MRI

Science

Fact - Fiction = MRI

A simple definition of “science” is the separation of fact from fiction, something Medical Research Institute (“MRI”) has been doing since 1997 when it first opened its doors. Five years of research and development later, it opened another set of doors, that of “Perpetual Pumps”, with the introduction of NO2® and the outstandingly popular Hemodilator® category of body building supplements.

It costs money to keep science humming along. As an active funder of scientific research, MRI knows this first-hand. Contributing to some of the costs is the fact that research must be conducted by a party other than the supplement manufacturer in order to reduce bias. Yet it is money well spent it if it helps consumers like you separate supplement fact from fiction. That's why in 2004 MRI provided a research grant to Baylor University for the purpose of conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial on NO2, the first study of its kind.

Founded in 1845 in the Republic of Texas (it wasn't even a state yet) Baylor is the oldest college in Texas. Today, Baylor's Human Performance Laboratory in the School of Education houses some of the world's most respected scientists in the field of sports nutrition. Results from the Baylor NO2 study were presented at the first annual conference of the International Society of Sports Nutrition held in June of 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

No “cherry picking”: The Baylor NO2 Study

Many times supplement manufacturers will refer to the results of studies involving a single generic ingredient (e.g. caffeine, arginine, or creatine) as if to imply that they serve as prima facie evidence that their formula is safe and effective (“cherry picking”). The purpose of the Baylor University study, in contrast, was to test the very same NO2 sustained-release arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG) formula sold to consumers. Baylor's scientists conducted their investigation with the level of scrutiny as would be the case when studying a medication used in the treatment of heart disease or cancer, for instance. The results? NO2 was found to be safe and well tolerated. It also produced an increase in 1-RM bench press performance* and peak anaerobic power as measured during the Wingate test**.

*Bench press performance: The 1-Reptition-Maximum (1-RM) is the maximum amount of weight a subject can complete one repetition with. When someone poses the question “How much can you bench?” the number they're usually looking for is your 1-RM in this exercise.

**Wingate test: Named after the Israeli university where it originated, this test attempts to measure muscular power during an all-out sprint of brief duration (e.g. 30 seconds) on a mechanically-braked stationary bicycle. The test subject begins by pedaling quickly without any added resistance. Once the maximum pedaling frequency is achieved, the brake is applied to add resistance. The mean power output measured during the first 5 seconds of sprinting with the break applied is termed the “peak power”. Chances are you will not be asked “How much can you Wingate?” very often.

REFERENCES

1. Campbell B et al. (2006). Pharmacokinetics, safety, and effects on exercise performance of L-arginine-ketoglutarate in trained adult men. Nutrition, 22: 872-881. Available online at: bearspace.baylor.edu
2. Encyclopedia Britannica.

Quality

Referring back to the NO2 study discussed in SCIENCE, before the Baylor scientists began testing this product, they needed to be certain that it contained what was stated on the label. For this reason an independent analytical laboratory based in the United States was used to confirm the quality and integrity of the active ingredient in NO2, AAKG.

Every Ad Scrutinized

MRI's fanaticism about quality control extends well beyond its supplements. “Marketing” refers to the means by which we get the word out about our products. This includes colorful advertisements like those you see in the pages of body building and fitness magazines distributed on newsstands from Toronto to Tokyo. Before going to print, MRI's highly specialized regulatory and scientific staffs scrutinize every word of every ad. This means that in order for us to make an advertising claim, it needs to be as pure and unadulterated as our formulas.

Peace of Mind and Muscle

All of which brings us to the following conclusion. If you're looking for peace of mind and muscle, then MRI is your brand. We've verified the quality of our supplements and our marketing from top to bottom and inside-out so that you can be confident you'll get the results you expect... and possibly a great deal more.

Results

MRI customer results speak for themselves

Consumers have access to a plethora of supplement choices in the marketplace. But, when you're known for your results, it's easy to see why MRI is the brand of choice. In fact, results from our 2008 consumer online survey reveal that 800 consumers (44%) ranked MRI “number 1 in results”. It is perhaps for this reason that consumers are frequently referred to our supplements by their friends, personal trainers and other fitness industry experts.

Other notable findings:

• Most consumers were referred to MRI through a friend
• Most consumers cited “results” as the reason for continuing to use MRI products
• A remarkable 9 out of 10 of consumers would recommend MRI to a friend