Sports Nutrition Guide

What is IO Genix TestoLuxe?

IO Genix TestoLuxe is a capsule complex from the Luxury range, sold in a box of 120 capsules — that is 30 days at 4 capsules a day. It brings together thirteen components, every one of them quantified to the milligram, which is rare in a category so often filled with proprietary blends.

The formula combines patented extracts — KSM-66® Ashwagandha, Primavie® Shilajit, Testofen® Fenugreek, AstraGin® and BioPerine® — with D-aspartic acid, saw palmetto, cordyceps, dimethylglycine, and four micronutrients: vitamins B3, B5, D and zinc.

One thing has to be said straight away, because it shapes this entire page: of those thirteen components, only one carries an authorised claim in Europe — zinc. We come back to this in detail below. The product sits in our IO Genix range.

What do four capsules contain?

Everything is quantified, which allows an honest comparison with any competitor. One reservation all the same: the form of vitamin B3 is not specified. At 54 mg the difference matters — at that level nicotinic acid causes the well-known facial flush, nicotinamide does not. We flag the missing detail rather than guess at it.

Here now is the central point, and we put it plainly. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood: that is a wording approved by European Regulation 432/2012, applicable from 15% of the NRV, and the 10 mg in this formula cover 100% of it. Zinc also contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal protein synthesis and to normal fertility. Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal muscle function and normal bones, and vitamins B3 and B5 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism, with B3 also contributing to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

By contrast, no claim is authorised in Europe for D-aspartic acid, ashwagandha, shilajit, fenugreek, saw palmetto, cordyceps, dimethylglycine or the AstraGin® and BioPerine® extracts. The 1,500 mg of DAA make up the highest dose in the formula; we list it because it appears on the label, without attributing any effect to it. “Testosterone booster” is a commercial category name, not a promise — and you now know where the only statement we can stand behind comes from.

How should TestoLuxe be taken?

Dose: 4 capsules a day, never more. Fluid: a large glass of water with each serving. Timing: 2 capsules in the morning and 2 at midday, with meals — ideally 30 minutes before breakfast and 30 minutes before lunch. Frequency: two servings a day. Duration: a course of at least 30 days, with possible cycles of 8 to 12 weeks and a 2 to 4 week break between courses.

Splitting the dose in two is not fussiness: four capsules at once, on an empty stomach, sit badly with a good many people. Two in the morning and two at midday spread the load and make it easier to stick with over thirty days.

The manufacturer explicitly advises against combining it with another hormonal product. That instruction is worth following: stacking two formulas of this kind multiplies the extracts without multiplying anything else. On the other hand, if a blood test shows a deficiency in vitamin D or zinc, a dedicated supplement can make sense — but do the arithmetic, the formula already provides 100% of the NRV for each.

One last point, and it is the most honest on this page: the manufacturer itself is a reminder that sleep (7 to 8 hours), regular strength training, stress management and diet all count. Those four levers weigh infinitely more than any capsule, and no supplement replaces them.

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

The manufacturer restricts it explicitly to adult men over 18. That is the first criterion, and it is not negotiable.

The contraindications are numerous. Not for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Not recommended for people with hormonal disorders or on medical treatment. Consult a doctor before use in case of cardiovascular, liver or kidney problems. Do not exceed 4 capsules a day. And one specific point: the product is not recommended in case of allergy to plants of the Fabaceae family, fenugreek being one of them — that family also includes peanut, pea and soya.

Let us add a note of caution of our own: the presence of BioPerine® at 10 mg, a black pepper extract standardised in piperine, alters the liver metabolism of many medicines. If you are on any treatment at all, the question is one to put to your doctor or pharmacist before opening the box.

What not to expect from it: a transformation. No claim allows anyone to announce a rise in testosterone beyond the maintenance of normal levels by zinc, and that wording describes precisely a maintenance, not an increase. If you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal deficiency — persistent fatigue, reduced libido, unexplained loss of strength — the useful step is a blood test prescribed by a doctor. Not a box of capsules.

TestoLuxe or zinc on its own?

This is the most useful comparison we can make here, and it is an uncomfortable one for the product. Better to own it.

A zinc sold on its own, or a ZMA complex combining zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, costs a fraction of the price of this product. And it carries exactly the same authorised claim: zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. If that wording is what convinced you, be aware that a bottle of zinc costing a few euros holds it just as well. That is the truth, and we would rather give it to you before the purchase.

What TestoLuxe adds on top is an assembly of patented extracts — KSM-66®, Primavie®, Testofen® — that would be long and expensive to put together separately, with every dose published and a single daily routine to manage. If you were going to try ashwagandha, shilajit and fenugreek anyway, buying them together makes a case for itself. If you were only after the effect of zinc, it does not. Plants of this kind are also available separately under ashwagandha, shilajit and fenugreek.

Frequently asked questions

How long does one box last?

Thirty days. The box holds 120 capsules and the dose is 4 a day. For a cycle of 8 to 12 weeks as the manufacturer recommends, count on two to three boxes, followed by a 2 to 4 week break.

What is the only effect that can be claimed?

The one from zinc: it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, and the 10 mg in the formula cover 100% of the NRV. No other component holds an authorised claim in Europe. We would rather say so clearly than keep things vague.

Is the product suitable for women?

No. The manufacturer restricts it explicitly to adult men over 18, and rules it out for pregnant or breastfeeding women. That restriction appears on the label and we repeat it as it stands.

Can it be taken alongside medical treatment?

Not without medical advice. The product is not recommended for people on treatment, and the presence of BioPerine® — a black pepper extract standardised in piperine — alters the metabolism of many medicines. Put the question to your doctor or pharmacist.

Can the 54 mg of vitamin B3 cause flushing?

That depends on the form used, which the manufacturer does not specify. As nicotinic acid, a flush is possible at that dose; as nicotinamide, it is not. If you notice facial redness after taking it, it is harmless and passes within half an hour.

Should breaks be taken?

Yes, the manufacturer recommends cycles of 8 to 12 weeks followed by a 2 to 4 week break. The minimum course is 30 days, that is one box: below that, there is no point.

Can it be combined with another hormonal booster?

No, the manufacturer explicitly advises against it. Stacking two formulas of this kind multiplies the extracts and the costs without guaranteeing anything, and complicates matters if an adverse effect appears. One at a time.

Where to buy IO Genix TestoLuxe?

The box of 120 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a complete and fully quantified formula, which makes it comparable — and that already counts for a lot in a category dominated by proprietary blends.

In Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we talk through at length before selling it, because the expectations it raises often go beyond what the regulations allow anyone to announce. Better to know that beforehand than after.

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.

What is IO Genix Life Hair?

IO Genix Life Hair is a capsule supplement aimed at hair, skin and nails. A four-capsule serving delivers 2,500 mg of VERISOL collagen, combined with vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, biotin, zinc, selenium and a saw palmetto extract. The 120-capsule box covers 30 days.

The mention VERISOL denotes a collagen hydrolysed into bioactive peptides, produced by a specialist German manufacturer. Hydrolysis consists of cutting the collagen protein into much shorter fragments, which makes it soluble and absorbable. It is the standard process behind every collagen sold as a food supplement.

What sets this product apart from a plain collagen is the assembly: eight ingredients accompany the collagen, several of them nutrients with a precise regulatory framework. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section, and the other forms of collagen in our collagen section.

What does a serving of Life Hair contain?

This table has a lot of blank cells, and that is the main reservation to raise about this product. Only the collagen carries a figure: 2,500 mg per serving, a value consistent with what is expected of a collagen in capsule form. The other eight ingredients are named but their dosages are not published by the manufacturer, who refers you to the labelling. We are not going to invent them.

That absence is not trivial, because it bears precisely on the most tightly regulated ingredients in the formula. Zinc, selenium and biotin all three have claims authorised in Europe relating to the maintenance of normal hair, and vitamin C to normal collagen formation. But those claims can only be made above a threshold of 15% of the nutrient reference value per daily serving. Without the dosages, we cannot verify that this threshold is reached, and we will therefore not be taking on any of those claims ourselves. The label on the box you receive carries them if they apply: that is what to read.

For the collagen itself, the situation is simpler: no health claim is authorised in Europe for collagen, in any form whatsoever. Not for skin, not for hair, not for nails, not for joints. Collagen is indeed the main structural protein of those tissues — that is a fact of biology — but the effect of oral supplementation has no validated dossier at European level.

Finally, the saw palmetto extract deserves a mention. It is a plant traditionally associated with men's health, and its presence partly explains the product's positioning. No claim is authorised for it either, and its dosage is not published.

Ingredients list

VERISOL collagen, coating agent (GELATINE), dry saw palmetto extract (Serenoa repens), bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), zinc picolinate, anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide), vitamin B3 (nicotinamide), vitamin A (retinyl acetate), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), D-biotin, sodium selenite.

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

How do you take Life Hair?

Serving: 4 capsules a day. Liquid: a glass of water with each serving. Timing: 2 capsules at breakfast, 2 capsules at lunch. Frequency: two servings a day. Duration: a course of 30 days minimum, repeatable.

Splitting it into two servings is not an affectation. Four capsules at once is a lot for a stomach, and spreading them across two meals makes the course markedly easier to keep up over thirty days. It is also the split the manufacturer settles on.

Taking it with a meal has a concrete justification: the formula contains vitamin A, which needs fat to be properly absorbed. A breakfast and a lunch containing a minimum of fat are more than enough.

Thirty days is the minimum, and that is exactly what one box covers. On hair and nails, one simple biological reality has to be borne in mind: a nail takes several months to renew itself completely, and hair grows about one centimetre a month. No supplement can therefore produce a visible effect in two weeks, whatever its composition. It is a course to be judged over several months, or not at all.

The product combines without redundancy with an omega 3 or a B vitamin complex. Do check your other supplements before stacking, though: zinc and biotin already feature in most multivitamins, and the addition easily goes unnoticed.

Who is Life Hair for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who wants to support a hair or skin routine with a nutritional intake, over a course of several weeks. It is a support product, not a treatment product, and that distinction changes everything about the expectations.

It suits neither vegetarians nor vegans, on two counts: collagen is a protein of animal origin, and the capsule shell is made of gelatine. There is no such thing as plant collagen, whatever some brands' marketing may say — what those are is plant complexes intended to support endogenous synthesis, which is something else.

The manufacturer advises against it for children and pregnant women and asks that it not be used in case of allergy to any of the components. The presence of a saw palmetto extract also justifies medical advice if you are on any treatment, particularly urinary or hormonal.

Additional caution is called for because of the vitamin A: it is a nutrient whose intake should not accumulate unmonitored, particularly in women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy. As the dosage is not published, that caution is all the more justified. The product may contain traces of gluten, eggs, milk, fish and soya.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a treatment for hair loss, and there is no point hoping it will be one. Sudden, diffuse or localised hair loss is a matter for a doctor or a dermatologist, who will look for a cause — iron deficiency, thyroid disorder, stress, ongoing treatment. A supplement diagnoses nothing.

Collagen capsules or collagen powder?

Both exist in our range and they do not serve the same use.

Collagen powder allows far higher doses, typically 10 g a day, against 2,500 mg here. It is simply a matter of volume: it would take sixteen capsules to reach 10 g. If your objective is the collagen itself and the quantity of it, powder is the more rational choice and often cheaper per gram.

The capsule format has other advantages: it travels, it needs neither shaker nor measuring, it has no taste — which counts, since collagen powder has a flavour not everyone appreciates. And above all, this particular product is not a collagen on its own: it is a complex, in which the collagen sits alongside eight other ingredients.

If your priority is vitamin and mineral coverage rather than collagen, a complete and well-dosed multivitamin will be more economical and more transparent about its quantities. And if you are after the intake of one specific nutrient, better to take it on its own: our zinc and vitamin C sections state their dosages in figures.

Frequently asked questions

How much collagen per day?

2,500 mg for the full four-capsule serving. That is a consistent amount for a capsule format, but markedly lower than the 10 g common to collagen powders. The choice of format therefore comes down to convenience as much as to quantity.

Why are the vitamin dosages not stated?

The manufacturer does not publish them in its documentation and refers you to the product labelling. We are not going to invent them. It is the main reservation on this page, because those dosages determine which nutrition claims apply: read the label on the box you receive.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No, on two counts: collagen is a protein of animal origin, and the capsule shell is made of gelatine. No true collagen is plant-based, whatever commercial formulations you may come across.

How long before you see anything?

Not in a few weeks. Hair grows about one centimetre a month and a nail takes several months to renew itself completely: it is those rhythms that govern things, not the composition of the product. A thirty-day course is a start, not an assessment.

Why two servings a day?

Because four capsules at one go are hard to swallow and sit heavily on the stomach. The manufacturer therefore splits them into two capsules at breakfast and two at lunch. Taking them with a meal also makes it easier to absorb the vitamin A, which needs fat.

Can it be combined with a multivitamin?

It can, but do the sums. Zinc, selenium, biotin and B vitamins feature in most complete multivitamins, and stacking two sources adds nothing. As this product's dosages are not published, caution rather suggests choosing one or the other.

Does this product treat hair loss?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised. Unusual hair loss has a cause that needs to be looked for — iron deficiency, thyroid disorder, treatment, significant stress — and that search belongs to a doctor. A food supplement supports, it does not cure.

Where can you buy IO Genix Life Hair?

The 120-capsule box can be ordered from this page, and we ship all over France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product in front of which we systematically temper expectations: when a customer describes recent and significant hair loss, we advise them to see a doctor first, and the box can wait. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Glucosamine Complex?

IO Genix Glucosamine Complex is a joint supplement in capsules. A four-capsule serving supplies 1,000 mg of glucosamine sulphate, 500 mg of chondroitin sulphate and 500 mg of MSM, with bromelain on top of that. The 120-capsule box covers a 30-day course.

These three actives belong to the same family of use and are almost always found together. Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural constituents of cartilage: the first is an amino sugar, the second a long carbohydrate chain that holds water in cartilage tissue. MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, is an organic sulphur compound.

