would rather say so than repeat a figure found elsewhere: check the EPA/DHA statement printed on the bottle you receive, that is what counts.

What we can state without reservation concerns vitamin E: vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. At 100% of the NRV per serving, the regulatory threshold is comfortably cleared. On the published data as it stands, that is the only claim usable on this product.

One last safety marker: EFSA regards 5 g a day of combined EPA and DHA as an intake that raises no concern in adults. A serving of 2 g of total oil stays well below that, whatever the actual concentration.

How do you take IO Genix Omega 3?

Serving: 2 capsules. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: with a meal, morning or evening, it makes no difference. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: ongoing, as the manufacturer sets no fixed course length.

The “with a meal” instruction is not optional here, unlike with many supplements. This is an oil and a fat-soluble vitamin: their absorption depends directly on fat being present in the stomach at the same time. Two capsules swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water means part of the product goes to waste.

The remedy for fishy repeats, which is the leading reason people give up on this type of product, comes down to two tricks. Take the capsules in the middle of the meal rather than at the start, and keep the bottle somewhere cool: oil that has been warmed goes rancid, and a rancid capsule announces itself the moment you wake up.

On the time of day, the manufacturer does not take a view, and rightly so: omega 3 has no acute effect, only regularity counts. Take it at whichever meal you will reliably remember, which is usually dinner.

One combination precaution to finish: the manufacturer asks you to avoid taking it alongside an anticoagulant without medical advice. That question is one for your doctor, never for a product page.

Who is this omega 3 right for, and who is it not right for?

It is aimed at people who eat little oily fish — sardine, mackerel, salmon, herring — which is to say most people. Two capsules a day at dinner, one bottle every six weeks: it is an undemanding supplement, and its simplicity is its main selling point.

The product contains FISH. Traces of GLUTEN, EGG, MILK and SOYA are possible. The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and rules it out for under-18s. It asks you to consult a healthcare professional in case of a clotting disorder, anticoagulant treatment or cardiovascular disease. Store in a dry place, away from light and moisture.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, since the capsule is gelatine and the contents are of marine origin. Nor is it suitable if you want to compare EPA and DHA doses precisely: with no published contents, the comparison cannot honestly be made, and that is this product's real limitation.

What not to expect from it. It is neither a cardiovascular treatment nor a performance product. No claim can be made here beyond the vitamin E one, and an omega 3 supplement does not replace two portions of fish a week — it fills a gap, and does nothing more than that.

Marine omega 3 or plant-based omega 3?

This is the only real choice in the category, and it turns not on a matter of principle but on a difference between molecules.

A fish oil supplies EPA and DHA directly, the two fatty acids the European claims relate to. A flaxseed-based plant omega 3, such as the one in the TrainedByJP range, supplies alpha-linolenic acid, which the body has to convert into EPA and then DHA — a conversion known to be limited. The authorised wording is not the same either: ALA “contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels”, which is a different matter.

Plant omega 3 is the better choice, and the only possible one, if you are vegan, allergic to fish, or if the marine aftertaste has made you give up in the past. That is reason enough: a product taken every day beats a better-designed product that stays in the cupboard.

Fish oil keeps the advantage on direct EPA and DHA intake. That said, on this particular product those contents are not published: if your aim is to reach the 250 mg a day that unlocks the claims, choose a product in the category that states its figures. To round things off in winter, our vitamin D section answers a neighbouring and far better documented need; and if it is the antioxidant side that interests you, the vitamin E and CoQ-10 sections offer dedicated formulas.

Frequently asked questions

How much EPA and DHA are in one serving?

The manufacturer does not publish these contents in the labelling data available to us. We will not invent them: they are, however, the only figures that allow two omega 3 products to be compared, since the weight of fish oil carries no informative value on its own. Check the statement on the bottle you receive.

Why does it have to be taken with a meal?

Because this is an oil and a fat-soluble vitamin. Their absorption depends on fat being present in the digestive tract at the same time. Two capsules on an empty stomach with a glass of water means part of the product is lost — and it is a very common mistake.

How do you avoid fishy repeats?

Two habits are enough in most cases: swallow the capsules in the middle of the meal rather than at the start, and keep the bottle somewhere cool. Oil that has been warmed goes rancid, and a rancid capsule announces itself immediately. If the problem persists, a plant-based omega 3 will settle the matter.

How long does a bottle last?

Forty-five days, at two capsules a day, that is 45 servings. The manufacturer sets no fixed course length and recommends ongoing use: with this type of nutrient, it is regularity over several months that counts, not an intensive three-week stint.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No, on two counts. The shell is gelatine of animal origin, and the contents are a fish oil. A vegetarian or vegan should turn to a plant-based omega 3, bearing in mind that it supplies ALA rather than EPA and DHA.

Can it be taken alongside anticoagulant treatment?

Not without medical advice: that is the precaution explicitly stated by the manufacturer, which also covers clotting disorders and cardiovascular disease. This question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist, the only people who know your medication.

What is the vitamin E doing in the formula?

It plays two roles. Inside the capsule, it is a fat-soluble antioxidant that slows the oxidation of the oil. In the body, at 12 mg per serving, that is 100% of the NRV, it allows the only regulatory wording usable on this product to be applied: vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.

Where can you buy IO Genix Omega 3?

The bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a supplement that works over the long run: better to order one in advance than to break off for three weeks.

At the Vendargues store, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a category where we systematically turn the bottle over before selling it, so we can read the EPA-DHA line together. It is the only figure that matters, and many customers discover on that occasion that until then they had been comparing weights of oil. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Original Pancake?

IO Genix Original Pancake is a powdered mix for protein pancakes. A 33 g serving provides 12.2 g of protein for 121 kcal, with just 1.5 g of sugars. The powder is mixed with 70 ml of water and cooked for two to three minutes on each side. Several versions exist, one plain vanilla, the other chocolate.

The base of the recipe is oat flour, to which the manufacturer has added three different protein sources: ovalbumin, in other words egg white protein, a whey protein concentrate and micellar casein. This trio is no accident: the three proteins are not digested at the same rate, and above all they do not behave in the same way when cooked.

That is precisely what sets a good pancake mix apart from whey simply stirred into a batter: ovalbumin coagulates and provides the structure, exactly as an egg would in a conventional recipe, whereas whey on its own produces a dry, rubbery disc. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our protein pancakes aisle.

What does a serving of Original Pancake contain?

The per 100 g column is calculated from the per serving values published by the manufacturer.

37% protein in the powder is the figure that changes everything. A standard supermarket pancake mix sits at around 8 to 10 g of protein per 100 g. Here you are four times higher, and the protein content of the serving — 12.2 g — accounts for roughly 40% of its total energy. That level qualifies the product for the high protein claim under European regulation, and it permits the only valid wording on the subject: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass.

The sugar line is the other pleasant surprise. 1.5 g per serving, or 4.5 g per 100 g, which places the product below the European threshold for the low in sugars claim. The flavour comes from cocoa, flavouring and sucralose, not from a load of sugar. Compare that with a ready-made supermarket pancake batter: the difference runs to several tens of grams of sugars per 100 g.

A word on what the serving actually amounts to. 33 g of powder makes a modestly sized pancake: this is a snack, not a full breakfast. For a proper meal, count on two servings, that is 66 g of powder, 24.4 g of protein and 242 kcal — which remains reasonable.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the pouch and the number of servings it contains are not disclosed. We will not infer them. They appear on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Oat flour (GLUTEN), ovalbumin (EGG), Lactomin whey protein concentrate (MILK), micellar casein (MILK), fructose, cocoa powder, flavouring, maltodextrin, sweetener (sucralose).

Contains GLUTEN, EGG and MILK. May contain traces of WHEAT, FISH and SOYA. The composition varies by version: the cocoa applies only to the chocolate variant. Check the label on the pouch you receive.

How do you make Original Pancake?

Dose: 33 g of powder per serving. Liquid: 70 ml of water, or a plant-based drink for extra creaminess. Cooking: 2 to 3 minutes on each side, over a medium heat, in a non-stick pan. When: breakfast, post-workout snack, or dessert. Frequency: one serving a day according to the manufacturer.

The 33 g to 70 ml ratio is tighter than it looks, and that is deliberate. A batter that is too runny spreads out, burns at the edges and stays raw in the middle: that is mistake number one with this type of mix. First blend the powder and the liquid until you have a smooth, lump-free batter, then let it rest for a minute before pouring.

The medium heat is not negotiable. A protein batter browns far faster than a conventional pancake batter, because the proteins react with the sugars as it cooks. Over a high heat you end up with a pancake that is black outside and raw inside in less than a minute. Two to three minutes per side over a medium heat, and the result is consistent.

The pan should be non-stick and barely greased. A cooking spray is more than enough and avoids adding ten grams of fat to a recipe that contains only 1.2 g.

Eat the pancake within half an hour of cooking: it dries out faster than a conventional pancake as it cools. For a topping, a zero sauce, a zero jam or a spoonful of peanut butter transforms the snack without blowing up the totals.

Who is Original Pancake for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who wants a protein breakfast or snack that is eaten rather than drunk — and that matters, since shaker fatigue is the leading reason people abandon a nutrition plan. It also suits people in a calorie deficit who want to keep a moment of pleasure without compromising their day.

It is not suitable for people allergic to egg, to milk proteins or sensitive to gluten, and the manufacturer says so plainly. These three allergens are main ingredients, not traces: ovalbumin, whey and casein on one side, oat flour on the other. Nor, therefore, is it suitable for vegans.

The product may contain traces of wheat, fish and soya. The manufacturer points out that it must be eaten cooked — the raw batter contains ovalbumin and flour, and is not to be eaten as it is.

What not to expect from it: this is not a protein powder. 12.2 g per serving is half a standard shake, and this product does not replace one if your goal is a high protein intake. Nor is it a slimming product: 121 kcal a serving are still calories, simply better distributed than elsewhere.

Finally, a 33 g serving remains modest. If you are expecting a filling breakfast, you need two, and it is better to know that before ordering.

Pancake mix or whey in a homemade batter?

Plenty of lifters make their own batter: oat flour, whey, an egg. That is perfectly valid, and we should be honest about what the ready-made mix adds.

The homemade blend costs less per gram and lets you adjust everything. Its shortcoming is a constant one: whey on its own stands up poorly to cooking and gives a dry, elastic texture. Adding a whole egg fixes the problem but weighs the recipe down and makes the dosing hit-and-miss from one time to the next.

The ready-made mix solves exactly that point, and it is its only real argument: the ovalbumin plays the structuring role of the egg, the casein brings softness, and the result is identical every time you cook. You are paying for consistency and time saved, not for a miracle ingredient.

