Velox® Patented Performance Blend
Mechanism of Action +
### The Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) Pathway Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive, short-lived signaling molecule produced in endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. The synthesis of NO is catalyzed by the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which uses the semi-essential amino acid L-arginine as its obligate substrate, along with oxygen and various cofactors (such as BH4). When eNOS converts L-arginine to NO and L-citrulline, the newly formed NO diffuses into adjacent vascular smooth muscle cells. There, it activates soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), leading to the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The accumulation of cGMP induces smooth muscle relaxation, resulting in vasodilation, increased blood vessel diameter, and enhanced localized blood flow. This hemodynamic shift is the primary driver of the 'muscle pump' experienced during resistance training, as well as the mechanism for improved nutrient and oxygen delivery to fatigued muscle tissue.
### The Arginine Paradox and Hepatic First-Pass Metabolism Historically, oral L-arginine supplementation was the standard method for attempting to boost NO levels. However, this approach is severely limited by the 'Arginine Paradox.' When L-arginine is ingested orally, it must pass through the gastrointestinal tract and the liver before reaching systemic circulation. Both the enterocytes of the gut and the hepatocytes of the liver contain high concentrations of the enzyme arginase. Arginase aggressively catabolizes L-arginine into ornithine and urea. Consequently, oral L-arginine has very poor bioavailability, with up to 70% of the ingested dose being degraded before it can ever reach the endothelial cells to be used for NO production. Taking massive doses of L-arginine to overcome this bottleneck often results in severe gastrointestinal distress, including osmotic diarrhea and cramping.
### The Renal Conversion of L-Citrulline To circumvent the arginase bottleneck, sports nutrition formulators turned to L-citrulline. Unlike L-arginine, L-citrulline is not a substrate for arginase. When ingested orally, it passes through the gut and liver largely intact, entering systemic circulation with high bioavailability. Once in the blood, L-citrulline is taken up by the kidneys, where it is converted back into L-arginine via a two-step enzymatic process involving argininosuccinate synthase (ASS) and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). This renal conversion provides a slow, steady, and sustained release of L-arginine into the bloodstream, effectively raising plasma arginine levels higher than oral L-arginine itself. However, because this conversion process takes time, the onset of peak plasma arginine (and subsequent NO production) is delayed.
### The Synergistic Pharmacokinetics of Velox® The biochemical brilliance of the Velox® Patented Performance Blend lies in its specific 1:1 ratio of L-Citrulline to L-Arginine. By co-ingesting these two amino acids, a unique pharmacokinetic synergy occurs. The exogenous L-arginine in the blend acts as a competitive substrate for the arginase enzymes in the gut and liver. While a portion of this L-arginine is inevitably degraded, it effectively 'occupies' the arginase enzymes. This saturation allows a significant portion of the L-arginine to slip past the liver and cause an immediate, rapid spike in plasma arginine levels. Simultaneously, the L-citrulline in the blend passes through the liver completely unhindered. As the initial spike from the L-arginine begins to wane, the L-citrulline is actively being converted into L-arginine by the kidneys, providing a secondary, sustained wave of plasma arginine.
### Downstream Ergogenic Effects This dual-pathway absorption model—an immediate spike followed by a sustained plateau—results in a significantly larger Area Under the Curve (AUC) for plasma L-arginine compared to taking either amino acid in isolation. Clinical data (Suzuki et al., 2017) confirms that this 1:1 combination increases plasma L-arginine more rapidly and to a greater absolute peak than equivalent doses of L-citrulline or L-arginine alone. The resulting hyper-elevation of plasma arginine continuously drives eNOS activity, leading to sustained vasodilation. Ergogenically, this translates to increased power output, improved ease of pedaling, and enhanced clearance of metabolic byproducts (like ammonia and lactate), which significantly reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and accelerates inter-set recovery.
What is Velox supplement? +
What happens when you take L-arginine and L-citrulline together? +
What is the highest rated nitric oxide supplement? +
Is it okay to take nitric oxide daily? +
What not to take nitric oxide with? +
What's the downside of taking nitric oxide? +
How long does nitric oxide take to kick in? +
What are the negative side effects of pre-workout? +
What is the clinical dose of Velox? +
Does Velox help with muscle soreness? +
How does Velox differ from regular L-Citrulline? +
Can I take Velox on non-training days? +
Is Velox safe for women? +
Does Velox contain stimulants? +
How does Velox improve power output? +
Can I stack Velox with caffeine? +
Is Velox vegan and non-GMO? +
Why not just take a massive dose of L-Arginine? +
Everything About Velox® Patented Performance Blend Article
## Introduction to Velox® Patented Performance Blend For decades, athletes and bodybuilders have chased the elusive 'pump'—that skin-tearing sensation of blood rushing into working muscles during a grueling training session. Beyond just looking good in the mirror, the pump represents a critical physiological state: maximum vasodilation, enhanced oxygen delivery, and the rapid clearance of fatigue-inducing metabolic waste. At the heart of this process is Nitric Oxide (NO).
