Gorilla Mode Nitric review

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Gorilla Mind’s Gorilla Mode Nitric is a stimulant-free pre-workout supplement designed as a caffeine-free alternative to the company’s original Gorilla Mode formula. Overall, the two products are very similar, with the biggest difference being the removal of caffeine and a few other ingredients that likely contribute very little to performance. I’ve already reviewed the original Gorilla Mode formula in detail, so if you’re looking for a complete breakdown of that product, you can check out that review. The big question here is whether Gorilla Mode Nitric still delivers solid workout benefits without the stimulants.

Ingredients of Gorilla Mode Nitric

L-Citrulline

L-citrulline is a naturally occurring amino acid found in foods like watermelon. It is one of the most common ingredients in pre-workout supplements because it’s believed to improve exercise performance.

The research suggests that L-citrulline can provide modest benefits for resistance training. Taking it before a workout may slightly reduce muscle soreness and feelings of fatigue, allowing you to perform a few more repetitions before reaching exhaustion.

That said, the benefits have their limits. Clinical studies consistently show that L-citrulline does not significantly increase muscle strength or help you build more lean muscle mass compared to a placebo.

The evidence is even less convincing for endurance exercise. For example, one small study found that taking L-citrulline before a treadmill running test did not improve performance. Another study in cyclists reported a small improvement in cycling intensity and performance after daily supplementation, but it did not improve recovery afterward.

Overall, L-citrulline appears to offer modest support for weightlifting and other resistance exercises by helping reduce fatigue and squeeze out a few extra reps. However, it’s unlikely to directly increase muscle size or strength.

Creatine

Creatine is one of the most thoroughly researched sports supplements available, and unlike many pre-workout ingredients, it has strong scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness.

Studies in athletes, including soccer players and other highly active individuals, show that creatine can improve high-intensity exercise performance while increasing muscle strength. Research in older adults has found similar benefits, although the improvements may be somewhat greater in men than in women.

Creatine may also help your body recover between intense training sessions by reducing muscle damage and supporting the normal recovery process.

However, creatine is far less useful for endurance activities. Research generally finds little or no benefit for long-distance running, endurance cycling, or distance swimming.

Where creatine really stands out is during short, explosive, repeated efforts. Activities like sprinting, jumping, rowing, resistance training, and other power-focused exercises are where you’ll see the greatest benefits.

Betaine Anhydrous

Betaine anhydrous is a naturally occurring compound found in foods such as beets, eggs, and seafood. It’s commonly added to pre-workout supplements because it’s often claimed to support the body’s natural production of creatine.

Unfortunately, the scientific evidence doesn’t back up those claims very well.

Studies involving resistance training consistently show that betaine anhydrous does not significantly improve muscle strength, power, or overall exercise performance compared with a placebo. Likewise, research on endurance exercise has found little evidence that it improves aerobic fitness or endurance performance.

Glycerol

Glycerol is a compound commonly used as a sweetener in foods, but in sports supplements it’s included for a different reason. It can increase hydration by helping your body retain more water before exercise.

Research confirms that glycerol can improve water retention when used as part of a hyperhydration strategy.

However, better hydration doesn’t automatically mean better athletic performance. Studies generally show that glycerol does not significantly reduce fatigue, improve endurance, or enhance overall exercise performance compared with a placebo.

Malic Acid and Agmatine

Malic acid and agmatine are frequently included in pre-workout supplements because they’re marketed as ingredients that support energy production and metabolism.

Despite these claims, there is currently no human clinical evidence showing that either ingredient improves exercise performance, muscle strength, endurance, or muscle growth.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid naturally found in foods like meat and seafood. It’s also a familiar ingredient in many energy drinks and pre-workout supplements. However, the research on taurine’s ability to improve exercise performance is mixed.

Some studies have found no measurable benefits at all, even when participants consumed relatively large doses of around 5 grams per day.

On the other hand, larger reviews of the available research suggest taurine may provide a small improvement in endurance performance for some people when taken at doses between 1 and 6 grams per day.

Overall, while taurine may offer a modest endurance benefit in certain situations, the evidence is inconsistent and the effects appear to be relatively small.

Sodium Nitrate

Sodium nitrate provides a concentrated source of nitrate, which your body can convert into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, which is why nitrate is often included in pre-workout supplements. It’s also one of the main active compounds naturally found in beetroot juice.

While beetroot juice has consistently been shown to improve endurance exercise performance, the research on sodium nitrate by itself is much less convincing.

Clinical studies have reported small improvements in certain physiological measures, such as reducing the amount of oxygen the body uses during exercise. However, these changes generally have not translated into meaningful improvements in real-world athletic performance.

