The Science Behind
Every Scoop
Open-label formulas. Clinically effective doses. Third-party tested. Here's exactly what's in every Layerd product and why.
What Clinically Effective Dosing Actually Means
"Clinically effective dosing" is one of the most misused phrases in sports nutrition. A brand can claim clinical doses while hiding behind a proprietary blend that lumps eight ingredients into a single number. You have no idea if the key compound is dosed at 6 grams or 600 milligrams.
Layerd doesn't use proprietary blends. Every ingredient and its exact milligram dose is printed on the label. But transparency alone isn't enough — the doses themselves have to match what actually works.
For every ingredient in our formulas, we start with the peer-reviewed research: randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews published in journals like the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the British Journal of Sports Medicine, and Amino Acids. We identify the dose ranges that produced measurable results in trained athletes — not sedentary subjects, not mice — and we formulate at or above those thresholds.
This matters because ingredient doses have a floor. Below a certain amount, you're consuming expensive powder that does nothing. Above it, you get diminishing returns and sometimes side effects. The space between those two points is the clinically effective range, and that's where every Layerd ingredient sits.
Formulation Principles
Research-Backed Doses
Every ingredient is dosed at the levels shown to work in peer-reviewed human trials. Not the minimum detectable amount. Not a sprinkle for label decoration. The actual effective dose.
Open-Label Transparency
No proprietary blends. Every ingredient and its exact milligram amount is printed on the label. You can verify every claim we make by reading the back of the tub.
No Filler Ingredients
If an ingredient doesn't have a clear, research-supported reason to be in the formula, it's not in the formula. No artificial colors, no fad compounds, no marketing-driven additions.
Third-Party Tested
Every batch is sent to an independent ISO 17025-accredited lab. We test for identity, potency, heavy metals, microbial contamination, and banned substances before anything ships.
Ingredient Deep Dives
PUMP+
Nitric oxide & blood flow
PUMP+
Nitric oxide & blood flow
Citrulline Malate
6,000 mgMechanism of action
Citrulline converts to arginine in your kidneys. Arginine is the substrate for nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that produces nitric oxide (NO). NO relaxes smooth muscle in blood vessel walls, widening them and increasing blood flow to working muscles. The malate component enters the Krebs cycle and supports aerobic ATP production.
Why this dose
Pérez-Guisado & Jakeman (2010, British Journal of Sports Medicine) found that 6g citrulline malate significantly reduced muscle soreness and increased ATP production during high-rep resistance exercise. Most pre-workouts use 3–4g to save on cost. The effective dose in the literature is consistently 6–8g.
Arginine Nitrate
1,500 mgMechanism of action
Delivers both L-arginine and inorganic nitrate — two separate precursors to nitric oxide. Arginine feeds the NOS enzyme pathway directly. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite by oral bacteria, then to NO in acidic environments like your stomach and oxygen-deprived muscle tissue. Two independent routes to vasodilation.
Why this dose
Nitrate doses of 300–600mg (as ion equivalent) consistently improve exercise efficiency in the literature. 1,500mg of arginine nitrate provides both pathways at effective levels. The nitrate pathway is particularly useful during intense anaerobic work, when the NOS pathway becomes oxygen-limited.
Himalayan Pink Salt
500 mgMechanism of action
Sodium is the primary driver of extracellular fluid volume. During exercise, you lose 500–1,500mg sodium per liter of sweat. As plasma volume drops, your blood thickens, cardiac output falls, and oxygen delivery to muscles decreases. Pre-exercise sodium loading maintains plasma volume and supports nutrient transport.
Why this dose
500mg sodium covers sweat losses for roughly 30–60 minutes of moderate-intensity training. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends sodium-containing fluids during exercise lasting over an hour. This dose maintains hydration without causing bloating or GI distress.
FLOW+
Endurance & stamina
FLOW+
Endurance & stamina
Beet Root Extract
3,000 mgMechanism of action
Beetroot is one of the richest dietary sources of inorganic nitrate. Your body converts this nitrate to nitric oxide, which improves mitochondrial efficiency — specifically, it reduces the oxygen cost of exercise. Your muscles extract more work from each breath.
Why this dose
A 2017 meta-analysis in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that 5–8 mmol of dietary nitrate improved time-to-exhaustion by 3–5% in trained athletes. 3g of concentrated beet root extract delivers this range. Raw beet juice would require 500ml+ for the same nitrate load.
