Dark Katana Carbo

## What is Dark Katana intra-workout and what is it for?

Dark Katana is the intra-workout designed and developed for athletes who demand the most from every training session, to support intense and high-intensity workouts. It is a complete pre-workout supplement, with no need for additives, in the form of an orange-flavoured powder which, when dissolved in water, provides slow-release carbohydrates of the highest quality, essential amino acids, the new-generation Peptistrong™ peptide and a phyto-blend rich in natural extracts that work in synergy to support mental focus, responsiveness and pump (green coffee, green tea tit. 40% EGCG, turmeric, sour cherry, blueberry, black cabbage). The presence of high-quality carbohydrates, such as highly branched cyclic cyclodextrins and trehalose, make it ideal for sustaining long-lasting (>60 minutes) and high-intensity performance. The Dark Katana formula is complete and supports training in every way: it supports energy, reduces fatigue, aids recovery, hydrates, maintains proper plasma volume and supports muscle pump.

## But what exactly does Dark Katana intra-workout contain to make it so effective?

Dark Katana is an intra-workout supplement consisting of a complete and complex blend of ingredients and micronutrients, designed to work synergistically and provide maximum support for training, especially when high-intensity and long-lasting (>60 minutes):

• Highly branched cyclic cyclodextrins (HBCD): cutting-edge carbohydrates designed to promote a constant release of energy over time to support athletic performance. HBCDs provide rapid but sustained energy, ideal in the field of sports nutrition. Consuming these carbohydrates before exercise contributes to glycogen stores in the muscles and maintains blood sugar levels. During performance, they provide energy, delay fatigue and improve endurance during exercise. After exercise, they help replenish glycogen stores. Carbohydrate metabolism is involved in hormonal processes that promote the entry of nutrients, including amino acids, into muscle cells, accelerating muscle repair and growth. The highly branched structure of this high molecular weight carbohydrate improves the bioavailability of the active ingredients, stability and solubility (1; 2; 3);

• Trehalose: is a natural carbohydrate, a disaccharide sugar, formed by two glucose molecules. It is present in many living organisms and is used as an energy reserve and to protect proteins from damage. Trehalose has a lower sweetening power than table sugar (sucrose) and offers other advantages, such as greater thermal and acid stability. It is known to help induce a gradual increase in blood sugar, helping to avoid the energy drops typical of the glycaemic peak, which is why it is useful in endurance and resistance sports, to support prolonged activity as an energy source (4; 5);

• L-leucine, L-citrulline, L-valine, L-isoleucine, L-threonine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-histidine and L-tryptophan: a blend of essential amino acids to help meet protein requirements, promoting energy support during performance while helping to reduce fatigue and combat tiredness. (6);

• PeptiStrong hydrolysed broad bean proteins: a bioactive peptide obtained from hydrolysed broad bean proteins that acts through the M-TOR and Phospho-S6 signalling pathways to increase muscle synthesis, reduce muscle catabolism via the Atregin and MURF-1 pathways, increase mitochondrial mass and optimise strength recovery. Hydrolysed broad bean proteins are a source of vegetable protein and are obtained through hydrolysis, a technique that breaks down complex proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids, facilitating their assimilation by the body. This production process makes hydrolysed proteins easily digestible. These specific cell signalling peptides present in PeptiStrong act intelligently by using the body's natural signalling pathways to optimise cellular growth and recovery processes. Research on PeptiStrong suggests that these peptides contribute to increased muscle protein synthesis and energy, reduced muscle breakdown and exercise-induced inflammation (7;8;9);

• Glycerol: a functional molecule for cell hydration and to help prevent water and fluid loss that occurs during intense workouts. For this reason, glycerol is used, especially in endurance sports, as a useful aid to body rehydration and overall performance improvement (10);

• Sodium and Potassium: minerals in citrate form, ideal for supporting hydration during intense and prolonged training and in cases of excessive sweating to restore the correct electrolyte balance. Potassium helps regulate the flow of fluids in cells, while sodium helps maintain the osmotic balance between cells and extracellular fluid (11);

• TruBeet: a patented and standardised formula with a high content of natural nitrates extracted from beetroot (Beta vulgaris). The formula is standardised to contain over 6% inorganic nitrate (vs. traditional beetroot extracts, which usually contain 1 to 3%), which significantly reduces the dosage. It also harnesses the natural power of polyphenols, which work in harmony with nitrates to support performance during exercise. Taking TruBeet facilitates the production of nitric oxide in tissues that are in hypoxic situations, such as muscles during exercise. Improved NO bioavailability has been shown to influence muscle function and physical performance by reducing the cost of oxygen in ATP synthesis and increasing muscle phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery in hypoxic situations. TruBeet® has been clinically proven to improve end-of-race performance in endurance events after prolonged moderate-intensity exercise. The same study also found that TruBeet® can accelerate muscle deoxyhaemoglobin kinetics, improving oxygen extraction from muscles. (12);

• Magnesium: Magnesium is an essential constituent of cells. It helps reduce tiredness and fatigue and maintain healthy bones and teeth. It contributes to the efficiency of the nervous system, psychological function and the muscular system (13);

• Blend of plant extracts: a combination of seven plant-based ingredients (green coffee, green tea, turmeric, cherries, blueberries, broccoli and kale) that stimulate nitric oxide and, as demonstrated by studies, are able to activate the body's nitric oxide production system. This blend is completely plant-based and nitrate-free, and is designed to deliver the benefits of nitric oxide so you can focus on your performance. In several acute double-blind studies, this blend has been shown to increase circulating nitric oxide levels in the blood for long-term support of the nitric oxide cycle (14);

• Vitamin B6: This B complex vitamin plays a role in protein and glycogen metabolism, helps regulate hormone activity and red blood cell production. It also plays an essential role in supporting the proper functioning of the immune system, stimulating cognitive function and combating ageing (15).

