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Note: This is a reviewof AMP Citrate, which is no longer available.
Lately, a lot of pre workout and fat burning supplements are showing up with an ingredient called AMP Citrate. They claim it’s the next big thing, providing energy, fat burning, focus, and improved athletic ability. It’s being touted as the next DMAA, now that DMAA is banned. Well, that can be a good thing or a bad thing. And this time, it looks like it’s turning out to be a bad thing. Recently, both the FDA and NSF International have made statements against this new substance. It’s still out there currently, but with enemies like these, it may not be for long. But while you can still find it, let’s take a closer look and help you decide if AMP Citrate is something you should seek out, or something you should avoid.
AMP Citrate By Any Other Name
The first thing we’ll do is list all the alternative names for AMP Citrate, so you know how to recognize it when you see it. Its names include (1):
AMP Citrate- 4-Amino-2-Methylpentane
- DMBA
- 1,3-Dimethylbutylamine
- Mythylpentanamine
- Pouchong Tea Extract
- Amperall
- 4-Amino 2-Methylpentane Citrate
- 4-AMP Citrate
Benefits of AMP Citrate
When DMAA got banned in 2013, AMP Citrate started showing up in fat burners and pre workout supplements, sometimes directly claiming to be “the next DMAA.” It could provide:
- Laser-like focus.
- Hours of energy.
- Improve athletic performance.
- Increase fat burning.
AMP Citrate and the FDA
In April of 2015, the FDA sent out warning letters to 14 companies concerning 17 products that claim to contain AMP Citrate stating that it does not meet the criteria for inclusion in a dietary supplement. An ingredient must meet one of the two following conditions in order for an ingredient to be included in a dietary supplement:
1. The ingredient must be present in the food supply as an article used in food in a form in which the food has not been chemically altered, or
2. There must be a history of use or other evidence that it’s safe.
Supplement manufacturers are required to notify the FDA which criterion it’s using to determine a new ingredient safe. Apparently, these supplements didn’t do that, or didn’t do it to the satisfaction of the FDA. These warning letters are the first step the FDA takes in cases like these. The companies have a certain amount of time to respond to the letters, indicating how they plan to come into compliance. If they don’t, the FDA may take further action, up to and including banning the substance, like they did with DMAA.
Potential Side Effects
It may seem like just a bunch of politics so far, and to some extent it is, but there’s a safety issue here as well. AMP Citrate is chemically very similar to amphetamines, and that could come with loads of problems. It could cause elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, stroke, agitation, anxiety, and addiction. (2) So while the FDA’s tactics and motives may not be the best and purest, it clearly could be unsafe to continue using AMP Citrate without some testing.
Supplement Company Response
At least one company, VPX Sports, is not laying down for the FDA. They’ve issued a response to articles in USA Today and Consumer Reports “attacking the supplement industry and AMP Citrate.” They claim that AMP Citrate is actually part of the food supply, that it can be found in tea, the most consumed beverage on the planet. It’s true that AMP Citrate is found in Puchong Tea, but research shows that it’s only 12 parts per billion, nowhere near the kind of dose people are getting when they take supplements. They further claim that AMP Citrate has been tested numerous times, but they never get around to citing those tests. We can’t help but find that a little fishy.
AMP Citrate and Anti-Doping Agencies
While all the AMP Citrate hoopla has yet to be sorted out and decided on, college and professional athletes should nevertheless be careful with the stuff. DMAA was banned by most anti-doping agencies, and this is likely to be the case with AMP Citrate as well.
AMP Citrate Pros
- Most AMP Citrate reviews from users agree that it provides very good energy and focus.
AMP Citrate Cons
- It’s clearly untested.
- It’s closely related chemically to amphetamines.
- It seems to be on its way to a ban by the FDA.
- It may cause side effects like jitters, crash, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, or stroke.
Where to Buy
AMP Citrate is still available, but the FDA appears to be closing in pretty quickly. It’s available under all the names listed above, and probably more, so it should be a while before all your options are gone. But be aware that companies that use changing names to get around FDA rules are not the most trustworthy companies to deal with.
Our AMP Citrate Conclusion
It is possible that AMP Citrate could cause dangerous side effects for some people. It’s also possible that it provides great energy and focus. Truthfully, the reviews I’ve seen aren’t glowing and raving enough for us to recommend you take the risk. Great strides are being made with safe natural supplements. The kind of results you can get today from truly safe and natural products are actually pretty amazing. Don’t bother with risky ingredients like AMP Citrate, which are on their way off the market anyway.
Sources:
(1): DMBA in Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Protecting and Promoting Your Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(2) AMP Citrate – The New Craze in Stimulants? The Ultimate Guide to AMP Citrate: A New Craze.
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