Why You Should Care About Absorption: The Science of AstraGin® and BioPerine®

You can have the most hardcore formula on the market—but if your body can’t absorb it, you’re wasting your time and your money. At Performax Labs, we don’t just dose our products clinically—we optimize them for maximum absorption and bioavailability, because results come from what your body actually utilizes, not just what’s on the label.

Absorption: The Missing Link in Most Supplements

You can load up your supplement shelf with all the right ingredients—high-dose amino acids, cutting-edge nootropics, potent fat burners—but if your body isn’t absorbing them properly, you’re leaving serious gains on the table.

Absorption is the critical—but often ignored—factor that separates effective supplements from expensive placebos. Bioavailability refers to how much of an ingredient actually reaches your bloodstream and gets utilized by your body. Without it, even clinically dosed products can underperform.

Why Absorption Matters:

Amino Acids: Powerful molecules like L-Citrulline and Taurine found in many pump powders like VasoMax Grand Pre, are notoriously limited by transport efficiency in the gut. Absorption enhancers like AstraGin® have been shown to significantly increase amino acid uptake, leading to better pumps, faster recovery, and more muscle protein synthesis¹.
Herbal Extracts: Powerful natural extracts like Rhaponticum Carthamoides, (found in MassMax) Gymnema Sylvestre, and Banaba can suffer from poor absorption due to large molecule size and low solubility. BioPerine® can dramatically enhance the absorption of these adaptogens by increasing thermogenesis and slowing enzymatic breakdown⁴.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamins A, D, E, and K rely on proper digestion and absorption mechanisms, which can be inefficient in fasted states or low-fat diets. BioPerine® has been shown to enhance the uptake of fat-soluble nutrients, making them more effective for athletic performance and recovery⁵.
Stimulants and Cognitive Enhancers: Ingredients like Caffeine, Cocoabuterol®, and Nootropics like ThinFen™ can benefit from absorption aids to extend their activity window and enhance onset time—meaning quicker energy kicks in, and it lasts longer without needing excessive doses.
Fat-Burning Compounds: Thermogenic ingredients like Fucoxanthin (found in OxyMax) and ProGBB® also show increased bioavailability when paired with piperine derivatives like BioPerine®, leading to more intense thermogenic effects and greater calorie burning potential⁵.

AstraGin®: Unlocking Nutrient Uptake

AstraGin® is a patented, 100% plant-based compound derived from Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng. It enhances nutrient uptake through multiple mechanisms:

Upregulation of Transport Proteins: AstraGin® boosts the expression of key transporters like SGLT1 and GLUT4 in the intestines, allowing for more efficient uptake of amino acids, creatine, and glucose¹.
Improved Gut Lining Health: It supports gut barrier integrity by reducing intestinal inflammation and tightening junction proteins, improving overall digestive efficiency².
Increased Amino Acid Absorption: Clinical data shows AstraGin® can increase leucine absorption by up to 58% and arginine by 67%¹—this translates to better pumps, faster muscle recovery, and more gains in the gym.

BioPerine®: The Black Pepper Edge

BioPerine® is a patented black pepper extract standardized for piperine, a compound with a well-established ability to increase nutrient absorption.

Thermogenic Activation: BioPerine® increases thermogenesis, which enhances blood flow to the digestive tract and supports greater ingredient uptake³.
Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes: It slows down the metabolic breakdown of certain compounds by inhibiting enzymes like CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, allowing active ingredients to stay in the bloodstream longer and hit harder⁴.
Proven Bioavailability Boost: Clinical studies have shown BioPerine® can increase the absorption of curcumin by up to 2000%, beta-carotene by 60%, and CoQ10 by 30%⁵.

No Corners Cut, No Ingredient Wasted

At Performax Labs, every capsule, scoop, and serving is built for performance. Clinical doses. Hard-hitting formulas. And absorption-enhancing ingredients like AstraGin® and BioPerine® to ensure every gram counts.

References:

AstraGin® Increases Absorption of Amino Acids. NuLiv Science.
AstraGin® White Paper, NuLiv Science.
BioPerine® Increases Thermogenesis and Nutrient Absorption, Sabinsa Corporation.
Shoba G et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med, 1998.
BioPerine® Clinical Data Summary. Sabinsa Corporation.