While L-Arginine was the original king of NO boosters, and L-Citrulline eventually took its crown due to better absorption, science has revealed that neither amino acid is perfect on its own. Enter **Velox® Patented Performance Blend**, a revolutionary ingredient developed by Kyowa Hakko USA. Backed by four U.S. patents, Velox® is a clinically studied 1:1 combination of Kyowa Quality® L-Citrulline and L-Arginine. By combining these two amino acids, Velox® creates a synergistic effect that boosts blood arginine and nitric oxide levels faster and more effectively than either ingredient alone.
## The Arginine Paradox: Why Single Amino Acids Fall Short To understand why Velox® is a breakthrough, we must first understand the flaws of traditional pump ingredients.
**The Problem with L-Arginine:** L-Arginine is the direct precursor to nitric oxide. However, when you swallow an L-Arginine capsule, it must pass through your gut and liver. Both of these organs are rich in an enzyme called *arginase*, which aggressively destroys L-Arginine before it can reach your bloodstream. This 'first-pass metabolism' means that standard L-Arginine has terrible bioavailability. Taking massive doses to overcome this bottleneck usually results in severe stomach cramps and diarrhea.
**The Problem with L-Citrulline:** To solve the L-Arginine problem, the industry shifted to L-Citrulline. L-Citrulline is immune to the arginase enzyme. It passes safely through the liver and travels to the kidneys, where it is converted into L-Arginine. While highly effective, this conversion process takes time. L-Citrulline provides a great, sustained pump, but it lacks the rapid, immediate onset that athletes desire right at the start of their workout.
## The Velox® Solution: Synergistic Pharmacokinetics Kyowa Hakko researchers hypothesized that combining the two amino acids could solve both problems. They were right. Velox® utilizes a precise 1:1 ratio of L-Citrulline to L-Arginine to hack the body's absorption pathways.
When you consume Velox®, the L-Arginine portion acts as a decoy. It saturates the arginase enzymes in the liver, keeping them busy. Because the enzymes are overwhelmed, a significant portion of the L-Arginine slips through into the bloodstream, causing an immediate, rapid spike in plasma arginine levels.
Meanwhile, the L-Citrulline portion of Velox® passes through the liver completely untouched. Just as the initial spike from the L-Arginine begins to fade, the kidneys finish converting the L-Citrulline into fresh L-Arginine, releasing a second, massive wave into the bloodstream.
This dual-action absorption creates a rapid onset pump that lasts for hours, maximizing the Area Under the Curve (AUC) for nitric oxide production.
## Clinical Evidence: The Science Behind the Patents Velox® isn't just a theoretical concept; it is backed by rigorous, peer-reviewed clinical trials.
### The 2017 Pharmacokinetic Study In a study published in *Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry* (Suzuki T. et al., 2017), researchers tested the 1:1 Velox® blend against equivalent doses of L-Citrulline alone and L-Arginine alone in healthy adult males. The results were definitive: the Velox® combination worked synergistically to increase plasma L-Arginine levels significantly faster and to a higher peak than either amino acid taken in isolation.
### The 2019 Performance Study Pharmacokinetics are great, but how does it translate to the gym or the field? In 2019, Suzuki I. et al. published a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in the *European Journal of Applied Physiology*. They gave 20 healthy collegiate soccer players the Velox® blend (1.2g Citrulline + 1.2g Arginine) and subjected them to a grueling 10-minute full-power cycling test.
The researchers found that the Velox® group experienced: * **Significantly increased Nitric Oxide levels** during and post-exercise. * **Increased power output** compared to the placebo group. * **Improved ease-of-pedaling**, indicating enhanced muscular endurance. * **Reduced muscle soreness** in the recovery period following the test.
## Dosing Guidelines: How to Use Velox® To achieve the clinical benefits observed in the studies, proper dosing is critical.
* **Minimum Effective Dose:** The clinical data supports a minimum dose of 2.4 grams of Velox® (yielding 1.2g of L-Citrulline and 1.2g of L-Arginine). * **Clinical Standard:** Many premium pre-workouts utilize between 2.4g and 6.0g of Velox® to maximize the pump and power output. * **Timing:** Because of its rapid absorption profile, Velox® should be consumed 30 to 45 minutes prior to exercise.
*Label Literacy Tip:* Always check the supplement facts panel. Ensure the product explicitly lists the Velox® trademark and provides at least 2.4g of the blend. Beware of proprietary blends that hide the exact dosages of the constituent amino acids.
## Safety, Tolerability, and Side Effects Velox® is manufactured in the USA by Kyowa Hakko using an innovative, vegetarian, non-GMO fermentation process that ensures ultra-purity with no added chemicals. L-Citrulline is self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), and L-Arginine is an FDA-approved food additive.
Because Velox® utilizes a synergistic mechanism rather than just a massive dose of a single amino acid, it is highly tolerable and avoids the gastrointestinal distress commonly associated with high-dose L-Arginine supplementation.
However, because Velox® is a potent vasodilator, individuals taking prescription blood pressure medications or PDE5 inhibitors (like Viagra or Cialis) should consult a physician before use, as the combination can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure.
## Conclusion Velox® Patented Performance Blend represents the next evolution in nitric oxide supplementation. By intelligently combining L-Citrulline and L-Arginine in a patented 1:1 ratio, Kyowa Hakko has solved the bioavailability issues that have plagued pump products for years. Whether you are a bodybuilder looking for skin-splitting pumps, or an endurance athlete seeking sustained power output and faster recovery, Velox® delivers clinically validated results.