X Factor FAQ 4/14/07 (subject to revision later)
1. What is X factor
X factor is the name for arachidonic acid, an essential fatty acid normally stored in cell membranes that is responsible for signaling adaptive changes in response to stress and other stimuli.
2. What does it do?
Prostaglandins from X factor are intimately involved with protein synthesis and hypertrophy after exercise (1,2) . Arachidonic acid also is correlated with improved insulin sensitivity (3), satellite cell activation and proliferation (4), cell regeneration and repair (5) , and increases Nitric oxide formation in the muscle being trained. Other benefits include possible long term improvement in vascularity via stimulation of angiogenesis (6) in muscles being trained, PPAR beta/delta agonist properties (7) (increase Uncoupling proteins for a thermogenic effect), and inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (8) (which is strongly correlated with negative partitioning in humans therefore paving the way for body composition improvement). On top of all this it inhibits resistin (9) which may have further benefits as far as insulin control goes.
3. How does it accomplish this?
When the muscle is stimulated by anaerobic metabolism (ie, muscle contraction) arachidonic acid is released from the muscle cell wall by phospholipase A2. Once released arachidonic acid interacts with the COX-2 enzyme forming prostaglandins such as PGF 2 alpha and PGE2. It is these prostaglandins that instruct the cell to increase protein synthesis and other beneficial responses to exercise.
4. Are there other reasons I should take it?
Muscle is not just protein and amino acids. There actually is a plasma membrane cell wall that needs to surround the contractile protein. The type of fatty acids (preferably essential fatty acids like x factor) determine the responsiveness of the skeletal muscle as unit to various signals. That is why this product is so "core" to the muscle building process and has effects above and beyond what protein can do.
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5. Is it safe?
Yes, as a matter of fact it is a component of Baby food. Studies using up to 1.5 grams of Arachidonic acid per day for 50 days have shown no ill effects. (10,11,12) Our own study at one gram per day also showed no ill effects. (13) As a matter of fact x factor showed very strong trends at reducing an important inflammatory marker predictive of total mortality. The marker reduced was IL-6 while corn oil (another omega 6) meanwhile had no effect (14) So X factor may very well have a protective benefit.
6. Are their side effects?
Some people notice sore joints, headaches, insomnia. Others haven't notice any side effects.
7. What about these "bad prostaglandins" I have been hearing x factor makes?
"Bad prostaglandins" stimulate and lower cAMP and make platelets sticky when anaerobic metabolism is stimulated (like when a blood vessel cuts cut). In someone active and training "anaerobically"they are useful for improving glycogen synthesis (directly in the muscle) Why? Because cAMP phsophorylates glycogen synthetase and thus inactivates it. So you definitely need some "bad" prostaglandins if you are physically active and want to maximize glycogen synthesis.
Now.....
In someone sedentary they don't have active muscles so in general they are anaerobic everywhere due to the hyperinsulinemia. So pretty everywhere in there body is getting hit hard (which is the opposite in someone training.) That is in general the paradox here and this probably explains why in someone training X factor lowers IL-6 ( which comes from hyperinsulinemia )
8. How much do I take and when?
A: You take 1000mg the arachidonic acid (found in X factor) in divided doses. Each capsule contains 250mg AA. Ideally this total daily dose should be divided up into 3-4 doses during the day. Because insomnia has been reported we don't recommend you take the last dose close to bedtime.
9. Is it best to take x-factor with food or on an empty stomach or doesn't it matter?
A: Most likely taking it with food (particularly some fat) results in better bioavailability.
10. Can I take higher amounts of it for periods shorter than 50 days?
You could, but whether it works better or not is unknown. We ask that your first cycle is at the recommended 750-1000mg dose level for 50 days and if you respond well allow you to consider up to 1500mg for 50 days or 1000 mgs for 75 days as an option.
11. Anything I should avoid while taking x factor
NSAIDS are to be ideally avoided due to their direct effects on inhibiting the COX enzyme (central to the mechanism by which x factor works). However it may be that taking NSAIDS at certain times is worse than others with respect to muscle building. Certainly if you have a headache and are known to respond to NSAIDs you could probably take the medication without interference.