Beta-Alanine
2,000 mgMechanism of action
Beta-alanine is the rate-limiting precursor to carnosine, a dipeptide stored in fast-twitch muscle fibers. During high-intensity effort, hydrogen ions accumulate and drop intracellular pH — the burn that forces you to stop. Carnosine buffers those hydrogen ions, keeping pH stable for longer.
Why this dose
Effective carnosine loading requires 3.2–6.4g daily over several weeks (Harris et al., 2006, Amino Acids). At 2g per serving with daily use, total intake reaches the effective range. Higher single doses mainly increase paresthesia — the tingling sensation — without faster loading.
Taurine
1,000 mgMechanism of action
Taurine is concentrated in skeletal muscle, the brain, and the heart. It functions as an osmolyte, regulating cell volume and hydration at the cellular level. It also stabilizes cell membranes and acts as an antioxidant, reducing exercise-induced oxidative damage.
Why this dose
A 2018 meta-analysis in Sports Medicine found 1–6g taurine taken 1–3 hours before exercise improved endurance performance. 1g is the minimum effective dose and avoids the GI discomfort sometimes reported at higher acute intakes.
Electrolyte Complex
400 mgMechanism of action
Sodium, potassium, and magnesium maintain the electrochemical gradients that power nerve signaling and muscle contraction. You lose all three through sweat, and even mild depletion impairs force production, increases cramping risk, and accelerates fatigue.
Why this dose
Balanced to replace roughly 60 minutes of moderate-intensity sweat losses. Designed to complement HYDRATE+ rather than overlap with it — use both on longer sessions.
FOCUS+
Mental clarity & drive
FOCUS+
Mental clarity & drive
Alpha-GPC
300 mgMechanism of action
Alpha-GPC is the most bioavailable choline source available. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and directly increases acetylcholine synthesis. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that drives muscle contraction, attention, and memory formation. More acetylcholine means sharper focus and stronger mind-muscle connection.
Why this dose
Bellar et al. (2015, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition) found 300mg Alpha-GPC improved upper-body force production. Marcus et al. (2017) showed improved reaction time at the same dose. 300mg is the minimum effective dose for acute performance benefits.
L-Tyrosine
1,000 mgMechanism of action
Tyrosine is the amino acid precursor to dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine — the catecholamines that regulate motivation, alertness, and stress response. Hard training depletes catecholamine reserves. Supplemental tyrosine provides raw material to sustain production under stress.
Why this dose
US military research on cognitive performance under stress uses 100–150 mg/kg bodyweight. 1g per serving provides meaningful support for catecholamine maintenance during training without approaching upper tolerance limits.
Rhodiola Rosea
200 mgMechanism of action
Rhodiola is an adaptogen that modulates the HPA axis — your body's central stress response system. It influences cortisol, serotonin, and dopamine activity. The practical effect is reduced perceived exertion: you feel like you're working less hard at the same intensity.
Why this dose
De Bock et al. (2004, International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism) found 200mg Rhodiola rosea (standardized to 3% rosavins, 1% salidroside) improved endurance capacity and reduced RPE in trained athletes.
L-Theanine
200 mgMechanism of action
Theanine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in tea leaves. It increases alpha brain wave activity — the neural frequency associated with relaxed, focused attention. It smooths out the stimulatory effects of other compounds without reducing alertness or energy.
Why this dose
Nobre et al. (2008, Nutritional Neuroscience) demonstrated measurable increases in alpha wave activity within 30–40 minutes at 200mg. This is the dose most consistently used in cognitive performance research.
REPAIR+
Recovery & muscle growth
REPAIR+
Recovery & muscle growth
Creatine Monohydrate
5,000 mgMechanism of action
Creatine donates a phosphate group to ADP, regenerating ATP — your muscles' immediate energy source. More stored creatine phosphate means more high-intensity reps before ATP depletion forces a pause. Creatine also draws water into muscle cells, increasing cell volume, which may independently stimulate protein synthesis.
Why this dose
5g daily is the gold standard maintenance dose, confirmed by the International Society of Sports Nutrition's 2017 position stand and backed by over 500 peer-reviewed studies. No other supplement in sports nutrition has this depth of evidence. Fancier forms (HCl, ethyl ester, buffered) have never outperformed monohydrate in head-to-head trials.
L-Glutamine
5,000 mgMechanism of action
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in your bloodstream and muscle tissue. Intense exercise can drop plasma glutamine by 20–30%, which weakens immune function and slows recovery. Supplementation restores plasma levels and supports intestinal barrier integrity — your gut lining turns over rapidly and relies on glutamine as its primary fuel.
