- Epicatechin 1000mg - Nitric Oxide & Muscle Support - 60 Ct | 500mg Per Capsule, For Athletes, Endurance & Performance, Pre-Workout Supplement, Made in USA

Read this all the way through because, mechanistically, this may be one of the few supplements that could rival something like creatine in a more “sustainable” way, but only if you understand what is actually proven and what is still emerging. I chose this primarily because epicatechin is one of the only flavanols with direct human data spanning both vascular function and muscle-related signaling. In a small human pilot study, ~1 mg/kg/day for 7 days improved the follistatin to myostatin ratio and increased handgrip strength (Gutierrez-Salmean et al., 2014, PubMed ID 24314870), suggesting a shift toward a more anabolic signaling environment. However, that study was short and underpowered, and there are no long-term trials confirming hypertrophy or performance outcomes in trained individuals. On the vascular side, the evidence is much stronger. Epicatechin has been shown to increase nitric oxide bioavailability via endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation and reduction of endothelin-1, improving flow-mediated dilation in humans at ~1–2 mg/kg doses (Schroeter et al., PNAS 2006; Grassi et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition). These effects are repeatedly observed in cocoa flavanol research, although epicatechin is one of several active compounds. Lower-dose studies around 25 mg/day have shown mixed or null cardiometabolic outcomes (Dower et al., AJCN), which suggests dose, health status, and delivery form all matter. Where this gets more nuanced is dose and form. Most human data sits in the tens to low hundreds of milligrams, not 1,000 mg, so this dose is not directly evidence-based but also not disproven. It likely increases systemic exposure, but whether that produces greater effects or just diminishing returns is unknown. Another key detail is isomer form. Naturally occurring epicatechin in cocoa is primarily (-)-epicatechin, which is the form used in most vascular studies and appears to drive nitric oxide and endothelial effects. Some newer research uses (+)-epicatechin, which has shown safety and bioactivity in phase I trials (Taub et al., Clinical Science; McDonald et al., phase I data), but it is less studied overall. Most supplements do not clearly distinguish isomer content, which adds variability in real-world outcomes. There is also evidence that epicatechin can influence mitochondrial biogenesis and capillary density in skeletal muscle (Nogueira et al., Journal of Physiology), providing a plausible mechanism for endurance and recovery benefits beyond just blood flow. Recovery itself is where expectations need to be realistic but still optimistic. Mechanistically, improved nitric oxide signaling and microcirculation could enhance nutrient delivery and waste clearance, and the myostatin signaling shift suggests a more favorable recovery environment. However, direct recovery studies using cocoa flavanols show mixed results, with some improvements in performance recovery but inconsistent effects on soreness, inflammation, or muscle damage markers (e.g., CK). So faster recovery is plausible but not definitively proven. Compared to other flavonoids, epicatechin appears to be one of the most direct and potent for endothelial function, whereas green tea catechins like EGCG and other polyphenols act through overlapping but not identical pathways. From a practical standpoint, food sources provide relatively small amounts. Apples typically contain ~7–23 mg and green tea ~5–16 mg per serving, meaning even high-flavanol diets rarely approach the levels used in studies, let alone 1,000 mg. That makes supplementation one of the only realistic ways to reach high exposure. Overall, the uncertainty around dose, recovery, and long-term outcomes is actually what makes this compelling rather than a drawback. The core mechanisms are real, replicated, and biologically meaningful, especially for blood flow and cellular signaling. The higher dose pushes beyond what has been tested, but not in a way that contradicts existing data, only extends it. Instead of relying on acute stimulation or water retention, this works through pathways that govern vascular health, muscle regulation, and cellular efficiency. Even where the evidence is incomplete, it consistently points in the same direction, which makes this less of a gamble and more of an early adoption of a mechanism that is already well established.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: It’s getting harder to find good Epicatechin capsules, which is unfortunate because they are an amazing Natty (natural) anabolic. I’ve tried many brands and these are the best yet. Each cap is 500mg and has no other ingredients, and no fillers. This product works really well added to pre-workout to give amazing energy and pump. I’ve also added a lot of good muscle on this. I will continue to buy as long as it is available.

I'm now on my 4th bottle. This has been the best Epicatechin product I've found. It is a little pricey, but I'm really happy with it. Great strength and easy to swallow. Happy with my results.

Majes my work ours more energetic

I've noticed great pumps during my workouts and am excited to continue use. The health benefits based off of actual scientific studies is proven for epicatechin. Zero side effects and completely natural. Will continue to buy.

Good

Great product!

Too expensive