If you prefer the homemade version, our oat flour aisle offers the base and our protein aisle the protein part. And if all you need is a snack to take with you, protein snacks save you the frying pan.

Frequently asked questions

How much protein is in a serving?

12.2 g for 33 g of powder, that is 37% of the mix and roughly 40% of its energy content. That level qualifies the product for the “high protein” claim under European regulation, and it puts it well above an ordinary pancake mix.

Can water be replaced with milk?

Yes, and the manufacturer suggests it with a plant-based drink for extra creaminess. Do count the calories and protein of the liquid on top. Milk gives a richer batter and a softer pancake; water remains the lightest choice.

Why cook over a medium heat?

Because a protein batter browns far faster than a conventional one: the proteins react with the sugars as soon as the temperature rises. Over a high heat, the pancake blackens before it is cooked through. Two to three minutes per side over a medium heat give a consistent result.

Does this product contain gluten?

Yes, the product's oat flour is declared as containing gluten. It is therefore not suitable for coeliacs or strict intolerants. This is not a trace warning but a main ingredient.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

Yes for vegetarians: the proteins come from egg and milk, with no meat-derived ingredient. It is not, however, suitable for vegans, for the same reason. A plant protein based mix would then be the right choice.

How many servings per pouch?

The manufacturer publishes neither the net weight nor the number of servings, and we will not invent them. The information appears on the packaging you receive. For your calculations, bear in mind that one serving is 33 g of powder.

Can the batter be made in advance?

It is not advisable. The proteins begin to alter the texture of the batter over a long rest, and the cooked result becomes inconsistent. A minute's rest is enough and improves the texture; a night in the fridge, no.

Where to buy IO Genix Original Pancake?

The versions can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, around ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we offer to those who tell us they can no longer face shakes: chewing your protein intake does more for sticking to a nutrition plan than any formula. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix's Chromium Picolinate?

IO Genix Chromium Picolinate is a single-ingredient supplement. One capsule provides 200 µg of elemental chromium, in picolinate form. The bottle contains 100 capsules, i.e. more than three months of daily use.

Chromium is a trace element, that is to say a mineral the body needs only in minute quantities — a few tens of micrograms a day. Food provides it, chiefly through meat, wholegrain cereals, tree nuts and green vegetables, but the levels vary a great deal from one food to another and from one soil to another.

The picolinate form refers to chromium bound to picolinic acid. It is the most widespread form in food supplements, chosen for its stability. The rest of the Spanish range appears in our IO Genix section. The catalogue's other trace elements can be found in our zinc and iron sections.

What does a capsule of Chromium Picolinate contain?

The nutrient reference value for chromium is set at 40 µg per day at European level. One capsule provides 200 µg: five times the daily reference, and that is a figure to face squarely rather than turn into a selling point. A high dose is not automatically a better product, particularly for a trace element whose requirements are counted in tens of micrograms.

Two claims are authorised in Europe for this trace element, and they are worded exactly like this: chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism, and chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. The threshold for being allowed to state them is comfortably met here. Note the word “normal”, which is not decorative: it refers to the workings of a healthy body, not to the correction of a disorder.

A nuance few product pages give, and one that nonetheless decides the purchase: chromium deficiency is rare on an ordinary Western diet. A supplement makes sense if your diet is heavily processed, very low in wholegrain cereals, or if a healthcare professional has advised it. It makes a good deal less sense if you already take a complete multivitamin, which almost always contains chromium — check your label before stacking.

The manufacturer also asks you to consult a doctor before use and states that the product is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children or people on medical treatment. Requiring medical advice is unusual for a simple trace element: it is explained by the dose level, and it deserves to be followed.

Ingredients list

Bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), GELATINE (capsule shell), anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide), chromium picolinate. The exact composition of the shell appears on the label of the bottle you receive.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Chromium Picolinate?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal, never on an empty stomach. Frequency: one dose a day, never exceeded. Duration: a review after three months, with a one-month break possible before resuming.

Taking it with a meal serves two distinct purposes. The first is comfort: on an empty stomach, a concentrated trace element can cause stomach discomfort. The second is consistency: since chromium is involved in macronutrient metabolism, taking it at the moment those macronutrients arrive is logical.

The manufacturer recommends avoiding taking it at the same time as coffee or tea and leaving an hour between the two. Tannins and caffeine can interfere with the absorption of several minerals. If your breakfast is a strong coffee, move the capsule to lunch: it is simpler than clock-watching.

One capsule a day, at a set time, never exceeded. The 100-capsule bottle covers more than three months, which corresponds exactly to the period after which the manufacturer suggests taking stock. A one-month break is then possible before resuming.

This product combines without redundancy with an omega 3 or a magnesium. It does, on the other hand, duplicate most multivitamins and the berberine formulas that already include chromium in their composition: read the labels before stacking.

Who is chromium picolinate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult whose diet is low in chromium sources, or someone a healthcare professional has advised to take a targeted supply. It is a product with a very short formula, which remains a good criterion: one ingredient, one dose, one capsule.

The manufacturer is explicit about the exclusions and its list is stricter than average: the product is for adults only, and it is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, for children, or for people on medical treatment. It asks you to seek a doctor's advice before use and to stop immediately and consult a doctor if any adverse effect occurs.

One situation calls for particular care: if you are being monitored for disturbed blood glucose or are on antidiabetic treatment, this product is not something to improvise with. The fact that a claim mentions the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels does not mean a supplement has a place alongside a course of treatment — quite the opposite, and the question belongs to your doctor.

The capsule contains gelatine: it is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. The product may also contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: it is not an appetite suppressant, it is not a fat burner, and it is not a weight-loss product, whatever you may read. No weight-control claim is authorised for chromium in Europe. If that is your goal, our weight loss section and, above all, your everyday diet will do the work.

Chromium on its own or a multivitamin, which should you choose?

This is the only real question to ask yourself before buying this product, and the answer depends on what you already take.

A complete multivitamin almost always contains chromium, often at a level close to the reference value, alongside twenty other micronutrients. If you are simply looking to cover your overall intake, that is more rational, cheaper overall, and it saves you adding one more capsule to your morning routine.

Chromium on its own, at 200 µg, answers a different logic: a targeted and deliberately high supply of a single element. That only makes sense if you know precisely why you are taking it — professional advice, a diet identified as low in chromium — and not simply because the words blood glucose appear somewhere on the label.

Watch out for stacking, which is the most frequent mistake in this category: multivitamins, capsule fat burners and metabolic complexes each contain chromium. Three products taken together can add up intakes without anyone noticing. If you already take a caffeine-free fat burner or a complex, read its composition again before adding this one.

Frequently asked questions

Is 200 µg a lot?

It is five times the European nutrient reference value, which is set at 40 µg per day. It is a deliberately high dose. The manufacturer does in fact ask for medical advice before use and forbids exceeding the daily dose, which is consistent with that level of intake.

Should you take it with a meal or on an empty stomach?

With a meal. On an empty stomach, a concentrated trace element can cause stomach discomfort, and the manufacturer explicitly recommends avoiding that situation. Taking it during a meal is also more consistent with chromium's role in macronutrient metabolism.

Why avoid coffee when you take it?

Because caffeine and the tannins in tea can interfere with the absorption of several minerals. The manufacturer recommends leaving an hour between the two. In practice, the simplest thing is to move the capsule to lunch rather than slotting it between two morning coffees.

Does chromium make you lose weight?

No, and no weight-control claim is authorised for chromium in Europe. The only two permitted wordings concern normal macronutrient metabolism and the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels, in a healthy person. This is not a slimming product.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months: 100 capsules, one a day. That is also the period after which the manufacturer suggests taking stock, before a possible one-month break. A bottle therefore corresponds exactly to one review period.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. It is a common limitation across this range, and it is all the more regrettable given that vegetarian diets are sometimes listed among those that provide less chromium.

Can you take it alongside a multivitamin?

You can, but it is rarely useful, and it requires doing the sums. Most complete multivitamins already contain chromium. Adding two sources together without looking at the labels is the surest way to exceed, without knowing it, an intake the manufacturer specifically asks you not to exceed.

Where can you buy IO Genix's Chromium Picolinate?

The 100-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always ask to see what the customer is already taking before selling this one: nine times out of ten a multivitamin is already in use and the question of stacking comes before the question of buying. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM?

IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM is a complete caffeine-free pre-workout powder, dosed at 16 g per serving. “NOSTIM” means exactly what it says: no central nervous system stimulant in the formula, no caffeine, no synephrine, no yohimbine.

What sets it apart from most stimulant-free products is that it doesn't stop at the pump. The formula packs in 4 g of beta-alanine, 3 g of creatine monohydrate, 3 g of AAKG, taurine, tyrosine, four vitamins and 375 mg of magnesium. That's a 16 g serving, two to three times the weight of a conventional pre-workout, and you can see it in the shaker.

The flavours listed are Raspberry Lemonade and Watermelon. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section.

What does a 16 g serving contain?

The per 100 g values are calculated from the manufacturer's declaration for a 16 g serving. The “protein” line corresponds to the free amino acids in the formula, counted here by the manufacturer.

4 g of beta-alanine is at the top end of the market and it deserves an explanation that changes how you use the product. Beta-alanine does not act when you take it: it gradually raises muscle carnosine stores, which takes several weeks of daily intake. A pre-workout taken three times a week never gets you to that level. If that is the effect you are after, you need to top up on non-training days with beta-alanine on its own. The immediate effect, on the other hand, is guaranteed: tingling in the face and forearms within about fifteen minutes. It is harmless and it fades as you get used to it.

The same remark applies to the 3 g of creatine monohydrate. It is a decent dose — the useful range runs from 3 to 5 g — but creatine works by saturating the muscle, which means taking it daily, rest days included. Taken only before training, it never fills the tank completely. That is not a flaw in the product, it is a limitation of the format.

The 375 mg of magnesium covers 100% of the reference value, and magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It is the only active in the formula that carries a claim of any use here. One caution though: 375 mg in one go is a high amount for a single serving, and magnesium has a well-known laxative effect above 300 mg. If you are already taking magnesium elsewhere, count it in.

The 3 g of AAKG provides arginine bound to ketoglutarate. The effective arginine content is not published, and neither arginine, nor beta-alanine, nor taurine, nor tyrosine holds an authorised claim in Europe. Creatine does hold one, from 3 g per day, but it assumes daily intake, which this product alone does not allow. Vitamins B1, B3, B6 and C, at 100% of their reference value, contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Ingredients list

Beta-alanine, AAKG (arginine alpha-ketoglutarate), creatine monohydrate, L-taurine, L-tyrosine, magnesium (bisglycinate), natural flavourings, acidity regulator (citric acid), vitamins B1, B3 and B6, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), BioPerine® (black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine), sweetener (sucralose), anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide). May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG, SOYA and NUTS. Made in a facility that handles these allergens.

