Pre
"One scoop has me not wanting to leave the gym. . . great pump and mood enhancer"
NutraBio PRE is the brand's flagship premium pre-workout — the formula that has been setting the transparent-label standard since NutraBio launched the first ever no-proprietary-blend, fully-dosed pre-workout in 2002. The 2025 edition is the most advanced PRE to date: a heavy pump stack anchored by 10g of straight L-Citrulline, Arginine AKG and L-Arginine at 1.5g and 1.25g respectively, and a combined 3.25g of NO3-T nitrates (1.65g Arginine Nitrate and 1.6g Betaine Nitrate), alongside 3.2g Beta-Alanine, 2g Taurine, 2.5g total Betaine, 1.5g L-Tyrosine, 600mg Alpha GPC, VitaCholine, Mucuna Pruriens, 20mg Vincamine, 350mg total caffeine from Anhydrous and Infinergy Di-Caffeine Malate, Calci-K electrolytes, and AstraGin for absorption. No proprietary blends. No fillers. No excipients. No additives. Every ingredient disclosed. Every dose clinical. Third-party tested and verifiable at CheckMySupps.com. 20 servings per container. Flavors: Lemon Burst, Blue Razz, Wild Watermelon, and Paradise Punch. California Prop 65 Warning applies.*
NutraBio launched the first ever no proprietary blend, fully dosed pre-workout back in 2002. That's not a claim many brands can make — and no brand has been doing it longer. When the rest of the industry was hiding doses behind proprietary blends and padding formulas with underdosed window-dressing ingredients, NutraBio was publishing every dose, sourcing every ingredient for potency, and refusing fillers, excipients, and additives in any product. The transparent label movement that is now the category expectation is one that NutraBio built before it was the expectation.†
PRE is the product that embodies this standard at its highest expression. It is not NutraBio's entry-level or budget product — Base Pre-Workout covers that category at approximately $1 per serving. PRE is the premium formula where the budget constraint is removed and the only question is what produces the best results. The 2025 edition answers that question with the most comprehensive formula NutraBio has produced: five pump ingredients covering three mechanistically distinct NO pathways, clinical endurance and hydration coverage, one of the most complete nootropic stacks in any mainstream pre-workout, and 350mg of intelligently delivered caffeine. Every gram of every ingredient with a documented purpose.†
Ten grams of pure L-Citrulline is the headline upgrade from the previous PRE version — an extraordinary dose that represents a meaningful step above the 6-8g range that defines most premium pre-workouts. Citrulline converts to arginine in the kidney, which serves as substrate for eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) to produce NO — the vasodilatory signaling molecule that drives pump, blood flow, and nutrient delivery. At 10g, NutraBio is operating well above the 6-8g range studied in most published sports performance research, providing what amounts to a maximal eNOS substrate saturation dose. The "pure L-Citrulline" specification is important — this is not Citrulline Malate at 10g (which would contain only ~6.7g actual Citrulline) but 10,000mg of actual L-Citrulline.†
While Citrulline provides sustained arginine generation through the kidney conversion pathway, Arginine AKG and L-Arginine provide direct arginine substrate for immediate eNOS activity — the fast-acting complement to Citrulline's sustained delivery. Arginine AKG (arginine bound to alpha-ketoglutarate) improves oral arginine bioavailability versus standard L-Arginine by protecting it from intestinal arginase degradation. Standard L-Arginine provides additional direct substrate. Together with the Citrulline-derived arginine, the combined arginine availability for eNOS is substantially greater than any single source could achieve.†
The 3,250mg of combined NO3-T® nitrates — 1,650mg from Arginine Nitrate and 1,600mg from Betaine Nitrate — is one of the most significant additions to the 2025 PRE formula. The nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway is completely distinct from the arginine-eNOS pathway: dietary nitrates are converted to nitrite by oral bacteria, then reduced to NO by nitrite reductases in exercising muscle tissue under hypoxic conditions. Critically, nitrate-derived NO production increases during the most intense moments of training — when oxygen tension is lowest and NO demand is highest. The two pathways are additive and complementary: eNOS-derived NO provides baseline vasodilation from the start of the session, nitrate-derived NO amplifies during peak intensity moments when the eNOS pathway is most substrate-limited. The dual approach produces more complete, sustained NO production than either pathway alone achieves.†