Why this dose
Post-exercise recovery research typically uses 5–10g. 5g is sufficient to restore exercise-induced depletion and support immune function without GI issues.
BCAAs
4,000 mg (2:1:1)Mechanism of action
Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are the three branched-chain amino acids. Leucine is the key player — it directly activates mTOR, the molecular switch that initiates muscle protein synthesis. Isoleucine improves glucose uptake into muscle cells. Valine competes with tryptophan at the blood-brain barrier, potentially reducing central fatigue during long sessions.
Why this dose
The 2:1:1 ratio (2g leucine, 1g isoleucine, 1g valine) mirrors the ratio found in human muscle tissue. Shimomura et al. (2010, JISSN) showed 4–10g BCAAs around training reduced markers of muscle damage and accelerated recovery in trained subjects.
Magnesium Bisglycinate
200 mgMechanism of action
Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including ATP production, protein synthesis, and neuromuscular signaling. The bisglycinate form is chelated with glycine, giving it significantly better absorption than oxide or citrate — and almost no laxative effect.
Why this dose
The RDA is 400–420mg for adult males, and surveys consistently show most athletes fall short. 200mg of the bisglycinate form provides meaningful supplementation that complements dietary intake without overshooting.
HYDRATE+
Electrolyte replenishment
HYDRATE+
Electrolyte replenishment
Sodium
300 mgMechanism of action
Sodium is the primary electrolyte lost in sweat — roughly 500–1,500mg per liter depending on fitness level, heat adaptation, and genetics. It maintains extracellular fluid volume, co-transports glucose and amino acids across the intestinal wall, and is essential for nerve impulse transmission.
Why this dose
300mg replaces approximately 30–45 minutes of moderate sweat losses. Low enough for daily use without blood pressure concerns, high enough to make a measurable difference during training.
Potassium
200 mgMechanism of action
Potassium is the primary intracellular electrolyte. It works opposite to sodium — concentrated inside cells rather than outside — and this difference in concentration creates the electrical gradient that powers every nerve signal and muscle contraction. Low potassium directly causes cramping, weakness, and irregular heart rhythm.
Why this dose
The adequate intake is 2,600–3,400mg daily, mostly from food. 200mg is a practical supplement dose that supports exercise-induced losses without risk of hyperkalemia.
Magnesium
100 mgMechanism of action
Magnesium regulates muscle relaxation (calcium contracts, magnesium relaxes), nerve conduction, and energy metabolism. Athletes lose roughly 3–4mg magnesium per liter of sweat, and even mild deficiency impairs performance — reduced strength, increased oxygen demand, and worse recovery.
Why this dose
100mg provides about 25% of the RDA. Enough to offset exercise losses and support daily needs alongside a balanced diet, without GI discomfort.
Calcium
100 mgMechanism of action
Calcium triggers muscle contraction through the troponin-tropomyosin system. When a motor neuron fires, calcium floods from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the muscle fiber, allowing actin and myosin filaments to bind and generate force. No calcium, no contraction.
Why this dose
The RDA is 1,000mg, and most adults meet this through food. 100mg supports the acute demands of exercise — particularly for athletes with high sweat rates or those who limit dairy intake.
Trace Mineral Complex
500 mgMechanism of action
Zinc, selenium, chromium, and manganese support enzymatic processes that dietary tracking often misses. Zinc is critical for testosterone production and immune function. Selenium protects against exercise-induced oxidative damage. Chromium supports insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
Why this dose
500mg of a comprehensive trace mineral blend provides broad-spectrum micronutrient coverage at levels well below the upper tolerable intake. Designed for daily use alongside a varied diet.
Every Batch. Independently Tested.
Every batch of every Layerd product goes through independent third-party testing before it ships. This isn't a marketing checkbox — it's a multi-stage analytical process.
Each batch is tested for:
- Ingredient identity — confirming the raw material is what it claims to be, not a cheaper substitute
- Potency verification — measuring actual concentration of each active ingredient against the label claim
- Heavy metals screening — testing for lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium below FDA and California Prop 65 thresholds
- Microbial analysis — checking for bacteria, yeast, mold, and pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella
- Banned substance screening — verifying the absence of substances prohibited by WADA and major sport governing bodies
Testing is performed by ISO 17025-accredited laboratories. We receive a Certificate of Analysis for every batch, and any batch that fails any test is rejected and destroyed — it never reaches the production line.
Trust What You Take
Open-label formulas. Research-backed doses. Third-party tested. This is the Layerd standard.
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