The manufacturer states the origin of each raw material, which is both useful and rare: the glucosamine is of marine origin, the chondroitin of avian origin, and the MSM is synthetic. For some customers those three pieces of information settle the purchase, and we come back to them. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our glucosamine aisle.

What does one serving of Glucosamine Complex contain?

1,000 mg of glucosamine a day is a serious dose, clearly stated, which is not all that common in this aisle. Many joint complexes advertise a long list of ingredients without giving a single milligram, or bundle everything into a “proprietary complex” that cannot be assessed. Here, three of the four actives are quantified to the milligram.

The fourth is not, and we flag it rather than pass over it in silence: the bromelain dose is not published by the manufacturer, who refers you to the label. We are not going to invent it. It is the only missing figure on this page, but it matters, because bromelain is not a neutral ingredient.

We have to be blunt on the regulatory side, because this is the aisle where the most is written: no health claim is authorised in Europe for glucosamine, chondroitin or MSM. Not for the joints, not for cartilage, not for suppleness, not for ease of movement. They are natural constituents of cartilage — that is a fact of biology, not a promise of effect — and the European Union has approved no dossier for oral supplementation. So we describe the composition and the precautions, without announcing a result.

If your goal concerns the joints, note that one ingredient in this field does have authorised claims: vitamin D, which contributes to the maintenance of normal bones and to normal muscle function. It is a route worth taking seriously, in our vitamin D aisle, and it costs a great deal less. A properly dosed magnesium also contributes to normal muscle function.

Ingredients list

Glucosamine sulphate (CRUSTACEANS), chondroitin sulphate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), coating agents (GELATINE, colours: calcium carbonate and starch sodium octenyl succinate), bromelain, anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide).

Contains CRUSTACEANS. May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK and SOYA.

How do you take Glucosamine Complex?

Dose: 4 capsules. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: in the morning, with breakfast. Frequency: a single serving a day, all four capsules together. Duration: a course of 30 days minimum, repeated as needed.

The four capsules are taken all at once, and that is a deliberate choice by the manufacturer. The argument is not pharmacological, it is practical: a single morning serving is infinitely easier to keep up over a month than four servings spread across the day. On a product that gives nothing in under several weeks, consistency beats theory.

Take them with the meal rather than on an empty stomach. Four capsules in an empty stomach cause digestive discomfort in some people, and the meal settles that. If swallowing four capsules in one go is a problem for you, take them one by one with a few sips of water in between.

Thirty days is the stated minimum and it is also what one box covers. This kind of product can never be judged in a week, and you need to know that before you buy: if you expect a result on day three, you will be disappointed and you will have drawn a conclusion from nothing.

The product combines without overlap with collagen, an omega 3 or a standardised turmeric, which are the usual companions in this aisle. Add them one at a time, a fortnight apart, rather than all on the same morning.

Who is Glucosamine Complex for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult, a long-standing athlete or not, who wants to support a practice that is demanding on the joints: running, racquet sports, combat sports, heavy loads in the gym. It fits into an approach in which suitable physical activity remains the first lever.

The list of people affected by a contraindication is longer here than elsewhere, and it rests on an official opinion. The manufacturer repeats the recommendations issued by ANSES in 2019 concerning supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin: they are not advised for people with asthma, people on anticoagulants, people with diabetes and those with a cardiovascular risk. This is not a token precaution, it is an alert from the national nutrivigilance system, and it deserves to be followed.

The product contains crustaceans, the glucosamine being of marine origin: it is absolutely ruled out in cases of allergy to crustaceans or seafood. The chondroitin is of avian origin and the capsules are made of gelatine: this complex is therefore suitable neither for vegetarians, nor for vegans, nor for a diet that excludes certain meats.

The manufacturer also advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women and asks that it be kept out of reach of children. The presence of bromelain adds a reason for caution in cases of anticoagulant treatment, and a possibility of a reaction in people allergic to pineapple or latex.

What not to expect from it: it is not a treatment, it cures nothing and it replaces no medical care. Joint pain that persists, that wakes you at night or that limits a movement is a matter for a doctor. A supplement can accompany; it does not diagnose.

Glucosamine or collagen for the joints?

The two products end up in the same basket, and it is better to understand what separates them before taking both.

Collagen is a structural protein, supplied in peptide form. It has two practical advantages over this complex: it is taken as a powder, which avoids four capsules a day, and it contains neither crustaceans nor gelatine in its standard marine or bovine versions. Like glucosamine, it has no authorised health claim in Europe for this use.

Glucosamine combined with chondroitin and MSM is the oldest and most studied approach in the aisle. It is also the one that comes with the greatest number of precautions, as the list above shows. If none of those situations applies to you, it is a coherent and clearly dosed choice.

Our position at the counter is a simple one: start with just one of the two, stick with it for thirty days, and judge after that. Stacking collagen, glucosamine, turmeric and omega 3 from day one is expensive and teaches you nothing about what works for you.

Frequently asked questions

Why four capsules at once?

Because the full daily dose — 1,000 mg of glucosamine, 500 mg of chondroitin, 500 mg of MSM — requires that volume, and because a single morning serving is far easier to keep up over a month than four spread-out servings. Take them with breakfast, never on an empty stomach.

Does this product contain crustaceans?

Yes. The glucosamine is of marine origin and the product declares crustaceans as an allergen. It is therefore absolutely ruled out in cases of allergy to crustaceans or seafood, with no possible exception.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

No, and on three counts at once: the glucosamine is of marine origin, the chondroitin of avian origin, and the capsule shell is made of gelatine. Only the MSM, being synthetic, raises no question from that point of view.

What does ANSES say about glucosamine?

In an opinion issued in 2019, the agency advised against supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin for people with asthma, on anticoagulants, with diabetes or presenting a cardiovascular risk. The manufacturer repeats that recommendation on its labelling, and we reproduce it here.

How long before judging?

Thirty days at the very least, which is exactly what one box covers. Nothing can be concluded in a week with this kind of product. Note what you observe in your everyday movements rather than in a vague sensation: it is the only usable benchmark.

Can it be combined with collagen?

Nothing about the composition stands in the way, as the two do not act on the same molecules. We would nonetheless advise starting with a single product and sticking with it for a full month. Two new things introduced on the same day will teach you nothing about which one suits you.

Is there a risk with an anticoagulant?

Yes, and on two counts: ANSES advises against glucosamine and chondroitin for people on anticoagulants, and the bromelain in the formula is the subject of documented interactions with those same treatments. If this applies to you, the question is settled with your doctor before you buy.

Where can you buy IO Genix Glucosamine Complex?

The 120-capsule box can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is one of the products we take the most time over: three questions — crustacean allergy, anticoagulant treatment, asthma — are usually enough to tell whether it belongs in the customer's bag. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is IO Genix Glycine?

IO Genix Glycine is a pure L-glycine powder. Half a level scoop provides 3 g of glycine, and the manufacturer sets the daily intake at 6 g split into two servings. There is nothing else in the tub: no flavouring, no sweetener, no bulking agent.

One point needs clearing up first, because it causes constant confusion in search engines: the glycine we are talking about here has nothing to do with the climbing plant of the same name. It is an amino acid, the smallest and simplest of the twenty that make up the body's proteins. It is described as non-essential because the body can produce it itself, from serine.

Glycine is particularly abundant in one specific tissue: collagen is roughly one third glycine, which makes it the most heavily represented amino acid in skin, tendons and cartilage. In dietary terms, it is found mainly in the cuts that are rich in connective tissue — skin, bones, cartilage — which is precisely what modern eating habits have stopped including. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix aisle, and the full category in our L-glycine aisle.

What does a serving of Glycine contain?

100% glycine is literally all this tub contains, and that is the strongest argument for this format. On an aisle where fifteen-ingredient formulas are the norm, a product whose ingredient list runs to three words lets you know exactly what you are swallowing and adjust the dose to the gram.

Two features of the product are worth knowing before you buy. The first: the glycine is obtained by plant fermentation, which makes this powder suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets — an exception on an aisle largely dominated by gelatine. The second: it is declared gluten-free by the manufacturer, although traces from the production facility remain possible.

One regulatory point needs to be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for glycine. Not for sleep, not for recovery, not for skin, not for joints. It is an amino acid abundantly present in collagen — that is a fact of biochemistry, not a promise — and the European Union has approved no dossier for oral supplementation. We describe the molecule, its place in the body and how to use it, without announcing any result.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, are not disclosed. We will not infer them. The net content is shown on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Pure L-glycine (100%). Produced by plant fermentation. No additives, no colourings, no preservatives.

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

How do you take Glycine?

Dose: 3 g, or roughly half a 5 ml spoon. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water, fruit juice or plant-based drink. Timing: in the morning on waking, and 30 minutes before bed. Frequency: two servings a day, 6 g in total. Duration: daily use is possible with no time limit, provided the doses are respected.

The most useful quirk of this powder is its taste: glycine is naturally sweet. That is not a turn of phrase — its name comes from the Greek glykys, meaning sweet. In practice, it dissolves into a coffee, a tea or a herbal infusion and sweetens them slightly, without adding sugar in the nutritional sense. It is a simple way of fitting both daily servings in without thinking about them.

It dissolves very well in water, with no lumps, which is not true of every powdered amino acid. It also goes into a smoothie, a protein shake or a yoghurt without any difficulty.

The evening serving, thirty minutes before bed, is the one the manufacturer recommends. It is the easier of the two to keep up over time for a practical reason: it is a fixed point in the day, unlike waking up, which varies.

Do not exceed 6 g per day. This product can be taken continuously, with no imposed cycle or break, which sets it apart from most references on this aisle. It combines without overlap with magnesium, collagen or taurine, and it often turns up in the same baskets as melatonin.

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

It is of interest first of all to those whose diet contains little connective tissue — which today means more or less everyone, since consumption of bone broth, skin and cartilage has fallen away very sharply. It also suits those looking for a simple, unflavoured active ingredient to slot into an already busy routine.

Its composition makes it one of the few products in the range suitable for vegans, since it is obtained by plant fermentation and there is no capsule or animal-derived shell involved. That is a genuine argument on an aisle where the question comes up with every product.

One contraindication deserves particular attention, and it is an unusual one. The manufacturer states that this product should not be used by anyone under treatment for mental health disorders, specifying that it could reduce the effectiveness of that treatment. This is not a generic form of words: it targets a specific situation, and if it applies to you, the question goes to your doctor or pharmacist before any purchase — never after.

The product is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and must be kept out of the reach of children. It may contain traces of gluten, nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: this is not a sleeping pill, not an anxiolytic and not a performance product. You will not feel anything spectacular, and an amino acid that produced a clear effect within the hour would in fact be cause for concern. Nor is it a protein: 6 g a day replaces no shake, and a single isolated amino acid does not build muscle.

Glycine or collagen — which should you choose?

The question is more relevant than it looks, since glycine accounts for roughly one third of collagen.

Powdered collagen provides peptides, that is, protein fragments containing glycine but also proline and hydroxyproline. It is taken at much higher doses, typically 10 g a day, and costs considerably more per gram. Like glycine, it has no health claim authorised in Europe for this use. Its marine and bovine versions are not suitable for vegans.

Glycine on its own is the simplest option, the cheapest, and the only one compatible with a vegan diet. You get one specific amino acid, at a known dose, without the other components of collagen. It is the right choice if that particular molecule is what interests you, and if you want to set your own intake.

For end-of-day routines, this aisle offers other approaches unrelated to this one: magnesium, which does have authorised claims and contributes in particular to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, or ZMA formulas. These follow different logics, and it is better to try one at a time.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same thing as the wisteria plant?

No, no connection at all. The climbing plant called glycine in French is an ornamental plant, and some of its parts are toxic. The product sold here is an amino acid, L-glycine, one of the twenty building blocks of the body's proteins. The confusion comes purely from the shared name.

How much per day?

6 g in total, in two 3 g servings: one in the morning, one thirty minutes before bed. A 3 g dose corresponds to roughly half a 5 ml spoon. Do not exceed the daily dose stated by the manufacturer.

Does glycine have a taste?

Yes, and that is its strong point: it is naturally sweet, its name coming from the Greek for “sweet”. It can therefore be used to lightly sweeten a coffee, a tea or a herbal infusion, without adding sugar in the nutritional sense or any notable calories.

Is it suitable for vegans?

Yes. The glycine here is obtained by plant fermentation, the powder involves no animal-derived shell, and the manufacturer declares it suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. That is a welcome exception in a range largely dominated by gelatine.

Can it be taken continuously?

The manufacturer says so: daily use is possible with no time limit, provided the recommended doses are respected. It is one of the few products on this aisle that imposes no cycle, no break and no fixed course.

Does it interact with any medication?

The manufacturer explicitly asks that this product not be used by anyone under treatment for mental health disorders, stating that it could reduce the effectiveness of that treatment. If this applies to you, the question is one for your doctor. For any other medication, seeking the opinion of a healthcare professional remains the right course.

Can it be mixed with a protein?

Yes, easily and with no known interaction. It dissolves well and its slightly sweet taste goes unnoticed in a flavoured shake. Bear in mind, though, that 3 g of glycine does not add meaningfully to your protein intake: these are two different uses.

Where can you buy IO Genix Glycine?

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 a product we often sell to vegan customers who came in looking for collagen and left with something else: when a dietary constraint closes one door, you may as well open another rather than sell at any cost. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

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 Sinob’s Greens & Reds?

Sinob Greens & Reds is a fruit, vegetable and fibre powder for mixing with liquid, dosed at 10 g per serving. The 300 g tub holds 30 servings, or one month. It belongs to the superfood ingredients family, the blends sold to top up a diet that is short on plant foods.

The name describes how the product is built: a “green” half — barley grass, spirulina, spinach, chlorella — and a “red” half — beetroot, açaí, blueberry, rosehip. Around them sits a fibre base of pectin, psyllium and wheat fibre, then a handful of extracts: green tea, matcha, black pepper. The sweetener is a stevia extract. The rest of the German range can be found in our Sinob section.

A word straight away about what to expect from this category: it is not a vegetable substitute, and we explain further down why the quantities involved do not allow it to be presented as one.

What does a 10 g serving contain?