There are also some potential concerns about long-term use. Sodium nitrate is the same compound commonly used as a preservative in processed meats, and under certain conditions it can contribute to the formation of compounds called N-nitroso compounds. Long-term exposure to high levels of these compounds has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal neoplasms.

The World Health Organization recommends an acceptable daily nitrate intake that works out to roughly 350 mg of sodium nitrate per day for a 70-kilogram adult. One scoop of Gorilla Mind Nitric contains 750 mg of sodium nitrate, or about twice that amount, while a full two-scoop serving provides more than four times the recommended daily limit for long-term intake.

These doses are unlikely to cause immediate harm in healthy adults. However, they are well above the amount considered acceptable for everyday, long-term use. If your goal is simply to increase your nitrate intake, beetroot is probably the better choice. Not only does it have stronger clinical evidence supporting improvements in exercise performance, but it also comes in a natural food matrix that may help reduce some of the potential risks associated with consuming concentrated nitrate.

VasoDrive-AP

VasoDrive-AP is a patented ingredient made from hydrolyzed casein, a protein naturally found in milk. Unlike regular casein peptides, it contains two specific bioactive peptides known as VPP and IPP, which are thought to support healthy blood vessel function.

While these peptides may have some effects on cardiovascular health, there is very little evidence that they improve athletic performance.

For example, research has shown that VPP and IPP can produce small reductions in blood pressure. However, one study in older adults found that supplementing with these peptides did not reduce exercise-related fatigue. Similarly, studies using standard casein peptide supplements have found no meaningful improvements in muscle strength, lean muscle mass, or body composition when combined with resistance training.

B Vitamins and Magnesium

The remainder of the Gorilla Mind Nitric formula contains several B vitamins along with magnesium. These nutrients are essential for normal energy metabolism and proper muscle function, especially if you exercise regularly.

However, there’s an important distinction between correcting a deficiency and taking extra. Your body needs enough of these vitamins and minerals to function properly, but once your nutritional needs are met, consuming more does not improve exercise performance.

For example, studies have found that supplementing with nutrients such as folic acid and vitamin B12 does not increase muscle strength or physical performance in otherwise healthy people.

Is Gorilla Mind Nitric Effective?

Overall, Gorilla Mind Nitric is a moderately effective stimulant-free pre-workout supplement. However, compared with the original Gorilla Mode formula, most people will probably notice less of an effect. The biggest reason is the absence of caffeine, which remains one of the most consistently effective ingredients for improving workout energy, focus, and exercise performance.

That said, Gorilla Mind Nitric still includes a few ingredients with legitimate scientific support. L-citrulline may help reduce fatigue and allow you to perform a few extra repetitions during resistance training, while creatine is one of the most well-supported sports supplements for improving strength and high-intensity exercise performance. The benefits are likely to be modest rather than dramatic, but they are backed by clinical research.

Beyond those ingredients, the rest of the formula is considerably less convincing. Ingredients like sodium nitrate and VasoDrive-AP may produce small effects on blood flow or blood pressure, but current research has not shown that they lead to meaningful improvements in exercise performance. As a result, while Gorilla Mind Nitric contains a handful of evidence-based ingredients, much of the remaining formula adds little to its overall effectiveness.

Overall rating

Gorilla-Mode-Nitric-review-overall-summary-rating — Overall rating Gorilla Mode Nitric supplement review summary

Rating Gorilla Mind’s Gorilla Mode Nitric by effectiveness for improving exercise performance, I’m giving it a B. It contains a few ingredients that may provide modest benefits for resistance training and exercise performance, particularly creatine and L-citrulline.

Rating it by cost, I’m giving it a C. Most of the meaningful ingredients can be purchased for significantly less.

Rating it for safety, I’m giving it a C. The formula contains a relatively large dose of sodium nitrate, which doesn’t really help with performance and may raise concerns if used daily over the long term.

Overall rating, I’m giving a C. It can provide some modest exercise-performance benefits, but many of the formula’s ingredients contribute little to those effects. Combined with the high dose of sodium nitrate and the relatively high price tag, there are more cost-effective ways to achieve similar results.

Top alternatives to Gorilla Mode Nitric

Beetroot (caps) – 10 to 20 caps / day
Beetroot (powder) – 1 to 2 tsp / day
Creatine – 1 to 2 tsp / day
Gorilla Mode (caffeine) – 1 scoop / day
Gorilla Mode (Nitric) – 1 scoop / day
L-Citrulline (caps) – 2 to 8 caps / day
L-Citrulline (powder) – 1 to 2 scoops / day

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Citations

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