How do you take PreWork NOSTIM?

Serving: 16 g. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before training. Frequency: one serving on each training day. Duration: no break period needed, as the absence of stimulants rules out any build-up of tolerance.

Start with a half serving of 8 g for three to five sessions. The manufacturer recommends it and it is right to: 4 g of beta-alanine in one go, in someone who has never taken any, produces tingling pronounced enough to be alarming. And 375 mg of magnesium in one go, on a stomach that isn't used to it, can cut a leg session short for all the wrong reasons.

The liquid volume given, 200 to 250 ml, makes for a fairly concentrated drink. Nothing stops you going up to 400 ml if you prefer, and it is easier on the stomach that way. Do avoid taking it straight after a high-fibre meal, which slows absorption of the whole thing.

The real appeal of the product is about timing. With no caffeine, it works just as well at 20:00 as at 8:00, with no consequences for falling asleep. That is why we regularly recommend it to people who only have an evening slot to train and who have ended up giving up on conventional pre-workouts.

Who is PreWork NOSTIM for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who trains late, anyone sensitive to caffeine, anyone who wants a break from stimulants without losing the pre-session ritual, and anyone who would rather have a single product than three tubs to measure out separately.

It is not for you if you are looking for energy or alertness: with no stimulant there is no kick, and disappointed feedback almost always comes from that. Nor is it for you if you already take creatine daily — you would be doubling up for nothing — or if you already take 300 mg of magnesium elsewhere.

The product is made in a facility that handles gluten, milk, egg, soya and nuts: with a severe allergy, that point alone rules it out. Like any product in this category, it is for adults only, not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and calls for advice from a healthcare professional if you are on medication or have a known condition. If you are subject to anti-doping testing, check the batch status with your federation.

What you should not expect from it: the 4 g of beta-alanine will only deliver its full effect if you take it every day, training or not, for several weeks. The same goes for the creatine. Used only on training days, this product works mainly as a preparation and comfort drink — which is still useful, but it is not what the sum of the stated doses promises.

PreWork NOSTIM or a caffeinated pre-workout?

The difference is clear-cut and comes down to what time you train.

A caffeinated pre-workout acts on alertness, focus and perceived effort. It is the better choice for a heavy session, a morning workout, or a day when motivation is missing. Its downside is well known: caffeine stays active for five to six hours, and a session at 19:00 is paid for at night. It also forces you to cycle, since tolerance sets in within a few weeks.

NOSTIM does not do that job. It supplies substrates — beta-alanine, creatine, arginine, magnesium — rather than a nervous signal. It is the better choice for evening sessions, for periods when you want to cut back on caffeine, and for someone who trains every day and cannot cycle a stimulant. It also has an advantage that is rarely pointed out: no break is needed, so you can use it all year round without losing the effect.

There is a third route if you already take your creatine separately: creatine-free pre-workouts avoid the overlap. And if it is arginine alone that interests you, our L-arginine section offers it at a serious dose.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I get tingling after taking it?

That's the beta-alanine, and at 4 g per serving the sensation is pronounced. It affects the face, the scalp and the forearms, appears within ten to fifteen minutes and lasts about half an hour. It is harmless, well documented, and it fades as the body gets used to it. Starting on a half serving is enough to tame it.

Can you take it in the evening?

Yes, that is the whole point of it. No stimulant goes into the formula, so it has no bearing on falling asleep. It is the only type of pre-workout we recommend for a session at 20:00 or 21:00.

Should you take extra creatine?

If you want the full benefit of creatine, yes. It works by saturating the muscle, which means taking it daily, rest days included. The 3 g in here is only enough if you train every day. Otherwise, top up with 3 g on non-training days.

Is 375 mg of magnesium too much for a single serving?

It is a high amount for a single intake. Magnesium has a well-known laxative effect above 300 mg taken at once, and not everyone reacts the same way. That is one more reason to start with a half serving, and not to stack it with another magnesium supplement on the same day.

How long before training should you take it?

Thirty minutes. That is longer than for a product aimed purely at the pump, because the whole thing needs time to be absorbed. Taking it five minutes before you start amounts to training while you digest.

Do you need to take breaks from it?

No, and that is a genuine advantage. The cycles imposed on conventional pre-workouts exist to restore caffeine sensitivity. With no stimulant, that problem doesn't arise: you can use it continuously for as long as you keep training.

Does the product contain sugar?

Very little: 3.1 g of carbohydrate per serving, for 52 kcal in total. The sweetness comes from sucralose. It is a negligible load, even during a calorie deficit, and it does not interfere with fasted training.

Where can you buy IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we put in the hands of people who train after work and who describe broken nights since they went back on a pre-workout: the problem rarely comes from the training itself. The rest of the pre-workout section can be browsed in our sports nutrition range.

What is IO Genix Probiotic Mix?

It is a supplement of live cultures in vegetable capsules, with a daily serving of two capsules. It supplies a complex of 15 strains weighing 66.6 mg, to which are added 200 mg of inulin, a fibre extracted from chicory root. The box of 60 capsules covers 30 days.

The principle combines two things: live cultures on one side, a fibre taken to go with them on the other. The full composition runs to six lines: microcrystalline cellulose as a bulking agent, inulin powder, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose for the capsule, the culture blend, magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide as anti-caking agents.

As the capsule is vegetable rather than gelatine, the formula is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The manufacturer declares it free from artificial preservatives and colourings. The product joins our probiotic and IO Genix ranges.

What does a two-capsule serving contain?

Pack size: 60 vegetable capsules, that is 30 servings.

We have to stop squarely at the two “not disclosed” lines, because they concern what matters most. On a product based on live cultures, the figure that counts is the number of colony-forming units — the CFU — per serving, and it does not appear in the labelling data available to us. The 66.6 mg quoted refers to a weight of powder, which tells you nothing: two products of the same weight can differ by a factor of a hundred in CFU. Nor is the precise list of the fifteen strains published.

We will not fill these two gaps with figures found elsewhere. In practical terms, that means you cannot compare this product with another on what determines its value, and it is a limitation worth knowing about before buying. Read the box you receive: if the CFU figure is on it, that is the value that counts.

What can be said with confidence concerns the inulin. 200 mg of a fibre derived from chicory is a modest dose — for scale, a portion of artichoke or onion supplies several grams. Its presence here follows a formulation logic, not a nutritional one: at this dose, it does not count towards your fibre intake.

One regulatory point, and it is a clear one: no health claim has been authorised in Europe for probiotics, nor for inulin at this dose. So you will read nothing here about digestion, immunity, gut comfort or nutrient absorption. This is not excessive caution on our part: it is the state of the law, and the reason why the word “probiotic” is itself regulated. What we are describing is a composition, a dose, a format and a protocol for use.

How do you take Probiotic Mix?

Serving: 2 capsules. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a course of 30 days minimum, ideally 3 months.

The instruction “on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before” is the manufacturer's and follows a simple logic: the stomach is then less acidic than in the middle of digestion. Thirty minutes before breakfast is an easy slot to keep to — put the box next to the coffee machine.

Three useful adjustments, given by the manufacturer. If you have a sensitive gut, start with a single capsule for a few days before moving to two: some digestive adjustment over the first few days is normal. During a course of antibiotic treatment, leave a minimum of two to three hours between doses. And if you are travelling or radically changing your diet, it advises starting a week beforehand.

On duration, do not judge in three days. The manufacturer settles on thirty days as a minimum and three months as the target. That is consistent with the fact that no acute effect is expected, or can be claimed, on this type of product.

One last point of common sense: a diet that genuinely supplies fibre — vegetables, pulses, wholegrains from the oat flour range — will weigh more than 200 mg of inulin in a capsule. The supplement goes alongside a diet, it does not replace it.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults, and is of particular interest to those coming off a course of antibiotics, those changing their diet or their country, and athletes with high calorie intakes. The two-capsules-in-the-morning format is easy to keep up over three months.

Two precautions really do matter. Immunocompromised people must seek medical advice before taking it: that is not a formality on a product based on live micro-organisms. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with an intestinal condition should also seek advice. Traces of GLUTEN, EGG, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible.

It suits you less well if you are looking to compare doses precisely: with no CFU count and no published strain list, an honest comparison with another product is impossible. That is the real limitation of this product, and we would rather put it in writing.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a treatment, and it is not a product for which any effect can be promised. No claim is authorised, which means no European authority has validated an effect for this category. If you have persistent digestive problems, the right course is a doctor, not a box of capsules. Nor is it a performance product or a digestive aid for over-generous meals.

Probiotic Mix or digestive enzymes?

The two sit on the same shelf and yet follow different logics. Let us say it straight away: neither probiotics nor digestive enzymes have an authorised health claim in Europe. Deciding on the basis of promises therefore makes no sense, and what remains is to compare what is comparable.

Our digestive enzymes products supply enzymes — amylase, protease, lipase, lactase — intended to accompany a specific meal. They are taken at the moment of eating, as a one-off, and their use is occasional. That is what most people choose when their discomfort is linked to an identified type of meal.

Probiotic Mix follows a background logic: a daily serving on an empty stomach, over one to three months. It is a course product, not a mealtime one. If your concern is transit rather than digestion, be aware that a form such as the citrate in the magnesium range acts on that point far more directly and far more cheaply. And if you digest dairy shakes badly, the solution is often to change protein rather than to add a supplement on top. A multivitamin, for its part, plays no role in this area.

Frequently asked questions

How many CFU per serving?

The manufacturer does not publish this figure in the labelling data available to us, and we will not invent it. It is nevertheless the only value that allows two products of this type to be compared: the 66.6 mg quoted refers to a weight of powder, not to a quantity of micro-organisms. Check the box you receive.

What exactly are the 15 strains?

The detailed list does not appear in our labelling data either. We will not repeat the strain names circulating about this product without being able to verify them: on a supplement based on micro-organisms, a strain is designated by its genus, its species and its identifier, not by a general family.

Does it really have to be taken on an empty stomach?

That is what the manufacturer settles on: in the morning, 30 minutes before breakfast, the stomach being less acidic then than in the middle of digestion. It is an easy instruction to follow and it costs nothing. If it inconveniences you, consistency over three months counts for more than the exact time of the dose.

Can it be taken during a course of antibiotics?