Using both Arginine Nitrate and Betaine Nitrate as the NO3-T® sources is a deliberate dual-benefit choice: Arginine Nitrate provides additional direct arginine for eNOS activity alongside its nitrate content. Betaine Nitrate provides the osmolyte cell-volumizing Betaine alongside its nitrate contribution — delivering 1,000mg of Betaine (on top of the 1,500mg standalone Betaine Anhydrous) in a compound that also drives the nitrate-NO pathway. Two benefits from two compounds rather than a single nitrate source.†
3,200mg of Beta-Alanine is the research-validated clinical dose for carnosine buffering — the specific amount used in the foundational sports performance studies documenting ergogenic benefit. Beta-Alanine provides the rate-limiting precursor for muscle carnosine synthesis. Carnosine buffers the hydrogen ions that accumulate during high-intensity training and force contractile failure. More carnosine means more quality reps before the burn ends the set — directly translating to higher training volume and better strength endurance. The tingling (paresthesia) that begins 15-20 minutes after taking PRE confirms the dose is active.†
2,500mg total Betaine — 1,500mg standalone Betaine Anhydrous plus 1,000mg Betaine from Betaine Nitrate — is the research-validated threshold for power output enhancement documented in published trials. As an osmolyte, Betaine draws water into muscle cells for additional intracellular volumization alongside the vascular pump from the NO compounds. As a methyl donor, Betaine supports creatine synthesis and the methylation reactions underlying protein metabolism. Multiple published studies at 2,500mg Betaine have documented improvements in bench press volume, squat performance, and body composition over training cycles.†
Taurine at 2,000mg provides a fourth osmolyte for cellular hydration alongside the water drawn in by Betaine and Citrulline-mediated vasodilation, while its calcium-handling regulatory effects optimize contractile force production per muscle contraction. The Calci-K electrolyte blend (320mg combined electrolytes including Calcium and Potassium from the Calci-K compound) maintains the electrolyte balance that the combined volumizing compounds and intense training demand — preventing the cellular electrolyte imbalances that impair neuromuscular performance.†
600mg of Alpha GPC is a premium cognitive dose of the most bioavailable oral choline form — crossing the blood-brain barrier within 30-60 minutes and directly elevating acetylcholine for attention, motor signal precision, and mind-muscle connection quality. VitaCholine (choline bitartrate produced under a quality-controlled manufacturing process) provides additional choline substrate for sustained acetylcholine synthesis throughout the session. The dual-choline approach mirrors what we've seen in the top-tier nootropic pre-workouts and produces more complete cholinergic support than either source alone.†
Vincamine is the most distinctive and least commonly seen ingredient in PRE's nootropic stack — rarely seen but enjoyable. Vincamine is a monoterpene indole alkaloid derived from the periwinkle plant (Vinca minor) and is the precursor to Vinpocetine (a more familiar derivative). Vincamine's primary mechanism is cerebrovascular — it increases cerebral blood flow and oxygen utilization in brain tissue through vasodilation of cerebral blood vessels. The cognitive effect is clarity and focus driven by improved brain perfusion rather than neurotransmitter stimulation — a distinctly different and complementary mechanism to the catecholaminergic focus from Tyrosine and Mucuna, the acetylcholinergic focus from Alpha GPC and VitaCholine, and the caffeine-driven alertness. At 20mg, NutraBio is using Vincamine at the dose associated with its documented cerebrovascular effects.†
