ATP (Oral Adenosine Triphosphate)
Oral ATP does not survive digestion intact, and the impressive strength and hypertrophy results come almost entirely from one industry-linked research network with no independent replication. Mechanistically interesting, evidentially thin.
What the science says
- Increases muscle size and strength Limited evidence
The headline trial (Wilson 2013) gave 21 resistance-trained men 400 mg/day for 12 weeks and reported a total strength gain of +55.3 kg vs +22.4 kg for placebo, vertical jump power +796 vs +614 W, and muscle thickness +4.9 vs +2.5 mm. Those effect sizes are larger than creatine typically produces, from a manufacturer-funded study by a single research group, and no independent laboratory has replicated them.
- Improves repeated-sprint performance and recovery Limited evidence
A 400 mg dose raised post-exercise whole-blood ATP levels, muscle excitability and performance after a repeated sprint bout in a small crossover trial. The study came from the same commercial research network that produced the chronic data, and the acute effect has not been confirmed elsewhere.
- Refills intramuscular ATP stores Limited evidence
This is the marketing rationale and it is not how the molecule behaves: ingested ATP is hydrolysed in the gut to adenosine and phosphate and does not cross into muscle intact. Any real effect would have to work through extracellular adenosine signalling, erythrocyte ATP and vasodilation, which remains a hypothesis rather than a demonstrated human mechanism.
Dosage & safety
Scientific references
- Effects of oral adenosine-5'-triphosphate supplementation on athletic performance, skeletal muscle hypertrophy and recovery in resistance-trained men
- Oral Adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) Administration Increases Postexercise ATP Levels, Muscle Excitability, and Athletic Performance Following a Repeated Sprint Bout
Where to buy
ProHealth Longevity, Longevity ATP, 400 mg, 90 Capsules
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Related in Physical performance
- Creatine (monohydrate) Strong evidence
- Whey Protein Strong evidence
- Caffeine Strong evidence
- Beta-Alanine Moderate evidence
- BCAA (Branched-Chain Amino Acids) Limited evidence
- EAA (Essential Amino Acids) Moderate evidence