The manufacturer asks that doses be spaced by a minimum of two to three hours. That is the usual precaution on this type of product. For anything concerning your treatment itself, the question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist, not for a product page.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, of plant origin, and not of animal gelatine. The manufacturer also states a formula free from artificial preservatives and colourings. Do note, however, the possible traces of milk, egg and fish flagged on the label.

How long does a box last?

Thirty days, at two capsules a day for 60 capsules. The manufacturer settles on thirty days as a minimum and three months as a full course: so count on three boxes to see through what it recommends.

Why do you say nothing about the effects?

Because no health claim has been authorised in Europe for probiotics. Writing that this product improves digestion, immunity or gut comfort would be an offence, whatever the literature you may read elsewhere. We would rather tell you what the capsule contains and what we do not know.

Where to buy IO Genix Probiotic Mix?

The box of 60 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. If you are aiming for the three-month course the manufacturer advises, take three at once: interruption is the first enemy of this type of product.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a range where we talk more about what the label does not say than about what it displays. Looking for the “CFU” line on a box of live cultures is the most useful reflex we can pass on to a customer, and it holds for every brand on the market. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is the IO Genix Protein Brownie?

IO Genix Protein Brownie is a ready-to-eat brownie, sold individually. A 60 g brownie provides 7.5 g of protein and 6.3 g of carbohydrate, of which only 0.9 g sugars, for 257 kcal. Several versions exist: dark chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.

What makes the recipe unusual is its base. The first ingredient is egg white, the second almond flour at 22%, and there is neither wheat flour nor added sugar. That is what explains a nutritional profile very unusual for a baked good: a lot of fat, very little carbohydrate.

Put another way, this is not a conventional protein brownie — those are generally built on a base of flour and glucose syrup. It is a baked good designed for a low-carbohydrate diet, and that is a rare position to take. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix aisle, and the other snacks of this type in our protein snacks aisle.

What is in a Protein Brownie?

0.9 g of sugars in a whole brownie: that is the figure that defines this product. A conventional bakery brownie of the same weight commonly contains twenty to thirty times more. The per 100 g content, at 1.5 g, puts the product below the European threshold for the low in sugars claim. The sweet taste comes from three sweeteners — isomalt, erythritol and steviol glycosides — and not from sugar.

The fat line, on the other hand, deserves to be faced squarely rather than passed over in silence: 19.4 g per brownie, or 32.4 g per 100 g. That is not a manufacturing flaw, it is the direct consequence of the recipe: almond flour makes up 22% of the product, and almonds are naturally high in fat. Saturates stay low, at 2.9 g per 100 g, which is rather good. But if you are counting your fat, this brownie weighs on the total.

An honest regulatory point, and it runs counter to what you would expect: with 12.5 g of protein for 429 kcal, the share of energy provided by protein works out at approximately 11.7%. The European threshold for the “source of protein” claim is 12%: this product therefore falls just below it, and we will not use the claim. 7.5 g per brownie remains a genuine contribution for a dessert, but this is not a protein snack in the strict sense.

Missing from the manufacturer's file: the fibre content is not disclosed. We will not invent it, even though it would be of interest given the proportion of almond flour. The label on the product you receive is the authority.

Ingredient list

EGG white, ALMOND flour (22%), sunflower oil, sweeteners (isomalt, erythritol, steviol glycosides), chocolate chips (7%) [cocoa mass, sweetener (erythritol), cocoa butter, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring, sweetener (steviol glycosides)], MILK protein, cocoa powder, skimmed MILK powder, humectant (glycerol), raising agents (sodium bicarbonate, disodium diphosphate), flavourings, preservative (potassium sorbate).

Contains EGGS, MILK and NUTS (almonds). May contain traces of SOYA, PEANUTS, SULPHITES and SESAME.

How do you eat the Protein Brownie?

Serving: 1 brownie of 60 g. Preparation: none, the product is ready to eat. Timing: as a snack between meals, after training, or as a dessert. Frequency: according to your eating plan, allowing for the 257 kcal. Storage: in a cool, dry place.

It is the simplest product in this whole catalogue: there is nothing to measure out, nothing to mix, nothing to bake. That simplicity is its real selling point — a brownie in a gym bag or a desk drawer settles the four o'clock snack question better than a shaker you have to make up.

One warning from the manufacturer deserves to be taken seriously: excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, because of the polyols present. Isomalt and erythritol belong to that family of sweeteners, and how well they are tolerated varies a great deal from one person to the next. One brownie poses no problem at all for the vast majority of people; three in an afternoon is another story. If you are new to this kind of product, start with one and see how you cope with it.

On the calorie side, bear in mind that 257 kcal is not trivial for a snack. It is the equivalent of a light meal, and it comes almost entirely from the fat. On a day when you are counting, it has to be worked in, not added on.

It goes very well with a coffee or a tea, and slips into a low-carbohydrate diet without disrupting it — which is exactly the niche it was designed for. A spoonful of peanut butter on top makes it a more substantial dessert, at the cost of a little extra fat, and a sugar-free topping remains the lightest option.

Who is the Protein Brownie for, and who is it not for?

It suits first of all those following a low-carbohydrate diet and looking for a compatible dessert: with 6.3 g of carbohydrate per unit, it fits into almost any plan. It also suits anyone who needs a portable snack, with no preparation, and who can no longer face protein bars.

It is not suitable for people with a nut allergy: almond flour makes up 22% of the product. This is not a trace, it is the second ingredient in the recipe. Nor is it suitable for people allergic to eggs or milk proteins, or for vegans. Traces of soya, peanuts, sulphites and sesame are also possible.

Nor is it suitable if what you are chiefly after is protein. 7.5 g per unit for 257 kcal is a markedly less favourable ratio than that of a conventional protein bar. This product is first and foremost a low-sugar baked good, not a protein source.

Finally, it is not suitable for people sensitive to polyols, for the reason set out above. That is a matter of individual tolerance, to be tested with one unit, not with a box.

What not to expect from it: this is not a slimming product. 257 kcal is still 257 kcal, and the absence of sugars does not make it a neutral food. What it avoids is the glycaemic load of a conventional baked good — which is genuinely valuable if that is your constraint, and worth nothing if it is the calorie total you are watching.

Protein brownie or protein bar?

Both take up the same space in a bag, and you choose between them according to what you are counting.

A conventional protein bar generally provides 15 to 20 g of protein for a comparable weight, with higher carbohydrate and lower fat. It is the better choice if your aim is protein intake, particularly after training, or if you are watching your fat.

This brownie reverses the profile entirely: little protein, very little carbohydrate, a lot of fat. It is the better choice on a low-carbohydrate diet, at the end of the day when you want a dessert without pushing your carbohydrate up, and for the texture — a bar is still a bar, whereas a brownie is a genuinely moist cake.

If what you need is an indulgent snack with no particular carbohydrate constraint, protein cookies offer a middle ground. And if you are simply trying to hit your daily protein total, a protein powder remains, by a long way, the cheapest solution per gram.

Frequently asked questions

How much sugar is in a brownie?

0.9 g per 60 g brownie, or 1.5 g per 100 g. That is below the European threshold for the “low in sugars” claim. The sweet taste comes from isomalt, erythritol and steviol glycosides, three sugar-free sweeteners.

Why is there so much fat?

Because almond flour makes up 22% of the recipe and almonds are naturally high in fat, with sunflower oil added on top. It is the direct trade-off for a recipe without wheat flour and without sugar: 19.4 g of fat per brownie, of which only 1.7 g saturates.

Is it a source of protein?

Not in the regulatory sense. With 12.5 g of protein for 429 kcal, the share of energy from protein works out at approximately 11.7%, just below the 12% threshold required for the “source of protein” claim. 7.5 g per brownie remains a genuine contribution, but this product is first and foremost a dessert.

Can it have a laxative effect?

The manufacturer flags this in the event of excessive consumption, because of the polyols isomalt and erythritol. One brownie poses a problem for almost nobody; tolerance varies mainly when several are eaten one after another. Start with one unit.

Is it suitable for people with a nut allergy?

No, categorically. Almond flour makes up 22% of the product: it is a main ingredient and not a trace. The brownie is therefore ruled out in cases of nut allergy, with no possible exception.

What is the difference between the versions?

The chocolate chips: dark in one, white in the other. The brownie base remains the same. The exact composition of the chips does differ between versions, however: check the label on the unit you receive if you have an allergy or a specific requirement.

Is it suitable for a low-carbohydrate diet?

That is precisely the product's niche: 6.3 g of carbohydrate per brownie, of which 0.9 g sugars. It fits into most low-carbohydrate plans. Just bear in mind that the 257 kcal count like any other.

Where can you buy the IO Genix Protein Brownie?

The versions can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we hand to customers on a low-carbohydrate diet who tell us they are allowed nothing sweet: 0.9 g of sugars is a concrete answer, and it is worth more than advice about willpower. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is the IO Genix Protein Doughnut?

IO Genix Protein Doughnut is a ready-to-eat filled doughnut, sold singly. One 70 g doughnut provides 9 g of protein for 277 kcal, with 25 g of carbohydrate and 13 g of fat. There are four recipes, with different fillings — praline, speculoos, white chocolate — and the composition varies from one version to another.

What sets this product apart from a bakery doughnut comes down to the first ingredient on its list: egg white comes top, ahead of the flours. That is highly unusual for a pastry, and it is what explains the product's protein-to-calorie ratio. A whey protein concentrate rounds out the contribution.

Two other formulation choices are worth flagging: the absence of palm oil, replaced by sunflower and soya oils, and the use of maltitol as a sweetener in place of part of the sugar. The rest of the Spanish range appears in our IO Genix aisle, and the other snacks of this kind in our protein snacks aisle.

What does a Protein Doughnut contain?

The per 100 g column is calculated from the per-doughnut values published by the manufacturer.

9 g of protein for 277 kcal works out at around 13% of the product's energy: the European threshold of 12% is cleared, so the “source of protein” claim applies. For a doughnut, that is remarkable. The comparison with a bakery pastry of the same weight speaks for itself: that one generally provides 4 to 5 g, for a calorie total that is often higher.

Several rows in the table are still empty, and we are not going to fill them in. The manufacturer publishes neither the sugars content, nor the saturates content, nor the salt content, and simply states the presence of fibre without giving the amount. These are figures that must appear on the packaging: the label on the product you receive is what counts, and it is the one to read if you are counting precisely.

An honest word on what these numbers say. This doughnut is still a pastry: 277 kcal, 25 g of carbohydrate and 13 g of fat is not a light food. Its added value is real but limited to one specific point: it provides twice as much protein as a standard doughnut, without palm oil, and with part of the sugar replaced by maltitol. It is an improvement, not a transformation.