The per 100 g values are calculated from the manufacturer’s declaration for a 10 g serving. Here now is the breakdown of the dosed ingredients, in descending order.

The real selling point of this product is the 3.15 g of fibre per serving. That is a solid figure: roughly a tenth of the recommended daily intake for an adult, supplied by pectin and psyllium, two well-tolerated soluble fibres. For someone whose diet is short on plant foods, that is a genuine, measurable contribution, and it is by far the best thing this powder does.

The “superfoods”, on the other hand, need putting back in proportion, because nobody else does it. 500 mg of spirulina is half a gram, when properly dosed spirulina products offer 3 to 5 g a day. 800 mg of beetroot is the equivalent of a single slice. And rosehip, an ingredient traditionally rich in vitamin C, supplies only 1.2 mg per serving here, or 1.5% of the reference value — which is to say nothing at all. These are not criticisms of the formula, they are the actual quantities, and what they tell you is that this product is a fibre source with a plant profile, not a source of micronutrients.

It is also why no health claim can be made for this product. The vitamins and minerals it contains are not present in significant amounts, and none of the plant extracts in the formula holds an authorised claim in Europe. The one thing that is true and can be said is the fibre figure.

One point of composition deserves flagging before we move on: the ingredients list mentions wheat fibre. Wheat is a source of gluten and an allergen subject to mandatory declaration. The manufacturer does not highlight it in the information available to us: if you are coeliac or intolerant, you must read the label on the tub you receive before using it.

Ingredients list

Pectin, psyllium, WHEAT fibre, barley grass, spirulina, spinach, chlorella, beetroot, açaí (30:1 extract), blueberry, rosehip, carrot, pineapple, tomato, green tea extract (of which EGCG), matcha, black pepper (of which piperine), sweetener: stevia extract. Contains WHEAT. Refer to the labelling on the tub for the full allergen declaration.

How do you take Greens & Reds?

Dose: 10 g, one serving. Liquid: 200 ml of cold water minimum. Timing: in the morning, or mid-afternoon. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: there is no course to follow, use is continuous.

The volume of water is not negotiable. Psyllium and pectin are fibres that swell on contact with water: given too little liquid, they thicken in the throat and become unpleasant to swallow. 200 ml is a minimum, 300 ml is more comfortable, and you should drink normally in the hours that follow.

The powder also mixes very well into a smoothie, fromage frais or yoghurt, which masks the vegetal taste — sharp, grassy, slightly earthy — that not everyone enjoys. That is often the best way to keep taking it over the long run.

If you are not used to fibre, start with half a serving for a week. Jumping from 15 to 18 g of fibre a day in one go causes bloating and discomfort in a lot of people. Building up gradually solves the problem and costs nothing.

Finally, leave at least two hours between this and any medicine or mineral supplement. Soluble fibres slow the absorption of whatever they are taken with, and that applies just as much to an iron tablet or a multivitamin.

Who is Greens & Reds for, and who is it not for?

It suits someone whose diet genuinely lacks fibre and plant foods: meals eaten out, busy weeks, a dislike of vegetables. In that specific case, 3 g of soluble fibre a day added with no effort has concrete value.

It is not suitable for people who are coeliac or gluten intolerant, as the formula contains wheat fibre. That is the single most important point on this page and it bears repeating.

Nor is it suitable if you have unstabilised irritable bowel syndrome: a sudden load of soluble fibre can make symptoms worse before it makes them better. In that case, introduction must be very gradual, and ideally discussed with a healthcare professional.

The formula contains green tea extract, a source of EGCG and of a small amount of caffeine. It is not a problem at this dose, but it is worth knowing if you take your serving in the evening or if you are stacking several sources of green tea extract.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the honest paragraph on this page: it is not a substitute for fruit and vegetables. 10 g of powder does not replace 400 g of fresh plant food, nor its water, nor its volume, nor its variety. Nor does it “detoxify” anything — the liver and kidneys do that job on their own. It is a fibre supplement with a plant profile, which is useful in itself, but it excuses nothing.

Greens & Reds or a multivitamin?

That is the trade-off most buyers weigh up, and the two products do not cover the same need at all.

A multivitamin supplies vitamins and minerals at declared amounts, often close to or above the reference values, which allows precise claims and comparison between products. It is the better choice if your concern is micronutritional: winter, a restrictive diet, irregular dietary intake. Its shortcoming is that it supplies no fibre and no plant compounds.

Greens & Reds does the opposite: plenty of fibre, a varied plant profile, but no micronutrient in a significant amount. It is the better choice if the problem is transit or a lack of plant foods, not if the problem is a deficiency. Nothing stops you taking both: they barely overlap.

If your concern is more specifically digestive, two other families are worth a look: probiotics, which supply live strains rather than fibre, and digestive enzymes, which act on the digestion of the meals themselves. The full range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

Frequently asked questions

How much fibre per serving?

3.15 g per 10 g of powder, or roughly a tenth of the recommended daily intake for an adult. It comes mainly from pectin and psyllium, two well-tolerated soluble fibres. It is the most solid figure on the whole label.

Does this product contain gluten?

The ingredients list mentions wheat fibre, which is a source of gluten. The product is therefore not suitable for people who are coeliac or intolerant. You must check the allergen declaration on the tub you receive before using it.

Does it replace vegetables?

No, and that needs saying plainly. 10 g of powder supplies neither the volume, nor the water, nor the variety of 400 g of fresh plant food. The amounts of spirulina, beetroot or rosehip are counted in hundreds of milligrams, a fraction of a real portion. It is a supplement, not a replacement.

What does the powder taste like?

Vegetal and grassy, slightly earthy, with the mild bitterness of barley grass and spirulina. The stevia extract softens it without masking it. Mixed into a fruit smoothie or fromage frais, it goes down far better than in water alone.

Can you take it in the evening?

There is nothing against it, but the formula contains green tea extract, which brings a little caffeine. If you are sensitive, the morning remains the best slot. It also fits better with the effect of fibre on transit, which is appreciated more at the start of the day.

How much vitamin C does the rosehip supply?

1.2 mg per serving, or 1.5% of the nutrient reference value. That is negligible, and it explains why no claim can be made for this product. If vitamin C is what you need, you want a product dosed for it.

How many servings in a tub?

Thirty, at 10 g per serving for 300 g of powder. A tub therefore covers exactly one month at one serving a day. That is the most common purchase rhythm for this type of product.

Where can you buy Sinob’s Greens & Reds?

The 300 g 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 sell by presenting it for what it is: a fibre intake with a garden taste, not health insurance in powder form. The people who buy it on that basis use it for a long time.

What is Sinob Core Creapure®?

Core Creapure® is the creatine from the German brand Sinob: a 500 g tub of creatine monohydrate carrying the Creapure® label, whose raw material is produced by AlzChem at its site in Trostberg, Bavaria. No flavouring, no additives, a single ingredient.

What the label guarantees — origin, dedicated production line, batch-by-batch control of synthesis by-products — is explained on our Creapure page, and it is the same for every product that carries it. No need to repeat it here: what sets this one apart comes down to three details on the label.

The first is a Creapure® licence number, no. 19SN14, printed on the packaging: a verifiable identifier that no other labelled creatine in our range displays. The second is a stated purity figure, with the manufacturer declaring more than 99.9% creatine monohydrate and production in a closed system. The third is the claimed absence of additives: no sweetener, no flavouring, no colouring, no preservative.

What does a 5 g scoop contain?

This is the point that most clearly separates this product from other labelled creatines: the label is written for 5 g, not for 3 g. A full scoop provides 5,000 mg of creatine monohydrate and 10 kcal, along with 0.1 g of fat, 0.1 g of carbohydrate, 0.1 g of protein and 0.1 g of salt.

Five grams is the top of the usual maintenance range of 3 to 5 g a day, or roughly 0.03 g per kilo of body weight: 3 g for 65 kg, 5 g for 90 kg. The claim authorised in the European Union, for its part, is based on 3 g a day — creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high-intensity exercise. Beyond that, the excess is passed in the urine.

The tub states 100 servings: 100 days if you follow the label at 5 g, roughly 166 days if you drop to 3 g as most people under 80 kg do. The difference in annual cost between these two ways of dosing the same tub does not depend on the brand, but on you.

How do you take Sinob Core Creapure®?

The manufacturer states 3 to 5 g a day, that is one scoop, in 300 ml of water, as a single daily serving, at any time. It sets no course duration and specifies that no loading phase is necessary — we agree, and that is rare enough to be worth pointing out.

On this point, our position does not change: 20 g a day for a week only brings saturation forward by two to three weeks, without changing the final level in any way. It is the period in which digestive discomfort is most likely to appear, and it quadruples consumption.

Timing hardly matters at all: creatine works through gradual saturation, not through a blood spike. What counts is consistency, rest days included. Allow three to four weeks before the stores are full.

One clarification: our labelling data does not mention micronisation. If you notice a deposit, it is a matter of preparation — lukewarm rather than ice-cold water, brisk shaking in a shaker, and drinking without letting it stand.

Who is Core Creapure® for, and who is it not for?

For adults doing resistance training or a sport involving short, repeated efforts, and particularly for those weighing more than 85 kg: at that weight, the full scoop corresponds exactly to the target dose, with no fraction to estimate.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as for those under 18, and flags possible traces of gluten, egg, crustaceans, soya and milk linked to the manufacturing environment: this statement rules the product out in cases of coeliac disease or severe allergy, even though none of these ingredients is part of the formulation. ANSES also advises against these supplements for people with impaired kidney or liver function, and supplementation raises serum creatinine: mention it to your doctor before a blood test.

What you should not expect from it: no sensation, no immediate effect, and no greater gain than an unlabelled monohydrate taken at the same dose. Nor is the label an anti-doping certification, which falls under separate programmes covering the finished product. Any medical question is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist.

Core Creapure® or Nutriting nuCrea+?

Both carry the same label and come as a 500 g tub. The comparison is therefore not about purity or origin, but about how you dose and about the format.

Nutriting nuCrea+ also comes in capsules, which Sinob does not offer: that is the decisive argument if you travel, if you would rather not measure out a powder every morning, or if the neutral but slightly harsh taste of monohydrate puts you off. Its powder is also dosed at 3 g, which suits anyone under 80 kg better.

Core Creapure® is the better choice if you are aiming for 5 g a day from the outset, and if you want a verifiable licence number and a stated purity figure on the packaging. One point that is anything but secondary: at 5 g a day, this tub lasts 100 days against 166 for a tub of the same size dosed at 3 g. Work out the monthly cost before comparing the listed prices.

Frequently asked questions

Is the scoop 3 g or 5 g?

Five grams, filled level: that is the figure used for the labelling and for the count of 100 servings. If you are aiming for 3 g because you weigh less than 70 kg, weigh it once to identify the level — the tub will go from 100 to roughly 166 days.

What is licence number 19SN14 for?

It identifies the holder of the Creapure® licence with the producer of the raw material. It lets you check that the wording on the packaging corresponds to a real licence, rather than relying on a free-form phrase along the lines of "German creatine", which anyone can write.

Is this creatine micronised?

Our labelling data does not specify. Micronisation changes neither the molecule, nor the amount absorbed, nor the result in training: only the speed at which it disperses in a glass. If a deposit bothers you, lukewarm water and brisk shaking almost always settle the matter.

Does it contain sweeteners or flavourings?

No. The manufacturer declares a single ingredient, Creapure® creatine monohydrate, with no sweetener, flavouring, colouring or preservative. The taste is therefore that of plain monohydrate, neutral and slightly harsh. If that bothers you, mix it into a juice or a shake rather than plain water.

Should you drink two litres of water a day as the packaging indicates?

The manufacturer recommends increasing your fluid intake. Drink normally and according to your thirst: creatine draws water into the muscle cell, which explains the slight weight gain of the first few weeks, but no particular hydration protocol has been demonstrated.

What happens if I miss a serving?

Nothing. Muscle saturation builds up and falls away over several weeks, not from one day to the next: an isolated missed dose has no consequence, and you should not double up the following day. On the other hand, irregular use over several months never fully saturates the muscle.

Can it be mixed with a protein or with carbohydrates?

Yes, with no known problematic interaction. Many people add it to their post-workout protein shake, or to a carbohydrate source such as maltodextrin, which often improves digestive tolerance. Just avoid leaving it dissolved for several hours.

Where can you buy Sinob Core Creapure®?

You can order it from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this tub can be compared in hand with the other labelled products: the licence number takes three seconds to read, and the price per serving can be worked out on the spot. The full range is in our sports nutrition section.

Sources: EFSA for authorised claims, ANSES for the opinion on food supplements intended for athletes. This information is not a substitute for medical advice.

What is Sinob Curcumin?

Sinob Curcumin is a turmeric extract in vegetable capsules, dosed at 250 mg of rhizome extract standardised to 95% curcuminoids, to which are added 3 mg of black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine. The bottle holds 60 capsules.

What strikes you first is the dosage schedule: one capsule every three days, and not one a day. This is not a way of cutting corners, it is a direct consequence of the dose, and we explain why below. It also means that one bottle covers six months, which is unusual in this aisle.

Culinary turmeric contains roughly 2 to 5% curcuminoids. An extract standardised to 95% therefore concentrates the active fraction massively: the manufacturer states that one capsule is equivalent to around 94.8 g of turmeric powder. It is this concentration that makes all the difference between sprinkling a dish and taking a supplement — and it is also what calls for precautions that kitchen turmeric does not require. The rest of the German range appears in our Sinob aisle.

What does one capsule of Curcumin contain?

No nutrient reference value exists for curcuminoids or for piperine: a percentage column would make no sense here.

The decisive figure on this page is the following. EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake of 3 mg of curcumin per kilo of body weight, i.e. 180 mg a day for a person weighing 60 kg. One capsule provides around 237.5 mg. In other words, a single capsule already exceeds the acceptable daily intake on the day you take it, which the manufacturer acknowledges by citing that 180 mg benchmark itself. That is precisely the reason for the spaced-out dosage: by spreading it over three days, the average intake comes back down to around 79 mg a day. This rule is therefore not a comfort tip, it is the product's actual instructions for use, and there is nothing to be gained from exceeding it.