12. Do I need to eliminate everything that is anti-inflammatory?
No. The only anti-inflammatory in the literature (so far) known to have adverse effects on x factor's benefit in skeletal muscle are NSAIDs (or its herbal equivalent white willow bark) due to their direct effect on the COX enzyme. Indirect anti-inflammatory products (which many products claim as a side benefit) most likely have no effect on what x factor does. Actually some of the benefits of arachidonic acid appear to be through reduction of systemic oxidative stress/insulin levels (provided the muscle is active) which ironically may actually reduce COX-2 in non muscle tissues. So all this stuff can be in the same ballpark.
13. Do I need to avoid fish entirely?
You should still eat fish. In fact low dose supplementation of fish oil (2-3 capsules) does not appear to affect the effectiveness of X factor. The good thing is that in that in some cases the clinical benefits of fish oil appear to be directly tied to increases in cell membrane arachidonic acid. This is great news for the future of this supplement.
14. Are there any particular foods I should be eating to make the product better?
Focus on nutrient dense whole foods (basically your typical Body building diet) that have various minerals/vitamins/anti-oxidants in them. Possibly magnesium rich foods may hold some promise for some (spinach, brown rice, etc)
15. Can I use creatine with x factor?
You should always use creatine with x factor (whether it is CEE or some other type of creatine really doesn't matter)
This is because arachidonic acid is involved with skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity (2) and may very well be involved with the insulin secretion curve as well. So you might as well take advantage of this opporunity and use creatine (since its transported by insulin) otherwise you waste a chance at some extra synergy.
16. How about Nitric oxide products? Can I use those with x factor?
Yes! As a matter of fact blocking Nitric oxide (with a nitric oxide inhibitor, L-NAME) affected protein synthesis in the same way as taking NSAIDS did. Nitric oxide also uses COX-2 for its effects on protein synthesis (2)
Some people report the pumps being pretty heavy with X factor when combined with NO products so you should only add one at a time to see how it affects you first.
17. Any type of workout program that works best with x factor?
X factor works well with any training program. However, you may occasionally want to train muscle groups from different angles to tap into some of the AA in the more rested fibers. According to a couple of abstracts, a greater PGF 2 alpha response (therefore more anabolic) was found in fibers that were previously more rested/stabilized. (15)
18. Is there anyone who should not take X factor?
Anyone with a inflammatory condition or family history of inflammatory condition should not take x factor.
19. How much time off between cycles?
Take as much time off as you were on. So if you took x factor 50 days then take at least 50 days off.
20. Can I use anti-oxidants with x factor?
That would be a good idea. As a matter of fact beneficial PGF 2 alpha responses seem to be correlated with glutathione and resting cell membrane stability. (16)
21. Is PCT required?
No. Arachidonic acid does not cause any type of rebound effect upon discontinuation.
22. Is it safe for women to take?
Yes. Arachidonic acid has been taken by men and women for thousands of years. In fact, wild cattle and pigs have approximately 10-12 times more Arachidonic acid (per gram of fat) than the domesticated cattle we are used to eating today. (17)
23. Will x factor cause cancer?
No the ingredient in x factor is not a carcinogen but like other non cancer causing growth promoting agents could be used by an existing tumor
In one study involving the prostate arachidonic acid was observed to cause growth through the PI3K mechanism (PI3K inhibitors blocked growth promoting effects) (18)
PI3K is also the mechanism by which IGF-1 works. So one of the ways x-factor acts as an anabolic is similar to IGF-1.
Other studies have shown stimulation of protein synthesis by arachidonic acid through stimulation of the beta 2 receptor (19, 20) . But stimulation of beta 2 receptors doesn't cause cancer in non cancerous tissues.
Testosterone effects on cancer are analogous to the PI3K and beta 2 mechanisms I just mentioned. It doesn't cause cancer either, but cancer cells will make use of it as a growth promoting agent.
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