PreSeries Lean is one of three pre-workouts in the Transparent Labs range. We’ve reviewed the PreSeries Bulk version before and found that product fell short.
Will the PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout fare any better?
This pre-workout claims to:
- Aid your cutting regime
- Prevent lean muscle loss
- Provide a “high-intensity pre-workout experience”
Hold on! Is this a pre-workout or a fat burner? In our experience, products that mix pre-workout and fat-burning ingredients tend not to be great for either purpose. But we might be wrong…
About the Company
As you’d expect from a brand named Transparent Labs, the company likes to present itself as honest. It promises to do away with “pseudoscience”, “misleading research”, and “outrageous claims.”
The company website rightly refers to what it calls “low-quality products” and “deceitful marketing” in the nutrition industry.
It also talks about the need for “change” in the industry and appears to present itself as the answer to the industry’s problems.
The Ingredients and How They Work
PreSeries Lean is a strange mix of 21 ingredients, some of which we’re used to seeing in pre-workouts, along with others we see in fat burners – there’s even a few T-boosting staples here!
See for yourself:
Citrulline Malate
We can’t fault the use of Citrulline Malate here – this is one of our two favorite pre-workout ingredients (the other is Creatine).
Citrulline Malate is a blend of L-Citrulline and Malic Acid.
L-Citrulline
Derived from watermelons, L-Citrulline is a precursor to Arginine, which increases the level of nitric oxide in your blood. This widens your blood vessels to send more oxygen and other vital nutrients to your muscles.
This helps achieve the muscle pumps many lifters love. The result? Your muscles grow larger, quicker.
Malic Acid
Malic Acid reduces ammonia in your muscles to help prevent soreness.
We’re also pleased to see 6000mg of Citrulline Malate in PreSeries Lean – the perfect amount!
Betapure™ Betaine Anhydrous
BetaPure™ is a patented form of Betaine.
An active metabolite of Choline, Betaine is on our list of ingredients that can cause side effects – which is why we advise avoiding it.
Betaine may cause your breath and body odor to smell like rotten fish. So even if it does boost performance, who cares if no-one wants to go near you because you smell so bad?
In truth, the possible (unproven) benefits aren’t worth the risk.
But does Betaine work?
While widely used to enhance performance, there’s not enough proof that it does this. It does not appear to reduce fatigue, increase power output or have any effect on muscle soreness.
And while one study notes Betaine might induce an increase in training volume, there isn’t enough follow-up research to verify this.
BCAA
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) is a blanket term for three amino acids: Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine.
BCAA are important for muscular health, but we’re not sure why Transparent Labs includes these amino acids in this supp.
Why? Because if you’re serious about lifting, you’ll no doubt also be using protein powder. As whey protein already contains plenty of BCAA, they may be wasted in this pre-workout.
CarnoSyn Beta-Alanine
Beta-Alanine is a lab-altered form of Alanine, an amino acid. Limited research suggests it could raise muscle endurance, increase running capacity and reduce fatigue.
Despite this, Beta-Alanine is a pre-workout ingredient to avoid. This is because it can cause paresthesia – abnormal prickling sensations that many liken to “pins and needles”, or the feeling of a “limb falling asleep.”
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT) is best-known as a nootropic – and research does suggest it improves mood and cognitive function in military personnel under acute stress.
NALT could also improve subjective well-being and reduce depression.
As mood can affect exercise, it could stand to reason this ingredient could boost your workout. However, this is all conjecture. In truth, NALT has no direct effect on sports performance.
Choline Bitartrate
Choline is a popular, but pointless pre-workout ingredient. While it’s supposed to improve focus and reaction time, there’s no evidence to support this claim.
Research also shows Choline does not affect running capacity, training volume, or even the rate of perceived exertion.
And that isn’t all…
Along with Betaine, Choline can cause fishy breath and body odor. With this in mind, it’s worrying PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout contains both these ingredients.
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is an amino acid derived from Green Tea. It is known for its relaxing effects. And it works with Caffeine to give you all the increased strength, focus, reaction time and motivation Caffeine provides, but without the crash.
See SupplementTester’s Highest Rated
Highest-Rated Pre-Workouts Here
Caffeine Anhydrous
While some are wary of Caffeine, it’s an awesome stimulant – at the right dose.
Caffeine keeps users alert by antagonizing the adenosine receptors to prevent the build-up of adenosine (which makes you feel sleepy).
The optimal range for Caffeine is 150-200mg, so it’s good to see this Transparent pre-workout uses 180mg.
Guggulsterones
Guggulsterones are the active ingredients of the Guggul plant. One study suggests mixing Guggulsterones with L-Tyrosine, Hydroxycitric Acid and Phosphate may induce weight loss, which is probably why you’ll find it in this lean pre-workout.