The piperine at 2.85 mg is not a token ingredient. Curcumin on its own is very poorly absorbed by the intestine and quickly eliminated; piperine slows its breakdown by the liver, which markedly increases the amounts that actually circulate in the body. That is what makes the extract useful — and it is also what explains some of the precautions listed below, since piperine alters the metabolism of certain medicines in the same way.

Two clarifications to finish. First, no health claim is authorised in Europe for turmeric or curcumin: not for the joints, not for digestion, not for inflammation. We can describe the plant, the standardisation and the dose; we cannot attribute any effect to them. Second, the previous description on this page mentioned a “marketing authorisation in all German pharmacies” together with a PZN number. A PZN is simply an article number used by German pharmacies for their orders: it is neither a marketing authorisation nor a certification. We have removed that statement.

Ingredients list

Turmeric rhizome extract (Curcuma longa) standardised to 95% curcuminoids, black pepper fruit extract (Piper nigrum) standardised to 95% piperine, capsule shell (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose, anti-caking agent: magnesium salts of fatty acids. No major allergen declared. Vegan formula, made in Germany.

How should Sinob Curcumin be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water, 250 ml. Timing: during a meal containing fat. Frequency: one capsule every three days, never more. Duration: the manufacturer recommends 8 weeks of use followed by 2 weeks off.

The fatty meal is not a refinement. Curcuminoids are not water-soluble and are absorbed far better in the presence of fat: a drizzle of olive oil, an avocado, a handful of nuts or a normally cooked dish are enough. A capsule swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water loses a large part of its point.

That is also why pairing it with omega 3 makes sense, not through some mysterious synergy but because fish oil capsules supply the fat at the exact moment of the intake.

Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling up. This is the most common mistake with this product, and the only one that really matters: two capsules on the same day take the intake to 475 mg of curcuminoids, well above the safety benchmark. If you have forgotten, simply pick the rhythm back up.

Note finally the course interval: eight weeks of use, two weeks off. At one capsule every three days, a course represents about twenty capsules, and one bottle covers three complete courses.

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

It suits an adult who wants a standardised, readable extract rather than a rhizome powder whose actual content nobody knows. The capsule is vegetable and the formula declares no major allergen, which makes it an option open to most diets.

The contraindications, on the other hand, are serious and the manufacturer states them clearly. The product is contraindicated in the event of obstruction of the bile ducts, gallstones included, since turmeric stimulates bile secretion. It is not recommended for people on anticoagulants, curcumin and piperine both interfering with coagulation and with the metabolism of medicines. It calls for medical advice in the event of liver or biliary disease. Finally, it is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and must be kept out of reach of children under three.

One further element has to be added that the manufacturer does not mention and that a French buyer has a right to know: ANSES has published an opinion on turmeric-based food supplements and reported cases of liver damage, stressing that forms intended to improve absorption — such as the combination with piperine — increase the body's exposure. That is not a reason to give up, it is a reason to follow the dosage to the letter and to seek advice at the slightest unusual sign.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a painkiller, it is not a treatment, and no improvement should be hoped for on a diagnosed condition. Any question of that order is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist, not for a food supplement.

Standardised turmeric or a joint complex?

The two often cross paths in the same basket, so the difference is worth setting out.

A joint complex based on glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM is taken daily, at doses of around a gram, and aims at maintaining cartilage over time. It is the better choice if your concern is mechanical and long-standing — runner's knees, weightlifter's shoulders — and if you accept taking it every day for several months. Its drawback is bulk: these are large tablets, and glucosamine is most often derived from shellfish.

Standardised turmeric follows a different logic: a spaced-out intake, a concentrated plant active, a tiny capsule and no major allergen. It is the better choice if you are looking for a readable plant extract, if you are allergic to shellfish, or if the idea of a daily tablet puts you off from the start. The trade-off is the contraindications listed above, which are real.

There is nothing to stop you combining the two, provided you check that neither product duplicates an ingredient of the other. The whole aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition selection.

Frequently asked questions

Why only one capsule every three days?

Because one capsule provides around 237.5 mg of curcuminoids, whereas the acceptable daily intake set by EFSA is 3 mg per kilo, i.e. 180 mg for a person weighing 60 kg. Spacing them three days apart brings the average intake back below that benchmark. It is the product's instructions for use, not a suggestion.

How long does a bottle last?

Six months, at one capsule every three days for 60 capsules. It is the longest duration in our entire supplements aisle, and it completely changes the calculation of the real cost compared with a turmeric to be taken daily.

What is the black pepper for in the formula?

Its piperine slows the breakdown of curcumin by the liver, which markedly increases the amount that circulates in the body. Without it, most of the curcumin swallowed would be eliminated without having served any purpose. It is also this mechanism that explains the precautions to be taken with certain medicines.

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

No, the manufacturer explicitly advises against it. Curcumin, like piperine, interferes with coagulation and with the metabolism of several treatments. If you are on an anticoagulant, the question is one for your doctor before any purchase, and the answer is generally no.

Is this product suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, of vegetable origin, and all the ingredients in the formula are too. The manufacturer also declares no major allergen, which makes this line accessible to most exclusion diets.

Should it be taken with a meal?

Yes, and preferably a meal containing fat. Curcuminoids are not water-soluble: on an empty stomach, a large part of the dose will not be absorbed. An ordinary cooked dish is enough, there is no need to add anything.

What should you do if you miss a dose?

Simply pick the rhythm back up at the next due date. You should not double the dose to catch up: two capsules on the same day would take the intake to around 475 mg of curcuminoids, far above the safety benchmark. With a product on a spaced-out schedule, a missed dose is of no consequence.

Where can you buy Sinob Curcumin?

The 60-capsule bottle 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 one product in the aisle where we insist as much on the dosage as on the contents: an extract standardised to 95% is not taken like a spice, and the three-day rule is not negotiable. The other plant extracts can be compared in our superfood ingredients aisle.

What is Sinob Hydro Creat?

This is creatine hydrochloride in capsules, dosed at 1,000 mg per unit. The reference serving is three capsules, i.e. 3,000 mg, and the 150-capsule bottle covers 50 servings. Made in Germany.

Creatine HCL is creatine combined with hydrochloric acid, which makes it far more soluble in water than the monohydrate form. That is the only genuinely established difference between the two: the active molecule is still creatine, and creatine alone is what European regulation recognises.

The rest of the composition comes down to four lines: a gelatine shell, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium salts of fatty acids as an anti-caking agent, and three shell colourings. As the capsule is made of gelatine, the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. The product joins our creatine HCL and Sinob sections.

What does a three-capsule serving contain?

No NRV is established for creatine. Pack size: 150 capsules, i.e. 50 servings of three. The manufacturer declares no major allergen.

Three grams a day is precisely the threshold that unlocks the only claim authorised in Europe: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise. That wording targets repeated explosive effort — strength sets, sprints — and not endurance. It is the only statement we will use.

We now need to deal honestly with what is said about the HCL form. Its greater solubility in water is a chemical fact; on the other hand, we have no ANSES or EFSA source establishing that it produces a better result than a creatine monohydrate, nor that it avoids bloating, nor that it acts within fifteen minutes. Those assertions circulate about this type of product; they cannot be repeated, and the European claim covers creatine with no distinction of form.

One clarification that weighs on the arithmetic: the word “HCL” refers to the whole salt, hydrochloric acid included. Three grams of creatine HCL therefore do not quite supply three grams of creatine, and the manufacturer does not publish the pure creatine share. It is the same trap as with any amino acid salt, and it is better to know it before comparing two labels.

How should you take Hydro Creat?

Serving: 3 capsules, i.e. 3,000 mg. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: 25 to 30 minutes before the session, preferably on an empty stomach. Frequency: the manufacturer settles on training days only. Duration: optional cycling of 8 to 12 weeks followed by 2 to 4 weeks off.

Here we have to depart from the label, and we do so with an explanation. The manufacturer recommends taking it on training days only; the European claim, for its part, assumes 3 g of creatine per day. Creatine's effect rests on the gradual saturation of the muscle, which takes several weeks of regular intake. Taking it three or four times a week will not saturate the stores. If you want the benefit recognised by the regulations, take your three capsules every day, session or no session. The bottle will then last 50 days, not several months.

The manufacturer also advertises “effects felt within 15 minutes”. That is not how creatine works, as its action goes through the build-up of muscle stores over several weeks. We will not repeat that assertion.

One instruction to follow, though: drink at least 2 litres of water a day throughout the period of use. Creatine draws water into the muscle cell, and an insufficient fluid intake is the leading reported cause of discomfort.

No loading phase is necessary — that is correct, and it is equally true of creatine powder. The product combines without difficulty with a whey or with amino acids.

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

It suits adults doing short, intense efforts, and particularly those who genuinely tolerated creatine monohydrate powder badly. The capsule format removes the gritty taste and travels easily.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as for the under-18s, and asks that it be kept out of reach of children under 3. If you are on any medication, consult a healthcare professional before use. Store in a cool, dry place away from light.

It is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans — the shell is made of gelatine — which is doubly unfortunate, as meat is the main dietary source of creatine. It also contains azorubine (E122) as a shell colouring, which requires the regulatory statement: may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.

What you should not expect from it: an immediate effect. Creatine is not a stimulant and is not felt on the first serving, whatever its form. Nor is it a weight-loss product or an endurance supplement: the authorised claim targets very intense, short effort.

Creatine HCL or creatine monohydrate?

This is the only question that matters on this page, and we are going to answer it even though the answer does not push you to buy.

Creatine monohydrate is by far the best-documented form, and the European claim applies to it in exactly the same way, at 3 g per day. It costs a fraction of the price per gram and is taken by the spoonful. The Creapure section carries the products whose raw material is traceable. If you have never tried creatine, start there: it is the best value in the catalogue, across every category.

The HCL form has two concrete advantages, and they are not negligible. The first is the capsule format: no taste, no scoop, an identical dose from one day to the next. The second concerns those who have genuinely felt digestive discomfort with monohydrate — it does happen, even if it is less common than is claimed — and for whom switching salt is worth a try.

Kre-Alkalyn creatine falls under exactly the same logic: a variant offered as better tolerated, with no official validation of superiority. Between the three, choose on format and on your real tolerance, not on label arguments. For mass gain, creatine combines without difficulty with the rest of your supplements.

Frequently asked questions

Should you take it on rest days?

Yes, in our view, even though the manufacturer settles on training days only. The European claim assumes 3 g of creatine per day, and muscle saturation requires regular intake over several weeks. Taking it only around sessions will not fill the stores: that is the most common mistake with this supplement.

Is creatine HCL superior to monohydrate?

It is more soluble in water, which is a chemical fact. On the other hand, we have no ANSES or EFSA source establishing a better result, and the European claim covers creatine with no distinction of form. What genuinely changes here is the capsule format and the price.

How long does a bottle last?

Fifty servings of three capsules. If you follow the label and take it only on training days, that represents about three months at four sessions a week. Taken daily, which is what we advise, count on fifty days.

Do you feel anything from the very first serving?

No. The manufacturer advertises effects within fifteen minutes; that is not how creatine works, as its action rests on muscle stores built up over several weeks. Do not judge this product before a month of daily use.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No, the shell is gelatine of animal origin. That is particularly a shame, as meat is the main dietary source of creatine and vegetarians therefore have the lowest intakes. A creatine powder is then the right choice.

Is 3 g of creatine HCL the same as 3 g of creatine?

No, not exactly: the stated weight is that of the whole salt, hydrochloric acid included. The manufacturer does not publish the pure creatine share. It is the same trap as with all amino acid salts, and it is something to factor in when you compare two labels.

Should you take it on an empty stomach?

The manufacturer advises it, 25 to 30 minutes before the session. In practice, timing is secondary with creatine: what matters is not forgetting it. Take your three capsules at whatever slot you will remember every day, including the days you do not train.

Where can you buy Sinob Hydro Creat?

The 150-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a generous format: even taken daily, it covers more than seven weeks.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product in front of which we ask the simplest question in the range: have you already tried creatine powder, and did it really bother you? If the answer is no, monohydrate remains unbeatable. If it is yes, this capsule has every reason to be there. The rest of the range can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

What is Sinob Core L-Arginine AAKG?

Sinob Core AAKG is a powdered amino acid for mixing with liquid, sold in a 300 g tub, which works out at 30 servings of 10 g. Its only ingredient is L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, a salt in which arginine is bound to alpha-ketoglutarate, an intermediate of the Krebs cycle. No sweeteners, no flavourings, no colourings, no preservatives: the powder is unadulterated and so is its taste.

The product belongs to our L-arginine range. Sinob is a German brand whose line-up we stock in the Sinob range. The formulation contains no ingredients of animal origin and the manufacturer declares no allergens.

What does a serving of Core AAKG contain?

A 10 g serving provides 10 g of L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, of which 6.567 g is L-arginine and 3.433 g is alpha-ketoglutarate. Expressed per 100 g, that comes to 65.67 g of arginine.

This is the only figure that matters when comparing two products, and it is rarely put front and centre. “10 g of AAKG” is not “10 g of arginine”: a third of the powder's weight is alpha-ketoglutarate. Set against an arginine HCl, whose arginine share is higher, the comparison has to be made gram of arginine against gram of arginine, price included.

One clarification is called for here: other contents are quoted for this product, notably a figure of 53.5%. We stand by the 65.67% given in our labelling data, and we are flagging the discrepancy rather than quietly passing over it. If in doubt, the value printed on the tub you receive is the one that counts.

A final point of context: arginine carries no authorised health claim in Europe. What we are describing, then, is a formulation, a dose and a format, not an expected effect. The full nutritional breakdown is set out in the tabs on this page.

How do you take Sinob Core AAKG?

The recommended dose is 10 g per day, that is one level scoop, mixed into 200 ml of water or juice and shaken for around thirty seconds in a shaker. Drink immediately after preparing.

The manufacturer settles on one serving a day, in the morning on an empty stomach, or 30 minutes before training on session days. Do not exceed 10 g per day: that is the limit stated on the label. As for duration, it advises cycling 8 weeks of use followed by 2 weeks off. The 30-serving tub therefore covers a month of daily use, or roughly two and a half months if you take it only on training days.