• Vitamin B1: Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 is mainly involved in carbohydrate metabolism: it plays a significant role in the process of converting glucose into energy (16).

Dark Katana is the perfect intra-workout supplement to use to support your training in a comprehensive way: it provides energy and easily usable carbohydrates, combats fatigue, helps support muscle pump, counteracts catabolism, hydrates cells and optimises concentration and mental performance, all without impacting blood sugar or gastric emptying. It is an essential ally for getting the most out of your workout, especially when training at high intensity.

Scientific references

1. Morenas-Aguilar MD, Miras-Moreno S, Chacón-Ventura S, Martín-Olmedo JJ, Cwiklinska M, Jiménez-Martínez P, Alix-Fages C, Janicijevic D, García-Ramos A. Highly branched cyclic dextrin supplementation and resistance training: A randomised double-blind crossover trial examining mechanical, metabolic, and perceptual responses. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Feb;65:305-314. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.12.002. Epub 2024 Dec 5. PMID: 39644922.

2. Furuyashiki T, Tanimoto H, Yokoyama Y, Kitaura Y, Kuriki T, Shimomura Y. Effects of ingesting highly branched cyclic dextrin during endurance exercise on rating of perceived exertion and blood components associated with energy metabolism. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2014;78(12):2117-9. doi: 10.1080/09168451.2014.943654. Epub 2014 Jul 31. PMID: 25080121.

3. Takii H, Takii Nagao Y, Kometani T, Nishimura T, Nakae T, Kuriki T, Fushiki T. Fluids containing a highly branched cyclic dextrin influence the gastric emptying rate. Int J Sports Med. 2005 May;26(4):314-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-820999. PMID: 15900642.

4. Hamada N, Wadazumi T, Hirata Y, Watanabe H, Hongu N, Arai N. Effects of Trehalose Solutions at Different Concentrations on High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise Performance. Nutrients. 2022 Apr 23;14(9):1776. doi: 10.3390/nu14091776. PMID: 35565744; PMCID: PMC9101545.

5. _de Oliveira NG, de Oliveira LF, da Silva RP, Oliveira TN, Möller GB, Murasaki J, Ramires MA, Azevedo RA, Artioli GG, Roschel H, Gualano B, Saunders B. Trehalose Improved 20-min Cycling Time-Trial Performance After 100-min Cycling in Amateur Cyclists. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2024 Mar 7;34(4):199-206. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0241. PMID: 38458180.

6. Ferrando AA, Wolfe RR, Hirsch KR, Church DD, Kviatkovsky SA, Roberts MD, Stout JR, Gonzalez DE, Sowinski RJ, Kreider RB, Kerksick CM, Burd NA, Pasiakos SM, Ormsbee MJ, Arent SM, Arciero PJ, Campbell BI, VanDusseldorp TA, Jager R, Willoughby DS, Kalman DS, Antonio J. International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Effects of essential amino acid supplementation on exercise and performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2023 Dec;20(1):2263409. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2263409. Epub 2023 Oct 6. PMID: 37800468; PMCID: PMC10561576._

7. The Journal of Nutrition 2023 153;6:1718-1729 Vicia faba Peptide Network Supplementation Does Not Differ From Milk Protein in Modulating Changes in Muscle Size During Short-Term Immobilisation and Subsequent Remobilisation, but increases Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates During Remobilisation in Healthy Young Men

8. Kerr, Alish, et al. ‘Improved Strength Recovery and Reduced Fatigue with Suppressed Plasma Myostatin Following Supplementation of a Vicia faba Hydrolysate, in a Healthy Male Population.’ Nutrients 15.4 (2023): 986.

9. Preclinical Evaluation of a Food-Derived Functional Ingredient to Address Skeletal Muscle Atrophy. Cal et al., Nutrients, 2020, Volume 12, Issue 8

10. Goulet ED, Aubertin-Leheudre M, Plante GE, Dionne IJ. A meta-analysis of the effects of glycerol-induced hyperhydration on fluid retention and endurance performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2007 Aug;17(4):391-410. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.17.4.391. PMID: 17962713.

11. Moss K, Kreutzer A, Graybeal AJ, Zhang Y, Braun-Trocchio R, Porter RR, Shah M. Nutrient Adequacy in Endurance Athletes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Apr 11;20(8):5469. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20085469. PMID: 37107749; PMCID: PMC10138386.

12. _Domínguez R, Cuenca E, Maté-Muñoz JL, García-Fernández P, Serra-Paya N, Estevan MC, Herreros PV, Garnacho-Castaño MV. Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Cardiorespiratory Endurance in Athletes. A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 6 January 2017;9(1):43. doi: 10.3390/nu9010043. PMID: 28067808; PMCID: PMC5295087.

13. Volpe SL. Magnesium and the Athlete. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2015 Jul-Aug;14(4):279-83. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000178._ PMID: 26166051.

14. Boris V. Nemzer, Christoph Centner, Noemi Wiessler, Zb Pietrzkowski, John M. Hunter, Bruno Fink & Daniel König, A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomised, longitudinal study on the effects of a plant-based dietary supplement on Nitric Oxide and Mitochondrial metabolic activity, Journal of Food Research; Vol. 10, No. 2; 202

15. Manore MM. Vitamin B6 and exercise. Int J Sport Nutr. 1994 Jun;4(2):89-103. doi: 10.1123/ijsn.4.2.89. PMID: 8054964.

16. Makarchikov AF. [Vitamin B1: metabolism and functions]. Biomed Khim. 2009 May-Jun;55(3):278-97. Russian. PMID: 19663002.