Maltitol, for its part, deserves a word of explanation. It is a polyol, that is to say a bulk sweetener. It provides fewer calories than sugar and does not raise blood glucose in the same way, but it is not calorie-free and how well it is tolerated digestively varies from person to person.

Ingredients list (white chocolate version)

EGG white, vegetable oils (sunflower, SOYA), humectant (glycerine), white chocolate cream 15% [inulin fibre, sunflower vegetable oil, MILK proteins, maize starch, rice flour, HAZELNUT paste 9%, sunflower vegetable fat, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin), natural vanilla flavouring], WHEAT flour, wholegrain oat flour, whey protein concentrate (MILK), sweetener (maltitol), raising agents (sodium bicarbonate, sodium pyrophosphate).

Contains EGGS, MILK, GLUTEN, SOYA and NUTS (hazelnut).

Careful — one allergen point to state clearly: the filling of the white chocolate version contains 9% hazelnut paste, which makes nuts a full ingredient and not a mere trace, contrary to what the manufacturer's generic wording suggests. If you are allergic to nuts, this version is strictly not recommended for you, and the label on the unit you receive is the only reference for the other recipes.

How should you eat the Protein Doughnut?

Serving: 1 doughnut of 70 g. Preparation: none, the product is ready to eat. Timing: within 30 minutes after training, or as a snack during the day. Frequency: one unit per serving, according to your eating plan. Storage: in a dry place, away from light, tightly resealed after opening.

There is nothing to prepare, and that is the whole point of the format. A doughnut in a gym bag settles the question of the post-session snack with no shaker, no water and no washing-up.

The slot where this product makes the most sense is after training. The 25 g of carbohydrate and 9 g of protein find their place there in a training day, whereas the same doughnut eaten at ten at night in front of the television is simply a pastry. It is not a question of composition, it is a question of timing.

It goes very well with a coffee or a tea, as the manufacturer suggests. Do avoid, however, stacking it with a protein shake within the same half hour: 9 g of protein plus 25 g of whey is a high protein total in a single serving, and it brings nothing extra.

On the calorie side, count it as a substantial snack: 277 kcal is more than a standard protein bar. On a day when you are watching the total, you need to make room for it rather than adding it on top.

Lastly, reseal the wrapper carefully if you do not finish the unit: this type of product dries out quickly in the open air, and its soft texture is precisely what sets it apart from a bar.

Who is the Protein Doughnut suitable for, and who is it not suitable for?

It suits anyone looking for an indulgent snack after a session, anyone who struggles to eat enough protein during the day, and those who have grown tired of protein bars. It also works very well during a bulking phase, where the 277 kcal become an asset rather than a constraint.

It is not suitable for people allergic to eggs, milk proteins, gluten, soya or nuts. These are main ingredients here and not traces: egg white at the top of the list, wheat flour, whey protein, soya oil, and hazelnut paste in the filling of the white chocolate version. It is the product in this range with the heaviest allergen list.

Nor is it suitable for vegans, or for people sensitive to polyols because of the maltitol. And if you are strictly watching your carbohydrates, 25 g per unit is a figure that counts: a drier protein snack will suit you better, over in our protein bars.

The manufacturer points out that this product is not a substitute for a balanced meal and should form part of a varied diet. It also states that it contains sugar in addition to maltitol.

What not to expect from it: it is not a slimming product, and it is not “sugar-free”. It is a pastry that is better built than average, with twice as much protein and no palm oil. If your goal is a high protein intake for a minimum of calories, a protein powder or a high-content bar is what you should turn to.

Protein doughnut or protein cookie?

Both play in the same register — the baked treat that provides protein — and they are separated not by composition but by use.

A protein cookie is generally denser, drier, and keeps better in a bag. It often provides more protein per unit. It is the better choice for the snack that spends three days in a rucksack pocket.

The doughnut is banking on the soft texture and the filling, which no cookie can offer. It is the choice of enjoyment, the one that genuinely replaces a bakery pastry rather than offering a diet version of one. It does, on the other hand, keep less well once opened.

Two other options exist depending on your constraint. If it is carbohydrate you are watching, a brownie made with almond flour comes in a great deal lower. And if you want total control over the ingredients, making your own pancakes from oat flour works out considerably cheaper — at the cost of the pan and the ten minutes that go with it.

Frequently asked questions

How much protein is there in one doughnut?

9 g in a 70 g unit, which is around 13% of the product's energy. That level clears the European threshold of 12% that allows the “source of protein” claim. A bakery pastry of the same weight generally provides half as much.

Does it contain palm oil?

No. The fat comes from sunflower and soya oils, and the manufacturer makes an explicit selling point of it in its formulation. It is a real difference from most industrially made pastries.

Does it contain nuts?

Yes in the white chocolate version, whose filling contains 9% hazelnut paste: that is an ingredient, not a trace. The other versions have different fillings. If you are allergic to nuts, you must read the label on the unit you receive.

How much sugar is there per doughnut?

The manufacturer does not publish this value, and we are not going to invent it. It does state, however, that the recipe contains sugar in addition to maltitol, a bulk sweetener. The exact content must appear on the product packaging.

What is maltitol?

It is a polyol, a bulk sweetener that replaces part of the sugar. It provides fewer calories and raises blood glucose less than sugar does, but it is not calorie-free, and how well it is tolerated digestively varies from person to person. Eating a lot of it can upset sensitive guts.

When should you eat it?

The manufacturer recommends the 30 minutes following training, and that is indeed the moment when its 25 g of carbohydrate and 9 g of protein make the most sense. As an ordinary snack during the day, it works too, bearing its 277 kcal in mind.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

Yes for vegetarians, the protein coming from egg and milk. It is not suitable for vegans. Nor is it suitable for coeliacs: wheat flour is a main ingredient in the recipe.

Where can you buy the IO Genix Protein Doughnut?

The various versions can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product in front of which we always run through the allergen list: four recipes, four fillings, and hazelnut paste in one of them — checking is better done at the counter than at the first bite. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Protein Mass?

It is a mass-gain powder to be mixed with liquid, with a reference serving of 50 g for 195 kcal, combining protein, carbohydrate, creatine and glutamine. The flavours listed: Intense Chocolate, Original Black Cookies, Vanilla-Hazelnut, Crema Rica Cookies and Petit Yogurt.

Let us set the right expectations straight away, because the name can be misleading. With 16 g of protein and 28 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal, this product belongs to the lean gainer family, not to the heavyweight gainers. A true hard gainer delivers 400 to 600 kcal per serving. That is not a flaw: it is a different category, and it is better to know before you buy.

The first ingredient on the list is oat flour, not maltodextrin or sugar — which explains the mere 2 g of sugars for 28 g of carbohydrate. Then come maltodextrin, a LACTOMIN® whey protein concentrate, L-glycine, Kyowa L-glutamine, creatine monohydrate, flavourings, sucralose, a colour (azorubine), the DigeZyme® enzyme complex and vitamin B6. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does a 50 g serving contain?

* Column calculated from the values declared for 50 g. Not included in the data supplied: the energy value in kilojoules, the "of which saturates" line, the "fibre" line, the vitamin B6 content and the net weight of the pack — so we cannot calculate the number of servings per tub. Divide the weight printed on the packaging by 50 g.

The most interesting figure in this table is not the protein, it is the creatine: 3,000 mg per serving. That is exactly the daily maintenance dose, the one on which the only authorised claim on this entire product rests: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise, a claim valid from 3 g per day. One serving puts you right on it. If you take two, you are at 6 g, which brings nothing further.

The second figure is the sugars: 2 g for 28 g of carbohydrate. That is what genuinely sets this powder apart from a cheap gainer loaded with dextrose. The oat flour at the top of the list is not a marketing line: you can see it on the "of which sugars" row, and it is verifiable.

A third reading, less flattering: 16 g of protein per serving is not a lot. An ordinary whey shake delivers 22 to 25 for 120 kcal. Here, the protein comes with 28 g of carbohydrate. That is the very principle of a gainer, but it does mean you should stop comparing this product to a protein: it is not the same use.

On the glutamine and the DigeZyme® complex we shall be brief: no health claim is authorised in Europe for either glutamine or an enzyme complex. We mention them because they appear on the label, without attributing any effect to them.

How do you take Protein Mass?

Serving: 50 g, that is two scoops. Liquid: 300 to 400 ml of water or skimmed milk. Timing: between meals, or after training. Frequency: up to two servings a day depending on your bodyweight and your needs. Duration: ongoing, as no course duration is set.

The manufacturer's advice, which we are happy to repeat: start with a half serving for the first week. Twenty-eight grams of carbohydrate, creatine and glutamine all at once, in a stomach that is not used to it, makes itself felt. Building up gradually avoids the discomfort that makes people give up after three days.

Shake vigorously for thirty seconds, pouring the liquid in before the powder. With oat flour in the formula, the texture is thicker than a whey shake: that is normal, and 400 ml rather than 300 makes it considerably easier to drink if you have to get it down between two meals.

Creatine brings one further instruction, and it is not decorative: increase your water intake throughout the period of use. That applies to any product containing creatine monohydrate.

A final word on timing. The manufacturer suggests four slots; in practice, a gainer is there to add calories where you cannot manage to eat them. Take it at the point in the day when you usually skip a snack, not on top of a meal you are already eating.

Who is Protein Mass right for, and who is it not right for?

It is aimed at those who cannot get their calories up at the table: limited appetite, short days, a metabolism that burns through everything. Drinking 195 kcal is far easier than getting the equivalent down in rice and chicken. It also suits those already taking creatine who appreciate not having one more product to juggle.

The product contains GLUTEN (oat flour) and MILK. Note a discrepancy in the labelling supplied: the ingredient list mentions SOYA among the possible traces, while the warning places it among the allergens present. If you are allergic to soya, work on the more cautious assumption and check the packaging. Traces of WHEAT, EGG and FISH are also possible. The manufacturer advises against it for children, adolescents and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It contains azorubine (E122), an azo colour that requires the following regulatory wording: may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. We reproduce it because it is mandatory, and because it appears nowhere else on this page.

It is not suitable if you are coeliac: oat flour is the first ingredient, and here gluten is a component, not a trace. Nor is it suitable when cutting, or if your aim is simply to raise your protein intake — in that case, a whey shake does better for fewer calories.

What you should not expect from it: mass gain without eating. 195 kcal is a snack, not a meal, and two servings a day represent 390 added calories. If your diet does not follow, this product will do nothing at all. The phrase "rapid muscle development" should not lead you to hope for anything other than a well-composed calorie supplement.

Protein Mass or a hard gainer?

That is the choice that really matters, and it comes down to a single line: calories per serving.