Two practical remarks. The taste is frankly sour and bitter — that is the trade-off of an unflavoured powder; citrus juice makes it far more drinkable than a plain glass of water. And 10 g of an amino acid on an empty stomach does not suit every stomach: nausea, bloating or loose stools should prompt you to cut back or stop. A decent shaker is not a luxury, since the powder dissolves poorly when stirred with a spoon.

Who is Core AAKG for, and who is it not for?

The product is intended for adults. It is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets, as its formulation contains no ingredients of animal origin, and the manufacturer declares no gluten, no lactose and no soya.

It is not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The manufacturer contraindicates it in people who have had a myocardial infarction: this statement appears explicitly on the label and should be taken seriously. It also advises against using it in cases of recurrent herpes, as arginine may encourage outbreaks — this is the most frequently asked question about this amino acid, and the answer here is no. Keep out of reach of children under 3. If you are undergoing medical treatment, seek advice from a healthcare professional before use.

What you should not expect from it: since no health claim is authorised for arginine, this product promises nothing regarding circulation, performance or recovery, and we are not going to write otherwise. Nor is it a strength product: on that front, creatine monohydrate is better established and costs less per day.

Core AAKG or citrulline?

This is the decisive comparison, and it starts with this product's own billing, which highlights superior absorption. The implicit comparison is with L-arginine hydrochloride, the most widespread form. It is not documented by any health authority, and we will not be repeating the multipliers — “three times more”, “ten times more” — commonly read about this type of formula: those figures have no verifiable source.

More importantly, the fundamental issue lies elsewhere. The limiting factor for orally taken arginine is not the salt chosen but a substantial first-pass effect: a significant share is broken down by arginase in the gut and the liver before it reaches the circulation. Switching salts does not remove that mechanism. L-citrulline, by contrast, largely escapes it and is then converted into arginine in the kidney: taken orally, citrulline raises plasma arginine more effectively than arginine itself, whatever its form. That is established, and it does not work in AAKG's favour.

Citrulline is therefore the better choice in the most common use case: a serving before the session. It is generally better tolerated digestively at an equivalent dose, and its taste, though sour, remains more palatable. It is also what you will find in most of the complete pre-workouts in the range, which have largely swapped it in for arginine.

Core AAKG keeps two situations for itself. The first: you want a single-ingredient product, with no sweetener or flavouring, so you can build your own pre-workout and set each dose yourself. The second: you are specifically after the alpha-ketoglutarate intake, which citrulline does not provide. Outside those two cases, citrulline is the more rational choice, and we would rather say so than sell at all costs the very product page you are reading.

Frequently asked questions

How much arginine is there really in a 10 g serving?

6.567 g of arginine and 3.433 g of alpha-ketoglutarate, which is 65.67% arginine. That is the figure to remember when comparing with another product: a label stating “10 g of AAKG” is not stating 10 g of arginine, and the real price difference is worked out per gram of arginine, not per gram of powder.

Can you take it if you have herpes?

The manufacturer advises against it in cases of recurrent herpes, as arginine may encourage outbreaks. This is the precaution most often looked up about this amino acid, and it appears explicitly on the label. If it applies to you, this product is not for you; speak to your doctor or your pharmacist about it.

What does the powder taste like, and how do you make it drinkable?

Sour and bitter, with nothing to mask it since the formula contains neither flavouring nor sweetener. A 200 ml citrus juice goes down far better than still water, and the acidity of the juice works with that of the powder. Shake for thirty seconds in a shaker: stirred with a spoon, it dissolves badly.

How long does the 300 g tub last?

Thirty days with daily use, or roughly two and a half months if you keep it for training days at three sessions a week. With the 8-week cycling the manufacturer advises, one tub does not cover a full cycle under daily use.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach or with a meal?

The manufacturer settles on the morning on an empty stomach or 30 minutes before the session. A protein-rich meal eaten just before puts other amino acids in competition for intestinal transport. If 10 g on an empty stomach makes you feel nauseous, taking it becomes uncomfortable: better then to reduce the dose than to press on.

Can it be combined with citrulline or with a pre-workout?

There is nothing against it, but the benefit is limited: both target the same pathway, and citrulline does it better orally. If you are already taking a complete pre-workout, check its formulation before adding this product, as most already contain several grams of citrulline. Stacking is no substitute for dosing.

Does the product contain additives or allergens?

No. The only ingredient is L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, with no sweetener, flavouring, colouring or preservative, and the manufacturer declares no allergens. That is this line's main selling point: a single-component powder whose dosing is entirely under your control.

Where can you buy Sinob Core L-Arginine AAKG?

You can order it on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is typically the product on which we take the time to ask the question before selling: for most pre-session uses, citrulline remains the best value for money, and it is better to hear that over the counter than after buying. All our amino acids can be found in our sports nutrition range.

What is Sinob Core Beta-Alanine?

Sinob Core Beta-Alanine is a pure beta-alanine powder, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no bulking agent. The daily dose is 4 g, i.e. 4,000 mg of beta-alanine, to be split into four one-gram servings. The powder is unflavoured and mixes just as well into water as into a shaker.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid, meaning the body is able to make it itself. What sets it apart is that it is not used to build proteins: it combines with histidine to form carnosine, a dipeptide that accumulates in skeletal muscle. And it is the availability of beta-alanine, never that of histidine, that limits how much is produced.

That is the whole logic behind the product: you supply the limiting link. This mechanism also explains why beta-alanine is not taken like a pre-workout — it does nothing at the moment you take it, it loads into the muscle over several weeks. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our beta-alanine section.

What does a dose of Core Beta-Alanine contain?

4 g a day is the benchmark dose for this category, not a token amount put on the label. Published protocols generally use 3.2 to 6.4 g a day, with most sitting around 4 to 5 g. So you are at the upper end of common practice, with a powder that contains nothing else. The manufacturer allows for up to 5 g a day for athletes who tolerate it well, and 0.8 g per serving taken five times a day for those who are more sensitive.

Unusable data in the manufacturer's file: the energy values and macronutrients given per 100 g are inconsistent with each other and with the serving. We are not reproducing them rather than publishing figures that do not add up. On a powder declared 100% pure, those lines carry no useful information anyway: what matters is the grams of beta-alanine.

On the regulatory side, let us be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for beta-alanine. Not for endurance, not for performance, not for muscular fatigue. What we are describing here is an amino acid, its biochemical role in producing carnosine and how to use it. We promise no results, and you should be wary of any seller who does.

The manufacturer declares a powder with no allergens in the composition, suitable for vegan, halal, gluten-free and lactose-free diets. It is a free-form amino acid powder, obtained by synthesis, with no raw material of animal origin.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of doses, is not disclosed. The net content is shown on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Beta-alanine (100%). No additives, no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent.

No allergens declared in the composition by the manufacturer.

How do you take Core Beta-Alanine?

Dose: 4 g a day in total. Liquid: 200 ml of cold water per serving. Timing: whenever you like — the time of day makes no difference at all with this product. Frequency: 4 servings of 1 g, spaced 3 to 4 hours apart. Duration: continuous use, with a 2 to 4 week loading phase before muscle stores are replenished.

Splitting the dose into four servings is the only thing that really matters here, and it has nothing to do with absorption. Its purpose is to limit paraesthesia: the tingling on the face, scalp, back of the neck or forearms that beta-alanine causes from roughly 800 mg to 1 g taken in one go. Spreading the dose out makes the phenomenon disappear for most people. Taking it with a meal also reduces it.

That tingling is harmless and short-lived — it appears fifteen to twenty minutes after taking the powder and lasts around half an hour. It tells you absolutely nothing about how well the product is working, however: someone who does not feel it is not loading their carnosine any less well than someone who does. Do not go looking to trigger it.

A second counter-intuitive point: the time of day is irrelevant. Contrary to what you read everywhere, taking your beta-alanine before training achieves nothing. It does nothing at the moment you take it. What counts is the total amount built up day after day, rest days included, competition days included. Missing the odd serving has no consequences; stopping for three weeks does.

It combines without overlap with creatine monohydrate, which acts on a different energy system, and with citrulline in a pre-session drink you put together yourself. You can also simply add it to your pre-workout, provided you check that it does not already contain some.

Who is Core Beta-Alanine for, and who is it not for?

It is of interest first and foremost to athletes whose efforts last between one and a few minutes at high intensity: long sets in the gym, CrossFit, swimming, track cycling, middle-distance running. That is the effort format in which muscle carnosine plays its buffering role.

It is of no interest whatsoever for very short efforts or for very long ones. A powerlifter doing sets of three reps will get nothing from it: over that duration, acidity does not have time to build up. Nor will a marathon runner, for the opposite reason. This is the kind of detail that stops you buying a product that does not match your training, and few sellers take the trouble to spell it out.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without advice from a healthcare professional. Sensitive individuals should start at 0.8 g per serving, as the manufacturer provides for, before increasing.

What you should not expect from it. It does not give you energy, it does not wake you up and it contains no stimulants. It is not a substitute for a pre-workout. It will neither build muscle nor burn fat. And above all, it produces nothing in the first week: if you are expecting an immediate effect, you will be disappointed and you will stop before loading is complete. That is the most common mistake made with this product.

Beta-alanine or creatine?

The two powders are very similar in the way they are used — loading over several weeks, a daily serving, no immediate effect — and yet they do not serve the same kind of effort.

Creatine fuels the energy system used for very short, very intense efforts: a set of five heavy reps, a ten-second sprint. It is the best-documented supplement in the whole of sports nutrition, and if you were only ever to take one, it would be that one. Our Creapure section offers the most widely used patented form of it.

Beta-alanine takes over further along: it applies to efforts lasting from one to a few minutes, the ones where the burning sensation in the muscle sets in. That is different ground, and the two do not replace one another.

When is creatine clearly the better choice? If you are just starting out, if your budget is limited, or if your training is geared towards pure strength. Start with that, then add beta-alanine if your sessions involve plenty of long sets. And if you are after a product with an immediate effect for training, neither of the two fits the bill: look instead at our caffeine-free boosters or our EAAs.

Frequently asked questions

Why the tingling after taking it?

It is paraesthesia, caused by beta-alanine from roughly 800 mg to 1 g taken in a single go. It affects the face, the back of the neck or the forearms, appears after fifteen to twenty minutes and lasts half an hour. It is harmless and has no consequences. Splitting the dose or taking it with a meal makes it disappear.

Should it be taken before training?

No, and that is the main misconception about this product. Beta-alanine does nothing at the moment you take it: it loads into the muscle over several weeks. The time of day therefore matters little, only consistency counts. Take it on rest days too.

How long does it take to be fully loaded?

The manufacturer works on two to four weeks of continuous use to replenish muscle carnosine stores. That is the period to allow before judging anything at all. Stopping after ten days and concluding that the product is useless is the classic mistake in this category.

Can it be mixed with a protein or a pre-workout?

Yes, the powder is unflavoured and additive-free: it mixes into water, into a protein shake or into a training drink. Just check that your pre-workout does not already contain some, otherwise you would be doubling up without meaning to.

What dose for someone who is sensitive?

The manufacturer provides for 0.8 g per serving taken five times a day rather than 1 g four times. That brings the individual serving below the threshold that triggers the tingling in most people, while keeping the daily intake equivalent.

Is it useful for long-distance running?

Not really. Carnosine's buffering role applies to intense efforts lasting from one to a few minutes, not to prolonged efforts at moderate intensity. A marathon runner will get little out of it; a middle-distance runner or a CrossFit athlete, rather more. Choose according to the format of your efforts.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer declares a vegan, halal, gluten-free and lactose-free product, with no allergens in the composition. It is an amino acid obtained by synthesis, with no raw material of animal origin.

Where can you buy Sinob Core Beta-Alanine?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always warn people about two things before selling it: the tingling in the first few days, which takes a lot of people by surprise, and the fact that nothing will happen for two or three weeks. Customers who have been warned finish their tub; the others give up after a week. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Citrulline Malate?

Sinob Citrulline Malate is a powdered L-citrulline malate for mixing, with no flavouring, no sweetener and no bulking agent. One 5 g scoop provides 3 g of citrulline malate as declared by the manufacturer, of which 1.875 g is L-citrulline, at a 2:1 ratio. It is taken one hour before training.

Citrulline is an amino acid the body makes itself and which is found above all in watermelon — Citrullus, hence the name. It serves as the raw material for arginine, which is itself the precursor of nitric oxide. That chain explains why citrulline has taken over from directly ingested arginine in pre-workout formulas.

The malate it comes paired with is not merely a manufacturing salt. It is malic acid, the molecule that gives a green apple its sharpness, and it is part of the cycle by which the cell produces energy. The 2:1 ratio means two parts citrulline to one part malate. The full German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our citrulline section.

What does a dose of Citrulline Malate contain?

A point of honesty before going any further: the manufacturer's documentation contradicts itself on one detail. It states both an additive-free powder and 3 g of citrulline malate per 5 g scoop. We are reproducing the declared figures as they stand, without recalculating or correcting them. The official table appears on the packaging you will receive, and that is what counts.

What you need to know about dosages in this category, on the other hand, is perfectly clear. Published work on citrulline malate in strength training generally uses 6 to 8 g per serving. With one scoop, you are at 3 g. That is half a dose, and it is better to know it before buying: if you are aiming for the amounts used in the protocols, count on two scoops. The manufacturer allows for this itself, in fact, mentioning 6 to 8 g for sessions where the pump is the main objective.

On the regulatory side, let us be blunt: no health claim is authorised in Europe for citrulline. Not on performance, not on circulation, not on the muscle pump. So what we describe is an amino acid, its dosage and how to use it — not a promised result. The sensation of a pump during training is something many people report; it is not a claim, and we will not present it as one.

The manufacturer declares a powder with no allergens in the composition, suitable for vegan diets, gluten-free and lactose-free, and states that it is made in Germany.

Data missing from the manufacturer's documentation: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, is not disclosed. We will not infer it; the net content is shown on the packaging.