Mucuna Pruriens seed extract (standardized for L-Dopa) provides the dopamine precursor dimension of the nootropic stack. L-Dopa crosses the blood-brain barrier and converts to dopamine — the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, reward anticipation, and the driven, purposeful energy that defines a productive training session. Combined with Tyrosine (the catecholamine synthesis precursor), Mucuna's direct L-Dopa delivery and Tyrosine's upstream precursor support cover the dopamine production pathway from two directions simultaneously.†
L-Tyrosine at 1,500mg provides the rate-limiting amino acid for dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine synthesis — ensuring the catecholamine synthesis pathway has adequate substrate under the combined demand of 350mg caffeine, intense training, and the full nootropic stack. Catecholamine depletion is the mechanism behind mid-workout energy crashes — Tyrosine at meaningful doses maintains the synthesis rate that keeps dopaminergic drive, norepinephrine-mediated focus, and adrenergic performance support consistent from the first set to the last.†
350mg total caffeine from a blend of Caffeine Anhydrous and Infinergy® Di-Caffeine Malate follows the dual-source extended-release approach that the best pre-workouts use. Caffeine Anhydrous provides the fast-onset adenosine antagonism and immediate alertness — the 15-30 minute onset that launches the session. Infinergy® Di-Caffeine Malate (caffeine bound to malic acid) releases more gradually, providing a secondary caffeine wave as the anhydrous dose begins to taper — smoothing the energy curve and extending session energy without a hard crash at the end. 350mg is a strong, effective caffeine dose appropriate for experienced users with established tolerance.†
AstraGin® (NuLiv Science's patented Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng combination) upregulates the intestinal transporter proteins (SGLT1, CAT1, and others) responsible for absorbing amino acids, glucose, and various bioactive compounds across the intestinal epithelium. By increasing the number and activity of these transport proteins, AstraGin® improves the absorption rate and completeness of the entire formula — making the 10g Citrulline, Alpha GPC, Betaine, and other ingredients more bioavailable than they would be without an absorption enhancer present. AstraGin is included specifically to ensure the clinical doses in the formula produce clinical results rather than being partially wasted in intestinal transit.†
NutraBio now operates two pre-workout tiers. Base Pre-Workout is the value offering — a solid 6g Citrulline, 3.2g Beta-Alanine, 2.5g Betaine, 1g Taurine, 300mg caffeine, and electrolyte support at approximately $1 per serving. PRE is the premium offering — 10g Citrulline, the full triple-pathway nitrate complex (3.25g NO3-T), Arginine AKG and L-Arginine, 2.5g total Betaine, 2g Taurine, the full nootropic stack (Alpha GPC, VitaCholine, Vincamine, Mucuna, Tyrosine), 350mg dual-source caffeine, Calci-K electrolytes, and AstraGin — at $49.99 for 20 servings. Both are fully transparent with no proprietary blends. Base is the athlete who wants reliable effectiveness at an accessible price. PRE is the athlete who wants the most comprehensive formula available and is willing to pay for it.†
Mix 1 scoop in 12-14oz of cold water 20-30 minutes before training. New users and those sensitive to caffeine: assess tolerance with a smaller amount before consuming the full scoop — 350mg total caffeine is a strong dose. Do not exceed 1 scoop in any 24-hour period. Do not combine with other caffeinated products, stimulants, or fat burners. Do not take within 6 hours of bedtime — the Infinergy Di-Caffeine Malate extends active caffeine duration beyond standard anhydrous caffeine. Expect Beta-Alanine paresthesia (tingling) at 3.2g — this is normal and confirms bioavailability. Shake well before use. Store in a cool, dry place. Manufactured in a facility that processes all major allergens. Not for persons under 18. Not for pregnant or nursing women. Consult a physician before use if taking any prescription medications. California Prop 65 Warning applies.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 1 reviews.
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"One scoop has me not wanting to leave the gym. . . great pump and mood enhancer"