Kaged Muscle Ferodrox - Underrated Lean Body Mass Accrual Agent

[aaronuconn]

Instead of a single ingredient write-up, I wanted to bring some shine to an underrated product - Ferodrox.

Previous Single Ingredient Write-Ups:

Agmatine: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...2299723&page=1

Curcumin: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...2882381&page=1

Capros: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...3452371&page=1

LJ100: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showt...5857331&page=1





Forget the whole category of testosterone boosters. We know that increasing testosterone levels within normal ranges (ie, not supraphysiological) will not lead to increased lean body mass (LBM). If your goal is increasing LBM, this whole category of supplements can be seen as a waste of money. With some products running ~$50 for a months supply, you should be expecting something worth your while.

What I’m here to write about today is a product that has clinical data supporting efficacy in increasing lean body mass. Although Ferodrox may increase testosterone, modulate cortisol, and provide other hormonal optimization effects, I feel these are secondary benefits. Before we look at the ingredients individually, let’s look at the category of Adaptogens. Adaptogens, amongst other things, assist your body with dealing with stress. Some have been shown to actually help with LBM accrual. Now, let’s not blow anything out of proportion. As always, a proper diet and training regimen are the most important things to ensure are dialed in, but these herbs provide complementary benefits.

Ashwagandha

My favorite single ingredient and one I have been utilizing for years now (as KSM-66). This is a prominent herb in Ayurveda, with many positive effects. In 2015, a randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study with 57 untrained adult men, Ashwagandha was shown to increase strength, muscle size, serum testosterone, muscle recovery AND decrease body fat percentage. We’re not only showing strength gains, but also muscle gains. And it’s not just muscle gains, it’s fat loss as well (recomp effects). Importantly, there is significant increase in recovery, which as we know is crucial. The dosage? Just 300mg twice a day [1].

Cortisol has the potential to wreak havoc on an individuals body composition. What’s important to note, however, that cortisol is a very important hormone. Crushing it isn’t beneficial. Optimizing it is. Same logic goes for estrogen. Many individuals think estrogen and cortisol are the enemy, but both are important and needed. We want to modulate, not crush. A 2012 prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial showed 300mg of Ashwagandha for 60 days in chronically stress people was able to improve all tested parameters and reduced serum cortisol by 27.9% [2].

LJ100

As seen above, I have previously written about this ingredient and its positive effects increasing testosterone, reducing cortisol, enhancing sexual function, improving endurance, and improving mood. I’ll summarize these findings here. 14 healthy men (age 25.64 ± 3.73 years) were given 100mg/day of LJ100® or placebo and performed a 5 week strength training program. Just 100mg of LJ100® was able to show increased muscle mass and reduced body fat! [3] We’re talking just 100mg was able to show recomp effects that we know aren’t easily attainable.

LJ100® is able to help promote an anabolic state. One study was able to show the impact that just 100mg can have.

“30 male subjects (N=30) were recruited from a 24-hour mountain biking event. Subjects completed 4 laps (14.91 miles/lap) and provided 8 saliva samples over a 24h period. Subjects consumed 100mg of LJ100 (N = 15) or placebo (N = 15) approximately 30 minutes prior to endurance exercise. Cortisol levels were 32.3% lower in LJ100 to Placebo (0.552+0.665 versus 0.816+0.775 ug/dL, P < 0.05). Testosterone levels were 16.4% higher in LJ100 compared to Placebo (86.72+40.90 versus 72.47+33.77 pg/mL, P < 0.05).”[4]

How about the effects of 200mg/daily for 4 weeks?

“LJ100 group showed significant improvements for Tension (−11%), Anger (−12%), and Confusion (−15%) compared to placebo. Stress hormone profile (salivary cortisol and testosterone) was significantly improved by LJ100, with reduced cortisol (−16%) and increased testosterone (+37%).”[5]

Shilajit

Shilajit is a mixture of minerals, with a main proponent being Fulvic Acid. As much as I love Ashwagandha and LJ100, Shilajit is a bit lower on my list. The often quoted study that I’ll show below shows positive effects on hormones, but was conducted in infertile men. Ashwagandha and LJ100 show positive effects in healthy men. That’s not to say Shilajit doesn’t work, is worthless, etc., we just don’t have as much literature supporting it.

A 2010 study showed that with 90 days of 200mg Shilajit in infertile men, a 23.5% increase in testosterone and 9.8% increase in FSH were noted. Irrelevant for this write-up, but of note is the spermatogenic activity. “Twenty-eight patients who completed the treatment showed significant (P < 0.001) improvement in spermia (+37.6%), total sperm count (+61.4%), motility (12.4-17.4% after different time intervals), normal sperm count (+18.9%) with concomitant decrease in pus and epithelial cell count compared with baseline value.”[6]

So again, lots of potential, but lacking studies.

Diindoylmethane (DIM)

Diindoylymethane (DIM) is a part of Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and commonly found in cruciferous vegetables such as broc**** and brussel sprouts. DIM is commonly thought of as a natural AI, but I don’t really think of it as such. I view it as more of a supplement that can aid in healthy estrogen metabolism. A 2011 study on individuals with thyroid proliferative disease taking 300 mg of DIM per day for 14 days showed “There was an increase in the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrones (C-2) to 16α-hydroxyestrone (C-16), consistent with antiestrogenic activity that results in more of C-2 product compared with C-16.” [7]

Where to Buy?

https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/k.../ferodrox.html





1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/26609282/

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23439798/

3 Hamzah, S and Yusuf, A. Published: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2003).BASEM Abstract. 37:465-466

4 Talbott S, Talbott J, Negrete J, Jones M, Nichols M, and Roza J.
Published: Journal of International Society of Sport Medicine 3 (1): S32 2006

5 Shawn M Talbott, Julie A Talbott, Annie George, Mike Pugh
Published: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2013, 10:28

6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/20078516/

7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21254914/

[eatyourspinach]

I wonder why they went through the trouble of using patented extracts and then DIM

[aaronuconn]

I wonder why they went through the trouble of using patented extracts and then DIM

Yeah, I personally would’ve rather had a nice dose of Indole-3-Carbinol if we’re going for healthy estrogen metabolism

[MentalistMan]

Awesome write up. When the product was released, I was pretty happy to see it market as testosterone "support" rather than booster. I know a couple other companies have gone this route and I think it's a step in the right direction.

[aaronuconn]

Awesome write up. When the product was released, I was pretty happy to see it market as testosterone "support" rather than booster. I know a couple other companies have gone this route and I think it's a step in the right direction.

Yeah, it is a good step. I think some novice users see “testosterone booster” and immediately thinks it’s an alternative to AAS/PH’s... then gets upset when they don’t have steroid like gains