Ingredients list

L-citrulline malate (2:1 ratio). No additives, no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring.

No allergens declared in the composition by the manufacturer.

How should Citrulline Malate be taken?

Dose: 5 g, i.e. one scoop, up to 6 to 8 g for long sessions. Liquid: 200 to 300 ml of cold water. Timing: 60 minutes before training. Frequency: one serving on training days; 3 g spread through the day for maintenance. Duration: no fixed course, occasional use around sessions.

Timing genuinely matters with this product, unlike many others. Sixty minutes is not a comfort margin: it is the time needed for citrulline to be absorbed, pass through the kidney and be converted into arginine. Taking it ten minutes before starting your session amounts to drinking it for nothing. If you are setting off from home, take it as you close the front door, not when you reach the changing room.

Dissolving it takes a little effort: citrulline malate is an acidic powder that settles at the bottom of the glass if you leave it standing. Shake it hard, drink it straight away, and rinse the glass — the acidity leaves a sticky residue if you wait.

The taste is decidedly sour and bitter, with no flavouring to mask it. That is the price of a pure powder. Two solutions: mix it into an already flavoured training drink, or add it to your usual pre-workout, where it will go unnoticed. Do not sweeten it at the last minute with fruit juice for a fasted session, as you would be adding carbohydrates without meaning to.

It combines without overlap with beta-alanine, which works through an entirely different mechanism, and with creatine monohydrate, whose value for strength is far better documented than that of citrulline.

Who is Citrulline Malate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult training for resistance or endurance who wants to put together their own pre-workout rather than buy a ready-made formula. That is where its real value lies: a bare powder, dosable to the gram, with no caffeine or flavouring imposed on you.

It calls for caution if your blood pressure is low. The manufacturer mentions this explicitly, because of the vasodilatory effect expected from the arginine-nitric oxide pathway. Likewise, if you are on cardiovascular medication, an interaction is possible: that question is one for your doctor before you buy, and the answer cannot be guessed.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without the advice of a healthcare professional. The manufacturer recommends starting at 3 g to assess your tolerance: that is sensible advice, digestive discomfort being the side effect most frequently reported with this kind of powder at high doses.

What not to expect from it. It does not replace a complete pre-workout: there is no caffeine here, no stimulant, no electrolyte. You will not feel a kick. It does not build muscle and it does not burn fat. And at 3 g per scoop, it is below the amounts used in the published protocols — that is the most important point on this page, and it is why we are repeating it.

Citrulline malate or arginine?

This is the most useful comparison in the category, and it settles fairly clearly.

Arginine taken orally undergoes substantial breakdown in the gut and the liver before it reaches the bloodstream. A sizeable share of what you swallow never arrives where it is supposed to act. That is a documented fact, and it is the reason citrulline has taken its place in most modern formulas.

Citrulline bypasses that stage: it is converted into arginine in the kidney, downstream of the digestive filter. At an equivalent dose, it therefore raises circulating arginine more than arginine itself does. That is the reasoning behind its commercial success, and it stands up.

When does arginine remain the right choice? When you are specifically after that molecule for a use documented elsewhere, or when you can find it at a solid dose for a lower budget. Our L-arginine section offers it in isolated form. And if you would rather have a complete stimulant-free formula, our pre workout without creatine section brings together ready-made products, generally dosed at 6 g of citrulline or more.

Frequently asked questions

How much citrulline per scoop?

3 g of citrulline malate as declared by the manufacturer per 5 g scoop, of which 1.875 g is L-citrulline at a 2:1 ratio. Published strength-training protocols tend to use 6 to 8 g of citrulline malate: count on two scoops if you want to get close to that.

Why take it an hour before the session?

Because citrulline has to be absorbed and then converted into arginine by the kidney before it has any effect at all. That journey takes time. A serving ten minutes before the warm-up arrives too late: sixty minutes is the interval the manufacturer settles on, and it is a coherent one.

What does this powder taste like?

Sour and bitter, with no flavouring to soften it. That is the trade-off of a pure powder, free of sweeteners and colourings. Most users mix it into an already flavoured training drink or into their usual pre-workout.

Citrulline malate or pure citrulline?

Malate is malic acid, a molecule from the cell's energy cycle, not merely a manufacturing salt. Weight for weight, a pure citrulline provides more citrulline; at an equal citrulline dose, the two are equivalent. Always compare the “of which L-citrulline” line, not the total weight.

Can it be combined with a caffeinated pre-workout?

Yes, without any overlap: citrulline is not a stimulant and provides no caffeine. That is in fact the most common way of using it, all the more so as its taste then goes unnoticed. Simply check that your pre-workout does not already contain some, otherwise you would be doubling the dose without knowing it.

Should it be taken on rest days?

It is not necessary. Unlike creatine or beta-alanine, which load into the muscle over several weeks, citrulline acts when you take it. The manufacturer does, however, mention 3 g spread through the day for maintenance, which remains optional.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer declares a vegan product, gluten-free, lactose-free and with no allergens in the composition. It is a synthetically produced amino acid, with no raw material of animal origin.

Where can you buy Sinob Citrulline Malate?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, around ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we bring out for customers who want to put together their own pre-workout: a bare powder costs less than a ready-made formula and you decide on the dose. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Core L-Glutamine?

Sinob Core L-Glutamine is a pure L-glutamine powder produced by plant-based fermentation. A 10 g serving delivers 10 g of L-glutamine in free amino acid form, for 30 kcal. There is nothing else in the tub: no flavouring, no sweetener, no colouring, no bulking agent.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in blood plasma and in muscle tissue. The body can manufacture it, which places it among the non-essential amino acids, and an ordinary diet already supplies appreciable amounts: dairy products, meat, fish, eggs and pulses all contain it.

The term “free” form means that the amino acid is not bound to any other: it is ready to be absorbed as it is, which explains why it dissolves instantly in water. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our glutamine section.

What does a serving of Core L-Glutamine contain?

Inconsistent figure in the manufacturer's file: the carbohydrate, fat and fibre lines are all declared at 1 g per 100 g on a powder stated to be 100 % pure. These values cannot all be correct at once; we would rather not reproduce them than publish figures that do not add up. The official table appears on the packaging as supplied.

Let us come to what really matters, and to what is written nowhere else in this category: no health claim is authorised in Europe for glutamine. Not for recovery, not for immunity, not for muscle mass, not for digestion. The dossiers submitted did not succeed. So we describe an amino acid, its dosage and how to use it, without promising any result.

We need to go further, because that is our job as a retailer. In a healthy athlete who eats enough protein, the available research shows no notable effect of glutamine supplementation on muscle mass or performance. An adequate protein intake already supplies glutamine in quantity — a whey provides several grams per serving without it having to be stated on the label. The uses where glutamine has a documented benefit belong to the clinical field, under medical supervision, and not to sports nutrition.

What does remain true: this is a pure powder, dosable to the gram, additive-free, reasonably priced and perfectly well tolerated by most people. If you want to try it knowing exactly what it is, it is a clean product. If you are looking for the supplement that will make the difference to your results, look elsewhere in the range — and we will tell you where.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the net weight of the tub, and therefore the number of servings, are not disclosed. The net content appears on the packaging.

Ingredient list

L-glutamine (100 %), free amino acid from plant-based fermentation. No colourings, no preservatives, no sweeteners, no bulking agents.

No allergen declared in the composition by the manufacturer. Product declared gluten-free, lactose-free and soya-free, suitable for vegan and halal diets.

How should you take Core L-Glutamine?

Serving: 10 g, i.e. one scoop; 15 g for intensive use, split into 5 g before and 10 g after the session. Liquid: 200 to 300 ml of cold or lukewarm water. Timing: within the fifteen minutes following training, between two meals, or before bed. Frequency: one to two servings per day. Duration: cycles of 4 to 6 weeks, with a one- to two-week break.

Solubility is this powder's practical strong point. Free L-glutamine dissolves instantly in cold water, with no lumps and no sediment, which is not the case with every amino acid. Shake for five seconds and drink: it has no pronounced taste, barely a slight bitterness. It therefore mixes without difficulty into a protein shake, a juice or a training drink.

The manufacturer recommends taking it away from meals to aid absorption, as glutamine shares its intestinal transporters with other amino acids. In practice, taking it straight after the session or between two meals meets that condition effortlessly.

If you have a sensitive stomach, start at 5 g per serving before moving up to 10 g. That is the manufacturer's advice, and it is justified: free amino acids at high doses sometimes cause temporary digestive discomfort in the first few days. Do not exceed the stated amounts in the belief that more is better, as it would achieve nothing.

It combines without redundancy with a protein, with EAAs or with creatine monohydrate. Simply note that a whey already supplies you with glutamine, which makes the addition less decisive than is often claimed.

Who is Core L-Glutamine for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who wants a pure, additive-free powder and who knows the limits of the product. The format is perfectly clean: a single ingredient, precisely dosable, suitable for vegan diets.

The manufacturer recommends medical advice in the event of liver or kidney disease. This is not a token precaution: both organs are directly involved in amino acid metabolism, and the question cannot be settled over the counter. The manufacturer also flags possible drug interactions: if you are on any medication, discuss it with your doctor or pharmacist.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without the advice of a healthcare professional.

What you should not expect from it, and we say so bluntly because it is the most useful information on this page. It does not build muscle. It does not speed up recovery in any demonstrated way in a healthy athlete. It does not boost immunity — no claim of that kind is authorised. If your daily protein intake is adequate, you are already consuming glutamine in quantity without knowing it. This product makes up for neither poorly designed training, nor insufficient sleep, nor a diet that is too sparse.

Glutamine or protein powder?

This is the honest comparison to make before buying, and it comes down fairly clearly in favour of the latter.

A serving of whey supplies 20 to 25 g of complete protein, including several grams of naturally occurring glutamine, plus the full set of essential amino acids the body cannot manufacture. And protein does have authorised claims: protein contributes to a growth in and the maintenance of muscle mass. On cost per serving, there is no comparison. Our whey isolate section is the first place to look if your goal is muscle mass.

Isolated glutamine does something else: it supplies a single amino acid, in large amounts, without the others. That is useful when you are specifically after this molecule, for a use documented elsewhere or on the advice of a healthcare professional.

When is glutamine the better choice? When you know why you are taking it and are not counting on it to progress in training. If your aim is to cover your amino acid needs around the session, BCAAs and above all EAAs make more sense, and a complete protein makes more sense still.

Frequently asked questions

How much glutamine per serving?

10 g of pure L-glutamine per scoop, for 30 kcal. The powder analyses at 100 g of protein per 100 g: there is nothing else in it. For intensive use, the manufacturer provides for 15 g split into 5 g before and 10 g after the session.

Does glutamine really help you recover?

No recovery claim is authorised in Europe for glutamine, and in a healthy athlete who eats enough protein, the available research shows no notable effect. It is a clean product, but we will not promise you what has not been demonstrated.

When should you take it?

The manufacturer settles on the fifteen minutes following training, or a serving between two meals, or else before bed. The common thinking is to take it away from a meal, as glutamine shares its intestinal transporters with other amino acids.

What does this powder taste like?

Almost nothing, barely a slight bitterness. It is neither flavoured nor sweetened. It dissolves instantly in cold water, with no lumps or sediment, which makes it easy to add to a protein shake or a juice.

Does a whey already contain some?

Yes, several grams per serving, without this always appearing on the label. It is a point few retailers mention: if you already take a protein powder every day, your glutamine intake is far from nil.

What should you do about digestive discomfort?

Drop to 5 g per serving, as the manufacturer provides for, and build back up gradually. The discomfort mainly concerns the first few days and high doses of free amino acids. Taking the powder with a little more water also helps.

Is this powder suitable for vegans?

Yes. The L-glutamine is obtained by plant-based fermentation, with no raw material of animal origin, and the manufacturer declares the product vegan, halal, gluten-free, lactose-free and soya-free.

Where can you buy Sinob Core L-Glutamine?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we are happy to sell but rarely recommend first: when a customer comes in looking for glutamine to make progress, we start by looking at what they eat and what protein they already take. Nine times out of ten, the answer is there. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Maltodextrin?

Sinob Maltodextrin is a neutral carbohydrate powder, with no flavouring or sweetener, made of 100% maltodextrin obtained from hydrolysed maize starch. It supplies 96 g of carbohydrate per 100 g of powder, of which less than 1 g is sugars.

Maltodextrin is produced by cutting starch into shorter chains. How far that cutting has gone is measured by an index, the dextrose equivalent, and here it is DE19. It is a technical figure that few brands publish, yet it is the decisive one: the higher the DE, the shorter the chains and the faster the absorption, but the sweeter and more osmotic the drink becomes. A DE19 sits in the middle zone, the one that stays fast without weighing on the stomach. The rest of the German range is listed in our Sinob aisle.

The net weight of the pack is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us; the packaging you receive carries it.

What does a 30 g serving contain?

The manufacturer states a glycaemic index of around 95 and an absorption time of 15 to 30 minutes. Those values are consistent with a DE19: this is a fast carbohydrate, designed to arrive quickly, not to last.

96 g of carbohydrate for less than 1 g of sugars is the point that confuses people most. How can a powder be almost entirely carbohydrate without containing sugars? Because maltodextrin is a polymer: its chains are too long to fall within the regulatory definition of sugars, which counts only mono- and disaccharides. In glycaemic terms, on the other hand, it behaves like glucose, with an index higher than that of table sugar. That is worth knowing before presenting it as a “sugar free” product: nutritionally, it has all the metabolic effects of sugar.

The second point that counts is the complete neutrality. No flavouring, no sweetener, no additive, no preservative. That means two things in practice. First, it does not disturb the taste of any preparation, which lets you add it to a whey, a porridge or a training drink without changing anything. Second, it is very faintly sweet on the palate but stays bland on its own: drinking it in water with nothing else is a fairly thankless experience.

No health claim exists for maltodextrin, and there is nothing to expect from it beyond what it is: a supply of fast carbohydrate, clean, with no fat and no protein. It is an ingredient, not a product with an effect.