However, further research failed to show any link between Guggulsterones and weight loss.
Mucuna Pruriens
We have no idea why Mucuna Pruriens is used in this lean pre-workout; it has no use as a fat burner or pre-workout.
Transparent Labs also includes it in its Bulk and Lean Pre-Workouts – apart from this, we’ve only seen Mucuna Pruriens in testosterone boosters.
While increased T can boost energy, there are much better ingredients for this purpose.
L-Norvaline
L-Norvaline is an amino acid which is supposed to boost your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide for stronger muscle pumps.
But besides a lot of hype in the lifting community, there seems to be zero medical evidence of L-Norvaline’s use for this purpose.
With this in mind, it’s disappointing that a company claiming to be against pseudoscience uses this unproven ingredient in this pre-workout.
An ingredient like Beetroot is better studied ingredient that works great with Citrulline Malate for vasodilation.
Synephrine HCI
Oh dear.
This is hands-down the worst pre-workout ingredient on the market. Synephrine is banned for sale in the UK, Australia and other countries due to concerns about potentially-lethal side effects.
Also known as Bitter Orange and Orange Peel, Synephrine also has a similar structure to Ephedrine – which is banned in the US.
Possible side effects of Synephrine
This ingredient has also been known to cause heart attacks, fast (and irregular) heartbeat, and high blood pressure. It may also raise the risk of stroke, headaches and loss of consciousness.
While research suggests it might have mild fat-burning effects and reduce appetite, the proof of this is limited at best. We recommend you steer clear of this ingredient.
It really is disappointing to find Synephrine in this – and a few other – Transparent Labs products.
In particular, you should avoid taking Synephrine in combination with Caffeine (or other stimulants) – especially if you suffer from high blood pressure.
Hordenine
Hordenine has a similar structure to Synephrine. While the molecule is understudied, there are concerns Hordenine may also cause high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
The possible side effects and its unproven nature make Hordenine another ingredient on this list to avoid – especially in one that altready contains Synephrine and Caffeine.
BioPerine (Black Pepper Extract)
BioPerine is a patented form of Piperine (aka Black Pepper Extract). As a mild thermogenic, Piperine can help reduce weight gain.
Yet its main purpose is to allow the body to absorb other ingredients faster. But as this pre-workout contains a few ingredients that are either useless or potentially unsafe, the use of Black Pepper may be misplaced.
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Side Effects
Most of the ingredients in PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout are safe.
However, Synephrine is banned in the UK and a few other countries due to its links with a range of conditions. These include:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiac arrest
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Stroke
- Cluster headaches and migraines
- Fainting
The mix of Synephrine and Caffeine may increase the risk of the symptoms above.
Betaine and Choline may also cause fishy body odor and breath.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Citrulline Malate boosts energy and reduces fatigue
- Caffeine and L-Theanine boost focus and drive, without the crash
- No proprietary blends
Cons:
- This supp doesn’t know what it is
- Weird mix of ingredients, some of which have no use in pre-workouts or fat burners
- Synephrine potentially unsafe – has links to stroke and a range of heart conditions
- Synephrine banned in UK, Australia and other countries
- Hordenine understudied and similar to synephrine (could be unsafe)
- Hype around L-Norvaline not backed by enough research
- Guggulsterones do not induce weight loss
- Mucuna Pruriens would be more use in a T-booster
- Choline and Betaine may give you fish breath and body odor
SupplementTester’s Highest Rated
Highest-Rated Pre-Workouts Here
PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout Review Conclusion
PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout is a strange supplement.
The word ‘lean’ in the name suggests it’s designed for both pre-workouts and burning fat. But it doesn’t appear too be effective for either purpose.
PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout not all bad. You’ll find Citrulline Malate and the smart L-Theanine/Caffeine combo in the best pre-workouts on the market.
But the good stuff ends there…
What we DON’T like about it
First, PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout contains Synephrine (aka Bitter Orange, and Orange Peel). This ingredient has a similar structure to Ephedrine and is actually banned in the UK, Australia and elsewhere due to its links with a range of heart conditions and other health issues.
Second, this product doesn’t know what it is. It contains T-boosting ingredients that we’ve rarely seen in pre-workouts or fat burners (Mucuna Pruriens) and a bunch of unproven ingredients (Guggulsterones, L-Norvaline, and Hordenine).
In truth, there doesn’t seem to be any published research on L-Norvaline, which appears to belie Transparent Labs’ claim not to use pseudoscience.
And third, we advise avoiding Choline and Betaine because they may make your body odor and breath smell like rotten fish.
Our verdict
We don’t recommend PreSeries Lean Pre-Workout.
While not the worst supplement we’ve tried, it sure ain’t the best lean pre-workout either. It contains too many unproven or potentially unsafe ingredients to be worth your money.
Our advice? Look elsewhere.