A hard gainer delivers 400 to 600 kcal per serving, with a carbohydrate-to-protein ratio often of 3:1 or 4:1 and a lot of maltodextrin. It is the better choice if you genuinely struggle to put on weight and need to add 800 to 1,000 kcal a day. Its drawback is well known: the volume is enormous, the taste quickly becomes sickly, and part of the calories come from simple sugars.

Protein Mass is the better choice for measured mass gain, where you want to add 200 to 400 clean calories without sending your sugars through the roof. The protein-to-carbohydrate ratio here is 1:1.75, which is far more balanced than a conventional gainer, and the 3 g of built-in creatine saves you a further product. It is also a shake you can drink every day without coming to hate it after a week.

A third route exists, and it is often the most economical: buy a protein, an oat flour and creatine separately, and put it together yourself. You control every dose and the cost per gram falls. What you lose is the convenience of a single powder — it is up to you to decide what matters most.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a gainer or a protein?

Not quite one and not quite the other: it is a lean gainer. With 16 g of protein and 28 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal, it delivers less protein than a whey and far fewer calories than a hard gainer. Its place is that of a solid, well-composed snack, not a protein shake nor a massive calorie top-up.

Should you take creatine alongside it?

No, if you take one serving a day: the 3 g it contains correspond exactly to the daily maintenance dose, and that is the threshold on which the authorised claim rests. Adding more on top will do nothing further. On the days you do not take a shake, however, your creatine intake drops to zero.

Does the product contain gluten?

Yes, and not merely as traces. Oat flour is the first ingredient on the list, and traces of wheat are flagged as well. In cases of coeliac disease this product is not indicated — that is a point better read here than after the purchase.

How many servings per tub?

The net weight of the pack does not appear in the labelling data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot calculate it. Divide the weight printed on the packaging by 50 g, which is the reference serving for every value on this page.

Water or milk?

The manufacturer allows both, with skimmed milk. With water, you stay at 195 kcal, which is the honest calculation. With milk, allow 100 to 130 kcal more depending on the volume: that is useful if your aim really is to raise your calories, and it needs to go into your total if you are counting them.

Why start with a half serving?

Because 28 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of creatine and 6 g of glutamine all at once often cause bloating in the first few days. A week at 25 g is enough to let the body get used to it. It is common-sense advice, given by the manufacturer itself, and rarely followed.

Which flavour should you choose?

Intense Chocolate and Original Black Cookies are the boldest, Crema Rica Cookies and Vanilla-Hazelnut are milder, Petit Yogurt is noticeably lighter and tangier — it is the one that goes down best if you have to drink two servings a day, boredom being the number one reason a gainer gets abandoned. All of them contain sucralose and a colour.

Where to buy IO Genix Protein Mass?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. If this is your first gainer, pick a flavour you know you can drink every day: that is the most decisive criterion.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always start with the same question in front of this aisle: how many calories are you eating at the moment? Nine times out of ten, the answer shows that a meal is missing, not a supplement — and a lean gainer like this one solves exactly that problem, no more and no less. The rest of the aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition range.

What is IO Genix Pure Taurine?

IO Genix Pure Taurine is a single-ingredient taurine powder. A 1 g serving provides 1,000 mg of taurine, and there is nothing else in the tub: no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent. The serving is roughly half a scoop, to be mixed into 200 ml of water or the drink of your choice.

Taurine is not an amino acid in the strict sense: it is an aminosulfonic acid, which means it is not used to build proteins. The body can make it from cysteine, and the diet supplies it through fish, seafood and meat. Diets that exclude animal products, by contrast, supply very little of it.

It is the molecule most often associated with energy drinks, where it sits alongside caffeine. That association explains a common confusion: taurine is not a stimulant, and it never has been. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section, and the other products in the category in our taurine section.

What does a serving of Pure Taurine contain?

1 g per serving is the simplest format imaginable, and that is its main appeal. One ingredient, a round dose, no formula around it. You can adjust it to the half-gram, which no complete pre-workout allows, and you know exactly what you are taking.

To put that gram in context: it takes around 200 g of seafood or fish to come close to a comparable intake from food. A standard can of energy drink generally contains around 1 g as well — except that it also brings caffeine and sugar, which is not the case here.

On the regulatory side, let us be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for taurine. Not for focus, not for energy, not for recovery, not for performance. So we describe the molecule, its dose and how to use it, without attributing any effect to it.

On safety, one figure is worth knowing: EFSA has concluded that taurine intakes of up to 6 g a day do not raise safety concerns in adults. At 1 g per serving, you are well below that benchmark. That does not remove the need to follow the dose stated by the manufacturer, which remains the reference.

Two pieces of information are missing from the manufacturer's file and we will not invent them: the net weight of the tub — and therefore the number of servings — and the energy value per serving are not disclosed. The origin of the taurine, synthetic or otherwise, is not specified either, which makes it impossible to rule on its compatibility with a vegan diet. That information is on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Pure taurine (100%). No flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent.

May contain traces of MILK, SOYA, GLUTEN, FISH and EGG. Made in a facility that handles these ingredients.

How do you take Pure Taurine?

Serving: 1 g, i.e. about half a scoop. Liquid: 200 ml of water, or your usual drink. Timing: 30 minutes before the session, or immediately after training. Frequency: one serving a day, without exceeding the stated dose. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length.

The powder dissolves well and has no pronounced taste, which makes it easy to slip in anywhere: into water, into juice, into a shaker or into an already-mixed pre-workout. That is a real advantage over amino acids such as arginine or citrulline, which are frankly bitter.

Mixing it into a pre-workout is in fact the most common use, and the manufacturer suggests it themselves. There is a practical reason for that: taurine is an ingredient found in most complete formulas, and adding it to a caffeine-free base lets you rebuild a pre-workout yourself, gram by gram. Do check the label of your pre-workout, though: if it already contains 1 or 2 g, the addition is redundant.

Two slots are suggested: before the session or just after. Neither is required on regulatory grounds, and the choice comes down mainly to organisation. If you do not use a pre-workout, taking it after training is the easiest option to fit in.

The manufacturer recommends maintaining steady hydration across the day, which is sound advice for this whole category. Taurine combines easily with an electrolyte powder, with creatine monohydrate or with beta-alanine, in the same glass.

Who is taurine for, and who is it not for?

It appeals to the lifter who puts together their own pre-workout, ingredient by ingredient, and who wants to choose the doses rather than buy a ready-made formula. It also appeals to those looking for an active with no stimulant: there is no caffeine here at all, so the product can be used in the evening with no consequences for sleep.

The manufacturer advises against it for children and for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and asks that the recommended daily dose not be exceeded. As with any supplement, professional advice is essential if you are on medical treatment.

It may contain traces of milk, soya, gluten, fish and egg, since manufacturing takes place in a facility that handles these ingredients. As the manufacturer does not specify the origin of the taurine, we cannot rule on its compatibility with a vegan diet: if that point is decisive for you, the label on the tub you receive is the only reference.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a stimulant. Taurine's reputation comes from its presence in energy drinks, where it is the caffeine that produces the effect you feel. You will feel nothing when you take this powder, and that is perfectly normal. Nor is it a mass-gain or weight-loss product, and no claim is associated with it in Europe.

Finally, if you are looking for a noticeable effect during the session, this tub will not give it to you. It is the caffeinated pre-workouts you should be looking at — bearing in mind that the effect then comes from the stimulant, not from the formula as a whole.

Taurine on its own or a complete pre-workout?

That is the real question in front of this tub, and it depends on how you like to work.

A complete pre-workout brings ten to fifteen ingredients together in a single serving, very often including taurine. It is the simplest choice: a scoop, some water, done. Its weakness is the weakness of all blends: you choose neither the ingredients nor the doses, and some are sometimes present in token amounts.

Taurine on its own is for those who build their own formula: a gram of taurine, a dose of citrulline, a dose of beta-alanine, and you get exactly what you want, generally at a lower cost. It takes longer to prepare, but nothing is left to chance.

One situation makes buying this tub particularly worthwhile: if you use a caffeine-free pre-workout and want to enrich it without adding a stimulant. Taurine fills that role without changing anything about your sleep, and that is the reason we most often sell it.

Frequently asked questions

Is taurine a stimulant?

No. It is a very widespread confusion, kept alive by its presence in energy drinks: in those drinks, the effect you feel comes from the caffeine and the sugar, not from the taurine. This powder contains no stimulant and produces no sensation when you take it.

How much per day?

1 g per serving, i.e. about half a scoop, and one serving a day according to the manufacturer. EFSA has also concluded that intakes of up to 6 g a day do not raise safety concerns in adults, but the dose stated on the packaging remains the reference.

Can it be mixed into a pre-workout?

Yes, that is in fact the most common use and the manufacturer suggests it. Do check the label of your pre-workout, though: taurine appears in most complete formulas, sometimes at 1 or 2 g per serving. In that case, adding more brings nothing.

Does it have a taste?

The powder is unflavoured and unsweetened, but its taste stays discreet and it dissolves easily. That is a clear advantage over other powdered amino acids, such as arginine or citrulline, whose bitterness often forces you to mask the taste in juice.

Is it suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer does not specify the origin of the taurine, and we will not decide in their place. The taurine used in food supplements is generally synthetic, but that information is not confirmed here. If the point is decisive for you, the label on the tub you receive is what counts.

How many servings in a tub?

The manufacturer publishes neither the net weight nor the number of servings, and we will not work them out. The information is on the packaging. For the calculation, bear in mind that one serving is 1 g of powder, i.e. about half a scoop.

Can it be taken in the evening?

There is nothing against it: the formula contains no stimulant, and taurine has no known effect on sleep. That is in fact one of its attractions for anyone who trains late and can no longer take a caffeinated product.

Where can you buy IO Genix Pure Taurine?

The powder can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product in front of which we most often correct a received idea: no, taurine does not wake you up, and customers who came in looking for a kick generally leave with something else — which is exactly the service you expect from a shop assistant. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Pure Tyrosine?

IO Genix Pure Tyrosine is a single-ingredient L-tyrosine powder. A 1 g serving delivers 1,000 mg of L-tyrosine at a purity above 99%, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no bulking agent. The tub holds 240 servings, which is more than six months at one serving a day.

Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid: the body can make it itself, from another amino acid, phenylalanine. Diet supplies it in abundance, through dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, soya and nuts. Cheese is in fact its most emblematic source — the name comes from the Greek tyros, meaning cheese.