Ingredients list

Maltodextrin 100% (hydrolysed maize starch), dextrose equivalent DE19. No additive, no preservative. Plant origin. Suitable for halal, vegan, lactose free and gluten free diets. No allergen in the composition. Possible traces of GLUTEN, MILK, SOYA and EGGS from the production environment — a nuance to be aware of if you are coeliac, the formula itself being gluten free.

How do you use Maltodextrin?

Serving: 30 g per intake, 30 to 60 g a day when bulking, split into two or three intakes. Liquid: 300 to 500 ml of water. Timing: during training, straight after, or between two meals. Frequency: according to your calorie needs. Duration: no notion of a course, this is a food.

Dilute generously. That is the most important rule with a maltodextrin: too concentrated a solution is hyperosmotic, it draws water into the gut and causes cramps and diarrhoea during exercise. A concentration of 6% to 8%, that is 30 g in 400 to 500 ml, is the comfortable zone. It is precisely the mistake made by those who tip three scoops into a 500 ml shaker and are then surprised by the result.

During a long session, sip rather than swallow it in one go: the aim is to supply a steady flow of carbohydrate, not a spike. After training, on the other hand, taking it quickly does make sense and combines very well with a protein in the same shaker.

When bulking, the most effective use is not the shaker but the discreet addition: 30 g in a porridge, in a rice cream, in a fruit purée. That adds 115 kcal without adding volume or satiety, which is exactly the problem to solve when you can no longer manage to eat.

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

It suits someone bulking who cannot reach their calorie quota, an endurance athlete who needs carbohydrate during exercise, and anyone who wants to build their own training drink rather than buy a ready-made formula.

It also suits those who avoid additives: a single ingredient, nothing else, about as short as a label can be.

It does not suit you if you are in a calorie deficit or cutting: 115 kcal of fast carbohydrate per serving is exactly what you are trying to reduce. Nor does it suit you if you have blood sugar to keep an eye on — with a glycaemic index close to 95 it produces a rapid rise, and that question is one for your doctor before you buy.

A clarification on gluten: the maltodextrin here comes from maize, so it is naturally gluten free, and the manufacturer says so. It does, however, flag possible traces from the production environment. For coeliac disease, that nuance counts.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a performance product in itself. It improves nothing in someone whose glycogen stores are full, and it does not replace a meal — no protein, no fat, no micronutrients. It is pure fuel, useful when fuel is short, pointless when there is enough.

Maltodextrin, cyclodextrin or waxy maize?

The three families share the same aisle and differ in how fast they leave the stomach.

Maltodextrin is the simplest and the cheapest per gram. With a DE19 it leaves the stomach quickly and suits the great majority of uses: bulking, a moderate training drink, refuelling after exercise. Its weakness is its osmolarity: badly diluted, it weighs on the gut.

Cyclodextrin has a much higher molecular weight and a lower osmolarity, which lets it leave the stomach faster still without drawing in water. It is the better choice for long, intense sessions, for endurance sports, and for anyone with a delicate stomach during exercise. It costs considerably more.

Waxy maize sits between the two: unhydrolysed waxy maize starch, slightly more gradual to digest, often chosen for snacks around training rather than during it.

If your aim is purely a calorie one and not tied to the session, a rice flour or a complete gainer gives you more than a maltodextrin on its own, because they add protein and micronutrients that it does not have.

Frequently asked questions

What does DE19 mean?

DE stands for dextrose equivalent: it measures how far the starch has been hydrolysed. The higher the index, the shorter the chains, the faster the absorption and the more osmotic the solution becomes. DE19 corresponds to an intermediate maltodextrin, fast without being harsh on the stomach. Few brands publish this figure.

Why 96 g of carbohydrate but less than 1 g of sugars?

Because the regulations count only mono- and disaccharides as sugars. Maltodextrin is made of longer chains, which do not fall within that definition. In metabolic terms, on the other hand, it behaves like a fast carbohydrate, with a glycaemic index higher than that of table sugar.

How much should you dilute it?

30 g in 400 to 500 ml of water, that is a concentration of 6% to 8%. Beyond that, the solution becomes hyperosmotic and causes digestive trouble during exercise. It is by far the most frequent cause of bad experiences with this kind of product.

Does it contain gluten?

No, the maltodextrin here comes from maize starch, naturally gluten free, and the manufacturer says so. It does, however, flag possible traces of gluten from the production environment. For coeliac disease, that nuance is worth checking on the packaging you receive.

Can you mix it with a whey?

Yes, and that is the most common use after training. The mix alters neither the taste nor the texture of the protein, maltodextrin being neutral. Allow 30 g of maltodextrin for 30 g of protein if your aim is to rebuild your stores after an intense session.

Is it suitable while cutting?

Rarely. It is 115 kcal of fast carbohydrate per serving, with no satiety and no micronutrients, that is to say exactly what a calorie deficit is trying to reduce. The one exception is very long sessions, where an intake during exercise remains justified despite the deficit.

Does it have a taste?

Very little. The powder is faintly sweet on the palate but stays broadly neutral, with no added flavouring or sweetener. That is what makes it a good ingredient to mix in, and a fairly bland product to drink on its own in water.

Where can you buy Sinob Maltodextrin?

It can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the simplest product in the aisle and yet the one we give the most advice on: almost every problem people run into with a maltodextrin comes from too concentrated a shaker, never from the powder. The rest of the carbohydrate aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Sinob Melato9?

Sinob Melato9 is a powdered evening drink, to be mixed with water. A 14 g serving provides 1 mg of melatonin, 1 g of taurine, 500 mg of L-tryptophan, 500 mg of glycine, 150 mg of magnesium and seven other active ingredients, for 35 kcal. It is taken 45 minutes before bed.

The format is the first thing that sets this product apart. Supplements aimed at sleep are almost always sold as capsules or tablets; here it is a drink. That changes two things: the quantity of active ingredients you can fit into one serving, and the ritual — making up a glass and drinking it calmly is part of what prepares you for bed.

The only active ingredient whose effect is recognised at European level is melatonin, at 1 mg. That is exactly the threshold that opens the door to the authorised claim, and the whole of the rest of the formula is built around it. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and taurine, the formula's second active ingredient by weight, in our taurine section.

What does one serving of Melato9 contain?

The milligram of melatonin is not a figure picked at random: it is very precisely the condition attached to the claim authorised in Europe. Below it, the claim cannot be used; at 1 mg per serving, it can. The official wording is as follows: melatonin contributes to the reduction of time taken to fall asleep. A second claim exists, also met at this dose: melatonin contributes to the alleviation of subjective feelings of jet lag.

Magnesium provides the formula's second regulatory foundation. At 150 mg, i.e. 40% of the reference value, it opens the door to its claims: magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to normal psychological function, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to normal muscle function. The form used is the citrate, better absorbed than the oxide found in many cheap formulas.

For all the other ingredients, we should be clear: no claim is authorised in Europe. Not for taurine, not for tryptophan, not for glycine, not for hops, lemon balm, passionflower or ginkgo. They are ingredients authorised for sale, and evening plant extracts are part of a tradition of use — but nothing can be promised for them. The 75 mg of choline, in particular, stays below the threshold that would allow a claim to be stated.

One line deserves your attention before you buy: 3.28 g of sugars per serving, coming from the dextrose that serves as the carrier for the powder. That is little in absolute terms, but it is not zero, and it is worth flagging if you are watching your intake at the end of the day.

Data missing from the manufacturer's dossier: the quantities of ginseng root extract, inositol and black pepper extract are not disclosed even though these ingredients appear in the list. We will not estimate them.

Ingredients list

Dextrose, acidity regulator (citric acid), taurine, magnesium citrate, L-glycine, L-tryptophan, hop extract, lemon balm extract, choline bitartrate, inositol, flavouring (contains TARTRAZINE), passionflower extract, inulin, ginkgo biloba extract, flavouring (contains SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND SULPHITES), colour (vegetable carbon), sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame K), ginseng root extract, black pepper extract, melatonin.

Contains SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND SULPHITES. Contains TARTRAZINE (E102): may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.

How do you take Melato9?

Dose: 2 scoops, i.e. 14 g; 3 scoops, i.e. 21 g, during periods of intense stress. Liquid: 250 ml of cold water, 350 ml for the stronger dose. Timing: 45 minutes before bed. Frequency: one serving a day, in the evening only. Duration: 21 consecutive days at most.

The 21-day limit is the most important instruction on this page, and it is not decorative. The manufacturer sets it down in black and white: beyond three weeks, if the sleep difficulties persist, a medical consultation is called for. A sleep disorder lasting more than a month is not a food supplement problem, and carrying on indefinitely amounts to masking a question that ought to be put to a doctor.

The 45 minutes before bed correspond to the time needed for the melatonin to be absorbed. Taken as you get into bed, it acts that much later. Shake vigorously for twenty seconds or so in nice cold water: it dissolves better cold.

Do not drive and do not use machinery after drinking this preparation. The manufacturer says so, and it makes sense: melatonin causes drowsiness, which is exactly what it is there for. Plan on staying at home after taking it.

Two free pieces of advice that often count for more than the product itself: no caffeine in the six hours beforehand, and a cool, dark bedroom. If you already take a ZMA in the evening, check that it does not also contain melatonin — doses add up and should not be stacked. For a higher magnesium intake, a dedicated product complements this formula better than a duplicate does.

Who is Melato9 for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who takes a while to fall asleep, occasionally: a busy stretch, jet lag, a change in training times. The manufacturer restricts it to adults.

Three warnings appear explicitly on the packaging and deserve reading before you buy. The product contains sulphur dioxide and sulphites — an allergen subject to mandatory labelling — as well as tartrazine, a colour that requires the regulatory statement about possible effects on activity and attention in children. Finally, drug interactions are possible with anticoagulants and hypnotics, which is explained in particular by the presence of ginkgo biloba.

It is not advised for pregnant and breastfeeding women without medical advice, or for children. The national food safety agency also calls for caution over melatonin for people with inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, epilepsy or asthma, and for those on treatment. In all these cases, the question is one for a doctor, not for the shop floor.

What not to expect from it. Melatonin reduces the time taken to fall asleep; it does not lengthen the night, does not stop night-time waking and treats no insomnia. The plant extracts in the formula have no demonstrated effect and nothing can be promised for them. And an evening supplement makes up neither for a coffee at 18:00, nor for two hours of screen time in bed, nor for a shifted lifestyle.

An evening drink or melatonin on its own?

A frequent question in the shop, and the answer depends above all on your budget and your routine.

Melatonin on its own, as a tablet or as drops, costs little, is taken in three seconds and does the one job that is recognised in regulation: reducing the time taken to fall asleep. If that is your only need, it is the most direct and most economical choice, and our melatonin section answers it perfectly.

Melato9 is selling something else: a ritual and a broad formula. Eleven active ingredients, a drink to make up, a marked moment in the evening. For some people that ritual counts as much as the molecule — sitting down with a glass forty-five minutes before going to bed is in itself a signal that the day is over. And 150 mg of magnesium citrate come as a bonus.

When is neither one the answer? If your problem is not falling asleep but waking in the middle of the night, or feeling tired on waking despite eight hours of sleep. There, no supplement will answer, and it is a doctor you need to see. For a different approach, our GABA section rests on another molecule, and our L-glycine section lets you dose that amino acid far higher than the 500 mg present here.

Frequently asked questions

How much melatonin per serving?

1 mg for two scoops, i.e. 14 g of powder. That is exactly the threshold that authorises the European claim on reducing the time taken to fall asleep. The stronger three-scoop serving brings the intake to 1.5 mg, which remains below the ceiling applicable to food supplements in France.

How long can you take it for?

21 consecutive days at most; the manufacturer is explicit. Beyond that, if the difficulties persist, it asks for a medical consultation. It is an instruction to respect: a sleep disorder that drags on is not sorted out with a food supplement.

Can you drive after drinking it?

No. The manufacturer formally advises against it, and it makes sense since melatonin causes drowsiness. Plan on taking it once you are home, forty-five minutes before going to bed, and not before travelling anywhere.

Is there sugar in this drink?

3.28 g of sugars per serving, coming from the dextrose that serves as the carrier for the powder, for a total of 35 kcal. That is little, but it is not zero. The rest of the sweetening comes from sucralose and acesulfame K.

Does it contain allergens?

Yes, two mandatory statements. The product contains sulphur dioxide and sulphites, and it contains tartrazine, a colour for which regulation requires possible effects on activity and attention in children to be flagged. Read those two lines before you buy.

Can it be combined with another evening product?

Not if that product already contains melatonin or tryptophan: doses add up and should not be stacked. Check the composition of your ZMA or your sleep complex first. If you are on anticoagulant or hypnotic treatment, ask your doctor's advice, since the ginkgo biloba in the formula may interact.

Do the plant extracts serve any purpose?

No claim is authorised in Europe for hops, lemon balm, passionflower or ginkgo. They are plants of traditional evening use, present here at honest doses, but we will not credit them with any demonstrated effect. Melatonin and magnesium are the only two active ingredients in the formula about which anything can be asserted.

Where can you buy Sinob Melato9?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we sell this product while stressing two things: the 21 days maximum, and the fact that it acts on falling asleep, not on the quality of the night. A customer looking to sleep better in general often leaves with a magnesium and a word of advice about their afternoon coffee. The rest of the section can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Complete Mobility Forte?

Sinob Complete Mobility Forte is a powdered joint formula to be mixed with water, in an orange flavour. The daily dose of 22.6 g brings together 5 g of glycine, 500 mg of glucosamine sulphate, 400 mg of chondroitin sulphate, 300 mg of MSM, 250 mg of boswellia, 200 mg of cissus, 150 mg of curcumin, 80 mg of vitamin C and 10 mg of zinc. The 474 g tub covers 20 days.

What sets this product apart is its format as much as its formula. Joint complexes are almost always sold as capsules, at two to four a day. Here everything goes through a powder you drink, split into three servings of 7.5 g. That takes more effort to prepare, but it makes room for a glycine dose no capsule could ever hold.

The 5 g of glycine is in fact the real marker of this formula. It is the most abundant amino acid in collagen, where it accounts for roughly one residue in three, and that is what explains why it heads the ingredient list. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob aisle, and the other products in the category in our glucosamine aisle.