Its biochemical role is well established: tyrosine is the starting point for the synthesis of catecholamines, a family of nervous-system messengers. That is a point of biochemistry, documented and uncontested; what supplementation actually produces in an adult is another question, and we come back to it below. The powder is produced by fermentation from plant-based substrates. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

What does a serving of Pure Tyrosine contain?

A purity above 99% and 240 servings in a tub: these are the two figures that define this product. The first means there is practically nothing in there but the amino acid — no bulking agent, no sweetener, no colouring. The second is remarkable: at one serving a day, a tub lasts more than six months; at the maximum dose of 2 g, it still lasts four months.

The powder is produced by biofermentation from plant-based substrates, which makes it suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. That is a welcome exception in a category largely dominated by gelatine capsules. Its taste is neutral and it dissolves easily in cold water.

On the regulatory side, let us be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for L-tyrosine. Not for concentration, not for alertness, not for mood, not for performance, not for the thyroid. Tyrosine's role as a precursor of catecholamines is a point of biochemistry; what oral supplementation produces in a healthy adult has no dossier approved at European level. So we describe the molecule, its dosage and its precautions, and promise nothing.

One statement from the old product page has also been removed: it announced a quantified improvement in bioavailability when taken on an empty stomach. That percentage could not be sourced and it has no place here. The principle of taking it away from protein-rich meals still holds, and we explain it below — without any invented figure.

Ingredients list

Pure L-tyrosine (100%, levorotatory form), produced by fermentation from plant-based substrates. Purity above 99%. No bulking agent, no sweetener, no colouring, no preservative. Suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

May contain traces of GLUTEN (wheat, oats), EGGS, MILK and SOYA.

How do you take Pure Tyrosine?

Serving: 1 g, that is one measuring scoop. Liquid: 200 ml of cold water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast. Frequency: one to two servings a day, at least six hours apart, without exceeding 2 g. Duration: cycles of 8 to 12 weeks, with a 2 to 4 week break.

Taking it away from protein-rich meals is not a whim, and the mechanism is well understood. To cross the blood-brain barrier, tyrosine uses a transporter it shares with several other amino acids — the same ones found in a steak or a shake. Taken at the same time as a protein intake, it therefore ends up in direct competition with them. The morning, on an empty stomach, is the slot that solves the problem.

The second instruction is more imperative still: do not take the product after 16:00. The manufacturer states this explicitly, and for a common-sense reason: tyrosine can cause restlessness or insomnia in sensitive individuals. An ingredient from the wakefulness-precursor family is taken in the morning, not in the evening.

If you want to add a second serving, leave at least six hours between them and stay under 2 g a day in total. Start with 1 g for a week before going higher: that is the only way to assess your tolerance without ending up with an unexplained headache.

The powder dissolves easily in 200 ml of cold water and its taste is neutral. The manufacturer recommends cycles of 8 to 12 weeks with a 2 to 4 week break — so a 240-serving tub comfortably covers several full cycles.

It combines without overlap with a taurine, citrulline or beta-alanine powder. Do watch out, however, for stacking it with caffeinated boosters: many already contain tyrosine, often without making a point of it.

Who is tyrosine for, and who is it not for?

It appeals to the adult who builds their own routine, ingredient by ingredient, and who prefers a single active at a known dose to an opaque blend. The 240-serving format also makes it one of the longest-lasting products in the catalogue.

One contraindication here is absolute, and it must be read before any other: phenylketonuria. People with this metabolic disorder, along with those allergic to phenylalanine, must not consume this product. This is not a routine precaution, it is a formal exclusion stated by the manufacturer.

The product is also not recommended in cases of hyperthyroidism or cardiovascular disorders. The manufacturer requires medical advice for anyone treated with MAOI or tricyclic antidepressants, and asks that you avoid combining it with dopaminergic medication without medical advice. It further notes that tyrosine may potentiate the effects of thyroid treatments and stimulants. These warnings are serious and specific: if you are on any medication at all, the question goes to your doctor or your pharmacist before you buy.

It is not recommended for children under 12, and pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult a doctor. The manufacturer lists headaches, nausea, restlessness and insomnia if taken late in the day as possible effects, and recommends starting with low doses.

What not to expect from it: this is neither a stimulant, nor a treatment, nor a sports performance product. You will not find the effect of a coffee here. Nor is it a solution to persistent fatigue, to a lack of motivation or to entrenched difficulties with concentration: those situations have causes — sleep, workload, state of health — that are a matter for a doctor and not for a powder.

Tyrosine or a caffeine-free booster?

The two overlap among people looking for something other than a classic stimulant, and they do not work in the same way.

A caffeine-free booster is a complete formula, generally built around citrulline and ingredients acting on blood flow, sometimes with tyrosine among them. It is the simplest choice if you want a ready-to-use product for the session, with nothing to put together yourself.

Tyrosine on its own answers a different logic: a single amino acid, at a known dose, that you place wherever you like in the day — and in the morning in particular, entirely outside any training context. It costs far less per gram and gives you total control over what you take.

Watch out for doubling up, which is the real practical question here: many pre-workouts already contain tyrosine, sometimes at comparable doses. If you use a full pre-workout, read its label again before adding this tub, or you may exceed the 2 g daily limit without realising it.

Frequently asked questions

How many servings are there in a tub?

240 servings of 1 g, with a measuring scoop included. At one serving a day that comes to more than six months; at the maximum dose of 2 g a day, around four months. It is by far the longest-lasting pack size in this range.

Why take it on an empty stomach?

Because tyrosine shares its transporter with other amino acids: taken at the same time as a protein-rich meal or a shake, it competes directly with them. The morning, on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast, avoids the problem.

Why not take it in the evening?

The manufacturer asks that you avoid taking it after 16:00, because of the risk of restlessness or insomnia in sensitive individuals. That instruction is consistent with the nature of this amino acid: its place is the morning.

Who must absolutely not take it?

People with phenylketonuria and those allergic to phenylalanine: that is a formal exclusion. The product is also not recommended in cases of hyperthyroidism or cardiovascular disorders, and requires medical advice alongside MAOI or tricyclic antidepressants.

Is it suitable for vegans?

Yes. The tyrosine is produced by fermentation from plant-based substrates, the powder has no animal casing and the manufacturer declares it suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. Traces of milk and eggs remain possible because of the production facility.

Does it have a taste?

The manufacturer describes it as neutral, and the powder dissolves easily in 200 ml of cold water. That is a real advantage over many powdered amino acids, whose bitterness forces you to mask the taste in a juice.

Can it be stacked with a pre-workout?

Check your pre-workout's label first: many already contain tyrosine, sometimes at several hundred milligrams. Stacking them can take you over the 2 g daily limit without your noticing. Adjust the powder dose accordingly.

Where can you buy IO Genix Pure Tyrosine?

The 240-serving tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we ask two questions about before selling it: “are you on any medication?” and “does your pre-workout already contain some?”. The two answers often decide for the customer. The rest of the section can be browsed in our sports nutrition range.

What is IO Genix R-ALA 250 mg?

IO Genix R-ALA is a single-ingredient supplement: one capsule provides 250 mg of alpha-lipoic acid in the R form. The box holds 60 capsules for a net weight of 25 g, that is, a two-month course at one dose a day. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a molecule the body makes in small amounts and which acts as a cofactor in several reactions of cellular energy metabolism, within the mitochondria. Diet supplies very little of it: traces are found in offal, spinach and broccoli, but nothing comparable to a supplement.

Its chemical peculiarity is real and rarely explained properly: it is one of the only antioxidant molecules that is soluble in both water and fat. Most of the others are confined to one medium or the other. The “R” designation, for its part, refers to the form naturally present in the body, as opposed to the racemic mixture, which also contains the inactive S form.

What does one R-ALA capsule contain?

250 mg per capsule is a measured dose, and that is rather good news. Alpha-lipoic acid supplements are sold at doses ranging from 100 to 600 mg per serving, and the highest are not the most advisable — we come to that in the next section. At 250 mg in a single daily dose, this product stays within a reasonable range.

One point of composition needs to be flagged clearly, because it contradicts a widely held assumption about this range: the shell is made of gelatine, not plant cellulose. This product is therefore suitable for neither a vegetarian nor a vegan diet, unlike other products from the same brand. It is a piece of information that is not always given and that settles the purchase for some customers.

On the regulatory side: no health claim is authorised in Europe for alpha-lipoic acid. Not on oxidative stress, not on energy, not on blood sugar, not on the regeneration of other antioxidants. Its role as a mitochondrial cofactor is described in the literature; the effect of oral supplementation, on the other hand, has no approved dossier. So we describe the molecule and its dose, and promise nothing.

Two statements from the old description have also been removed. The first announced a GMP certification issued by a third-party body: we cannot verify it, and we do not pass on certifications that cannot be verified. The second urged customers to “secure your course” because of “limited quantities”: that is a false commercial urgency, and it has no place on a product page.

Ingredients list

Alpha-lipoic acid (R-ALA), capsule (GELATINE), anti-caking agents (magnesium salts of fatty acids and magnesium carbonate) and rice flour. May contain traces of NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take R-ALA 250 mg?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water, 250 ml. Timing: in the morning, preferably. Frequency: one dose a day, no more. Duration: one box corresponds to a two-month course.

The manufacturer advises taking it in the morning. Many sources also recommend taking alpha-lipoic acid away from meals, since a full stomach slows its absorption. The manufacturer does not say so here: we therefore stick to its recommendation, in the morning with a large glass of water.

Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. This instruction, routine on most products, is a genuine one on this one. Alpha-lipoic acid lowers blood sugar, and that is precisely why you should neither double the dose nor improvise a protocol found on a forum.

Consistency matters more than anything else. Two months is the period one box covers, and it is also the sort of timescale on which an active of this type is judged. Taking it erratically supports no conclusion at all.

The product combines without difficulty with vitamin C, vitamin E or coenzyme Q10, which belong to the same family of ingredients without duplicating one another. If you are introducing several products at once, space them a fortnight apart: it is the only way to know what actually changes anything for you.

Who is R-ALA for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult who wants to try a single active, properly dosed, in one daily serving. It is a short-formula product, which remains a good selection criterion in this aisle.

The contraindications, on the other hand, are specific, and the manufacturer states them plainly: lipoic acid is not recommended for people with diabetes, for pregnant women or for women who are breastfeeding. The first deserves explaining rather than simply copying out: this molecule lowers blood sugar, and combined with an antidiabetic treatment it can bring on hypoglycaemia. This is not a token precaution.

One further point must be added, one the manufacturer does not mention and a French buyer is entitled to know: ANSES has reported cases of severe hypoglycaemia associated with the consumption of food supplements containing alpha-lipoic acid, and recommends caution, particularly in people who are predisposed. That is not a reason to give up if you are in good health; it is a reason to stick strictly to the dose and to seek advice at the first unexplained episode of feeling unwell.