What does a daily dose of Complete Mobility Forte contain?

Of the nine quantified actives, only two carry claims authorised in Europe, and that has to be said up front. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage and bones, and zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. Those are the official wordings, and the 80 mg of vitamin C and the 10 mg of zinc each cover 100% of the nutrient reference value, which is amply enough to qualify.

For everything else — glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, boswellia, cissus, curcumin, glycine — no health claim is authorised at European level. These are ingredients cleared for sale, described here for what they are, but nothing can be promised for them. A seller who tells you that glucosamine rebuilds cartilage has stepped outside the rules.

Now let us look at the doses without flinching, because that is where this product sits. The published protocols on glucosamine use 1,500 mg a day, and 1,200 mg for chondroitin. Here you are at 500 mg and 400 mg, roughly a third in both cases. MSM, at 300 mg, is also well below the amounts usually studied. These three actives are therefore present at supporting doses, not at reference doses.

Conversely, the 5 g of glycine is a straightforward dose, and curcumin at 150 mg is respectable for an extract. The logic of the formula is therefore clear: build around glycine and vitamin C, then fill out with a broad spread rather than with two or three heavily dosed actives. It is a defensible choice, provided you know what you are buying.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the amounts of devil's claw, nettle extract, pine bark extract and bromelain are not disclosed, even though these ingredients do appear on the list. We will not estimate them.

Ingredients list

Glycine, Asthisamharaka extract 5:1 (Cissus quadrangularis), glucosamine sulphate, MSM, flavouring, acidity regulator (citric acid), frankincense powder (Boswellia serrata), chondroitin sulphate, L-ascorbic acid, powdered orange juice, devil's claw powder, nettle extract 10:1, pine bark extract, bromelain, sweetener (sucralose).

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGGS, MILK, FISH and SOYA. Not recommended in cases of allergy to CRUSTACEANS, since glucosamine is generally derived from them.

How do you take Complete Mobility Forte?

Dose: 22.6 g a day, i.e. three servings of 7.5 g, one scoop per serving. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of water per serving. Timing: morning, midday and early evening. Frequency: three servings daily. Duration: a course of three months minimum; the manufacturer puts the first noticeable effects at between four and six weeks.

Splitting the dose into three is not gratuitous complication, but it is demanding and we should be honest about that: it is the main obstacle to sticking with this product. Drinking a glass at a set time three times a day, every day for three months, takes real organisation. If you know in advance that you will not manage it, a joint complex in capsule form will do more for you — not because it is a better product, but because you will actually take it.

The powder is orange-flavoured, with a spicy note coming from the turmeric and the frankincense. It mixes into water without difficulty, but shake it properly: plant extracts have a tendency to settle. Drink immediately after preparing.

The three-month duration is the most important parameter in these instructions. On a joint product, two weeks prove nothing at all, and many buyers give up after one tub, concluding that "it does not work". One tub covers 20 days; a full course therefore takes four to five. That is a budget, and it is better to have it in mind at the first purchase than at the third.

The product combines without overlap with an omega 3, with an additional intake of L-glycine if you are aiming higher, or with a more heavily dosed turmeric extract if that is the active you are interested in.

Who is Complete Mobility Forte for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult who puts demands on their joints: contact sports, running, heavy loads, or simply years of practice. The powder format suits people who already drink shakes and for whom one more glass changes very little.

It is not suitable in cases of allergy to crustaceans. Glucosamine is almost always extracted from crustacean shells, and the manufacturer flags this explicitly. It is the most concrete contraindication on this page, and it is absolute.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for children. The French national food safety agency also calls for caution over glucosamine for people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic and for those on vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant treatment: in these situations, medical advice is essential before buying. The formula also contains sucralose, to be ruled out if you avoid artificial sweeteners.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the part nobody writes. This product does not treat osteoarthritis, does not repair damaged cartilage and does not replace any treatment. Joint pain that persists, that wakes you at night or that comes with swelling is a matter for a doctor, not for a powder you drink. Nor does it excuse you from the work that really counts on painful joints: progressive strength training, load management, and rest when rest is needed.

Joint powder or collagen?

The two products sit side by side on the shelf and many customers hesitate, often for the wrong reasons.

A collagen, particularly in peptide form, supplies protein raw material in large quantity — generally 10 g per serving — of which glycine alone makes up close to a third. It is simple to take, mixes into anything, costs less per dose and pairs very well with vitamin C. If your aim is a broad, regular intake over the long term, our collagen aisle is the right starting point.

This complex does something else: it stacks nine different actives around a glycine base. That is choosing breadth rather than quantity. It makes sense if you want to try glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, boswellia and curcumin without buying five tubs — bearing in mind that none of them is present at the dose used in the published protocols.

When is neither of them the answer? If you are after one specific active at a full dose. Glucosamine at 1,500 mg, MSM at 3 g or a heavily dosed curcumin can be found as standalone products and will cost less than the same active buried in a complex. Our vitamin C aisle also lets you top up the intake that normal collagen formation depends on.

Frequently asked questions

How long does one tub last?

474 g for a daily dose of 22.6 g: 20 days, so a little under a month. Since the recommended course is three months minimum, count on four to five tubs for a full course. That is budget information you are better off having at the first purchase.

Why three servings a day?

The manufacturer splits the 22.6 g into three servings of 7.5 g, in the morning, at midday and in the early evening. That is the intended protocol and it is also the product's main constraint: if you know you will not keep up three glasses a day for three months, a capsule complex will fit your daily life better.

Are the glucosamine and chondroitin doses high enough?

They are around three times lower than the amounts in the published protocols, which use 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin a day. Here it is 500 and 400 mg. These are supporting doses within a broad formula, not reference doses, and that is important to know before buying.

Is this product suitable in cases of allergy to crustaceans?

No. Glucosamine is generally derived from crustacean shells and the manufacturer formally advises against the product in that case. There is no glucosamine-free version of this reference: turn instead to a collagen or to a complex that contains none.

How long before you notice anything?

The manufacturer puts the first noticeable effects at between four and six weeks, and recommends a course of three months minimum. In this category, judging a product after two weeks makes no sense. Note that the sensation remains subjective: no effect is guaranteed, and none may be promised.

What does this powder taste like?

Orange, with a spicy note coming from the turmeric and the frankincense. The manufacturer uses powdered orange juice and a flavouring, with sucralose as the sweetener. Shake it properly before drinking: plant extracts settle at the bottom of the glass.

Can it be combined with a collagen?

Yes, without problematic overlap. The collagen will supply more glycine and proline, this complex supplies the plant extracts and the minerals. Simply check the vitamin C content of both products, which can add up without causing any difficulty at these levels.

Where can you buy Sinob Complete Mobility Forte?

The 474 g tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we systematically ask two questions before selling it: are you allergic to crustaceans, and are you prepared to drink three glasses a day for three months. The second makes more people back out than the first, and that is a good thing: a tub bought and then abandoned serves nobody. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate?

Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate is a zinc supplement in chelated form, in a vegetable capsule. One capsule provides 25 mg of zinc bisglycinate, i.e. 250% of the nutrient reference value. The bottle holds 60 capsules, which comes to two months at one a day.

Bisglycinate is zinc bound to two molecules of glycine, the smallest of the amino acids. That bond is not cosmetic: it changes the way the mineral crosses the intestinal wall, taking the amino acid transport routes rather than the mineral ones. This is what explains its reputation for being easy on digestion.

In practical terms, it is the form that goes down best on an empty stomach. A zinc sulphate or oxide taken on an empty stomach frequently causes nausea; bisglycinate far less so. On a product meant to be taken every morning, that detail often decides whether the bottle is finished or abandoned. The rest of the German range can be browsed in our Sinob section, and the other products in the category in our zinc section.

What does one Zinc Bisglycinate capsule contain?

250% of the reference value is a high dose, and it deserves to be stated plainly rather than sold as a benefit. The upper safe limit set at European level for zinc in adults is 25 mg per day, from all sources combined — food included. This capsule sits exactly on it. Two practical consequences: one capsule a day and never two, and above all do not stack this product with a multivitamin, a ZMA or any other supplement containing zinc. Intakes add up, and with this mineral an excess is not harmless. We look at these thresholds in detail in our article on zinc bisglycinate dosage.

Why the caution? Because zinc competes with copper for intestinal absorption. A high, prolonged intake may therefore, over time, affect copper status. That is why the manufacturer provides for courses rather than permanent use, and it is a point few product pages mention.

Zinc, on the other hand, is one of the minerals best served by authorised claims, and there are a great many of them. Among the most relevant here: zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, to normal protein synthesis, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, to the maintenance of normal skin, hair and nails, to normal cognitive function and to normal macronutrient metabolism. These are the official wordings of the European framework.

Be careful how you read the line “maintenance of normal testosterone levels”: maintaining is not increasing. Zinc prevents a fall caused by an insufficient intake; it does not raise a level that is already normal in someone who is not short of it. It is a nuance the bodybuilding aisle is happy to erase, and it changes everything.

A figure to check on the packaging: the label states “25 mg of zinc bisglycinate” with 250% of the reference value, which corresponds to 25 mg of elemental zinc. The wording leaves some ambiguity as to whether the 25 mg refers to the zinc itself or to the whole complex. We report the declared value without interpreting it.

Ingredients list

Zinc bisglycinate (zinc chelated with glycine), vegetable capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), anti-caking agent (vegetable magnesium stearate).

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

How do you take Zinc Bisglycinate?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach. Frequency: one dose a day, never more. Duration: a course of 2 to 3 months, followed by a month off.

Taking it on an empty stomach is possible here, and that is the main appeal of this form. Zinc is better absorbed away from meals, but most forms then cause nausea; bisglycinate is far better tolerated. If you still feel some discomfort, take the capsule with a light breakfast: you will lose a little absorption, which is preferable to giving up on the dose altogether.

Leave two hours between this and an iron or calcium supplement. These three minerals compete for the same intestinal transporters and get in each other's way. The same goes for a meal very rich in fibre or phytates — wholemeal bread, pulses — which markedly reduces zinc absorption. Taking it in the morning on an empty stomach settles all of this at a stroke.

The two- to three-month course followed by a month off is not a commercial constraint: it follows directly from the dose. At 25 mg a day, permanent year-round use is not appropriate. The 60-capsule bottle covers exactly two months, that is, one complete short course.

Zinc combines without overlap with vitamin D or vitamin C, two nutrients that do not compete with it. Before buying, on the other hand, check that your multivitamin or your ZMA does not already provide some.

Who is Zinc Bisglycinate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult whose diet provides little zinc: vegetarian and vegan diets first and foremost, since the best food sources are oysters, red meat and offal. The phytates in wholegrain cereals and pulses also reduce the absorption of plant-derived zinc, which widens the gap further.

It is not for you if you already take zinc elsewhere. That is the main warning on this page: between a multivitamin, a ZMA and an immunity complex, it is easy to stack three sources without noticing and to go well beyond the safe limit. Do the sums before adding this bottle to your routine.

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women without medical advice, nor for children. If you are on medication, ask a healthcare professional for advice: zinc interacts in particular with certain antibiotics.

What not to expect from it. It does not build muscle and it does not raise the testosterone of a man whose level is normal. It does not prevent colds — no claim of that kind exists. You will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal: a mineral produces no sensation. If you are wondering about a deficiency, a blood test prescribed by a doctor will answer more reliably than a bottle bought at random.

Bisglycinate or another form of zinc?

The zinc aisle offers at least four different forms, and the gap between them is real.

Zinc oxide is the cheapest and the most widespread in entry-level formulas. It contains a lot of zinc per gram, but it is poorly absorbed and often poorly tolerated on an empty stomach. Sulphate and gluconate do better, with digestive tolerance varying from person to person.

Bisglycinate stands out on two counts: absorption and tolerance. Chelated with an amino acid, it takes a different route in from the classic mineral salts and is taken on an empty stomach without difficulty by most people. That is what justifies its higher price, and it is a premium worth paying on a product taken every morning for two months.

When is another form the better choice? If zinc is not your main objective but one element among several, a multivitamin or a ZMA will be more than enough and will cost you less, with a distinctly more moderate dose — which, given the safe limit, is no bad thing. Our magnesium section, as it happens, applies the same chelated-form logic to another mineral.

Frequently asked questions

How much zinc per capsule?

25 mg, that is, 250% of the nutrient reference value. It is a high dose: the upper safe limit set at European level in adults is 25 mg per day, from all sources combined. One capsule a day, never two, and no stacking with another product containing zinc.

Why bisglycinate rather than another zinc?

Because it is chelated with glycine and takes the amino acid transport routes rather than the mineral ones. The result: better absorption and, above all, tolerance on an empty stomach far superior to that of oxide or sulphate, which frequently cause nausea.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach?

Yes, that is what the manufacturer intends, and this form allows it without discomfort for most people. Zinc is better absorbed away from meals, and in particular away from foods rich in fibre and phytates. If it causes any discomfort, taking it with a light breakfast is still preferable to giving up.

Can it be combined with iron or calcium?

Not at the same time. These three minerals compete for the same intestinal transporters: the manufacturer asks for two hours between them. In practice, zinc in the morning on an empty stomach and iron or calcium with the evening meal settles the question without your having to think about it.

Does zinc increase testosterone?

No. The authorised claim says that it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. Maintaining means preventing a fall caused by an insufficient intake, not raising a level that is already normal. It is a distinction the bodybuilding aisle often erases, and it is an essential one.

How long can you take it for?

The manufacturer provides for courses of two to three months followed by a month off. At this dose, permanent use is not appropriate: a high, prolonged zinc intake can affect copper status, since the two minerals compete for absorption.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. The shell is a vegetable capsule made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and the anti-caking agent is a magnesium stearate of plant origin. This is in fact the group most concerned by this product, as the best food sources of zinc are of animal origin.

Where can you buy Sinob Zinc Bisglycinate?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask about this product is always the same: are you already taking a multivitamin or a ZMA? At 25 mg per capsule, the answer completely changes the advice, and many customers leave with a more modest dose. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.