The product contains gelatine and is therefore not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets. It may also contain traces of nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, sulphites, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: it is not a treatment, it is not a weight-loss product, and it is not a stimulant. You will feel nothing when you take it, which is normal for an antioxidant. Any question about blood sugar, neuropathy or an ongoing treatment is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist, never for a supplement bought on its own.

R-ALA or coenzyme Q10?

These are the two molecules in the aisle that act closest to cellular energy metabolism, and we are often asked to choose between them.

Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble compound, present in high concentrations in the heart and the muscles, which takes part in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It is very well tolerated, with no contraindications comparable to those listed above, and it is taken with a meal because it needs fat in order to be absorbed. It is the better choice if you are looking for an antioxidant with no grey areas, particularly after the age of fifty, when the body's own production declines.

R-ALA has its dual solubility going for it, which lets it act in environments coenzyme Q10 cannot reach. It is the better choice if it is precisely that property that interests you and if none of the contraindications applies to you. It generally costs less per dose.

Neither has an authorised claim in Europe for this use: on that score they are level, and the choice comes down to tolerance and profile, not to a promise. If you are instead looking for a short-formula antioxidant with no particular contraindications, our NAC section offers a third route, and standardised turmeric a fourth.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between R-ALA and standard alpha-lipoic acid?

Alpha-lipoic acid exists in two mirror forms, R and S. Only the R form is the one the body produces and uses; the S form is inactive. A product sold as R-ALA contains nothing but the active form, whereas a standard alpha-lipoic acid contains roughly half of it. At an equal stated dose, then, the amount of active ingredient is not the same.

How long does one box last?

Two months, at one capsule a day for 60 capsules. That is a duration consistent with what can be expected of an active of this type: nothing is judged in a fortnight, and two months make for a reasonable first trial.

Is this product suitable for vegetarians?

No. The capsule shell is made of gelatine, which is of animal origin. That is a notable difference from several other products in the same range, which use vegetable capsules. For a vegetarian or vegan diet, you will need to turn to a different product.

Why is it not recommended for people with diabetes?

Because alpha-lipoic acid lowers blood sugar. Combined with an antidiabetic treatment, it carries a risk of hypoglycaemia. The manufacturer advises against it explicitly, and ANSES has also reported cases of severe hypoglycaemia linked to supplements containing this molecule. If this applies to you, the question is one for your doctor before any purchase.

What time of day should it be taken?

In the morning, with a large glass of water, as the manufacturer indicates. Consistency counts for more than the exact hour: a daily dose at a set time makes it possible to assess a two-month course honestly, which taking it at random never does.

Can it be combined with other antioxidants?

Nothing stands in the way as far as the ingredients go: vitamin C, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 do not compete with it. The practical advice remains to introduce one product at a time, a fortnight apart, rather than starting everything on the same morning.

Is there a noticeable effect?

No, and none should be expected. It is an antioxidant that works at cell level, with no associated sensation. A product in this category that produced a perceptible effect on being taken ought to worry you rather than excite you.

Where can you buy IO Genix R-ALA?

The box of 60 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product in front of which we always ask one question before selling: “are you diabetic or on medication?”. With a molecule that lowers blood sugar, that is the only serious way to go about it. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Russian Roulette?

It is a ready-to-drink liquid pre-workout, packaged in 60 ml vials. The box holds 20 of them, i.e. 1.2 litres in total. The flavours listed: green apple and red berries.

One shot provides 200 mg of caffeine, 3 g of beta-alanine, 2 g of citrulline, 2 g of AAKG and 1 g of taurine, plus two B vitamins. The rest of the formula is water, citric acid, sucralose, two preservatives — sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate — and flavourings.

The appeal of the format comes down to one sentence: there is nothing to prepare. You shake it, unscrew it, drink it. No scoop, no shaker, no powder sticking to the bottom. For a session in a gym with no water point, or a competition in a car park, that is a genuine practical advantage over a powdered pre-workout. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section.

What does a 60 ml shot contain?

Pack format: 20 shots of 60 ml. The energy value is not declared in the data supplied; on a sugar-free water base it is marginal in any case.

Let us look at the doses one by one, because that is where the difference between a real pre-workout and a coloured drink is decided. Beta-alanine at 3,000 mg is correctly dosed: that is the market's benchmark range, whereas plenty of formulas announce it and then put in 800 mg. Caffeine at 200 mg is the equivalent of two or three espressos, and it is the amount EFSA considers as raising no concern in a single dose for a healthy adult.

Citrulline at 2,000 mg, on the other hand, is moderate. The best-dosed formulas in the category go up to 6 g. That is not a deal-breaker — everything has to fit into 60 ml, after all — but it is worth knowing before you buy: this is a shot built around caffeine and beta-alanine, not around the pump. Our citrulline and L-arginine sections let you top it up if that is your priority.

Now the regulatory framework, and it is strict. No health claim is authorised in Europe for beta-alanine, citrulline, arginine, taurine or caffeine. You will therefore read no promise here about endurance, pump or focus. The only usable wordings come from the two vitamins, both at 100% of the NRV: niacin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue; vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal energy-yielding metabolism. That is all, and it is already honest.

How do you take Russian Roulette?

Serving: 1 shot of 60 ml, never two. Liquid: none, the shot is drunk as it comes. Timing: 15 to 30 minutes before the warm-up. Frequency: 3 to 4 times a week at most. Duration: no set course, but the manufacturer advises against daily use.

Shake the vial before opening: the actives settle. Then drink it in one go. The manufacturer asks that you hydrate generously during the session, at least 500 ml of water: 60 ml of liquid does not count as hydration.

Three instructions deserve careful reading, because they concern safety rather than comfort. Never double the dose: two shots means 400 mg of caffeine, i.e. EFSA's daily reference figure in a single hit. Do not consume after 17:00, the half-life of caffeine being around five hours. And do not stack it with another source of caffeine on the same day — coffee, tea, another pre-workout — leaving at least six hours between them if you cannot avoid it.

The three-to-four-times-a-week limit is not window dressing: tolerance to caffeine sets in within two to three weeks of daily use, and you then have to raise the dose to get the same sensation back. Save this shot for your heaviest sessions.

A final word on what you are going to feel: the beta-alanine tingling, on the face, the back of the neck and the forearms, appears 10 to 15 minutes after taking it and fades during the warm-up. It is a known effect, harmless, and specific to this molecule. It is neither a sign of effectiveness nor a problem: it is simply what beta-alanine does.

Who is this shot for, and who is it not for?

It suits adults who tolerate caffeine well and who want a pre-workout with no preparation. The format slips into a gym bag and needs neither water nor a shaker: that is its argument, and it is a real one.

The manufacturer is categorical about the exclusions, and we pass them on as they stand. The product is prohibited for minors under 18, for pregnant women and for breastfeeding women. It is not recommended for people who are sensitive to caffeine or who have cardiovascular disorders. If you are on medical treatment, consult a doctor before use. Traces of MILK, EGGS, GLUTEN, SOYA, NUTS and FISH are possible.

It is not for you if you train in the evening: at 200 mg of caffeine and with an instruction to take nothing after 17:00, the question is settled. Nor is it for you if you already drink several coffees during the day — do the sum beforehand, not afterwards.

What you should not expect from it: nothing more than what 200 mg of caffeine and 3 g of beta-alanine do. A pre-workout does not make up for a short night, it masks it, and the sleep debt remains in full. Nor does it move your loads up by itself: it makes a session easier to get started, which is no small thing, but that is all that can honestly be said about it.

Ready-to-drink shot or powdered pre-workout?

That is the real choice, and it is decided not on effectiveness but on format and dosing.

A powdered pre-workout allows doses that 60 ml cannot hold: 6 g of citrulline, 3.2 g of beta-alanine, plus tyrosine, betaine or malate. It is the better choice if the pump and endurance matter to you as much as the kick, and it works out cheaper per serving. Its drawback: you need a scoop, a shaker and water.

The shot wins wherever logistics count. Nothing to prepare, an identical dose every time, and a vial that fits in a pocket. It also wins on consistency: nobody gets the dose wrong with a sealed vial, whereas powder scoops are filled by eye.

Two useful alternatives depending on your situation. If you train in the evening, look at a caffeine-free pre-workout: you will lose the kick, you will keep your night's sleep, and it is the best trade in the category. And if you want to push one active in particular, our beta-alanine and taurine sections let you dose each element yourself, which no shot will ever allow.

Frequently asked questions

200 mg of caffeine, how many coffees is that?

Two to three espressos. It is also the amount EFSA considers as raising no safety concern in a single dose for a healthy adult, with 400 mg as the reference figure for the whole day from all sources combined. One shot therefore places you exactly on the single-dose limit.

Why does it tingle?

That is the beta-alanine, at 3,000 mg per shot. The tingling appears 10 to 15 minutes after taking it, mainly on the face and forearms, and disappears during the warm-up. It is a known and harmless effect of this molecule, neither a sign of effectiveness nor a problem.

Can you take two?

No, and the manufacturer says so in black and white: one shot a day at most. Two vials represent 400 mg of caffeine in a single dose, i.e. EFSA's entire daily reference figure taken in one go. It is not a matter of taste, it is a matter of dose.

Up to what time can you drink it?

The manufacturer sets 17:00. That is consistent with the half-life of caffeine, around five hours in an average adult: a shot at 19:00 still leaves a hundred milligrams or so in circulation at midnight. If you train in the evening, this product is not the right one.

Why not take it every day?

Because tolerance to caffeine sets in within two to three weeks of daily use: the same dose no longer produces the same effect, and you then have to go up, which is not sustainable. The manufacturer recommends three to four times a week, reserved for the heaviest sessions.

Is 2 g of citrulline enough?

It is a moderate dose: the best-equipped formulas in the category go up to 6 g. The constraint is physical — five actives have to fit into 60 ml. If the pump is your priority, a powdered pre-workout or a separate citrulline will serve you better; this shot is built around caffeine and beta-alanine.

Can you choose your flavour?

The flavours, green apple and red berries, are listed separately on this page. Note that the manufacturer's documentation also mentions boxes that mix the flavours at random, which is where the product's name comes from: check the contents of the box you receive if that point matters to you.

Where can you buy IO Genix Russian Roulette?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. The box of 20 shots represents five to six weeks at the recommended rate of three to four sessions a week.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we recommend to those who cannot be bothered with a scoop, and advise against for those who train after work at the end of the day. The question of the training slot almost always decides the sale, well before that of the dosing. The rest of the category can be compared in our sports nutrition section.