The Science Behind LC2
This isn't marketing hype. This is documented, peer-reviewed research from a university clinical trial that showed how Creatine + Leucine + L-Carnitine builds muscle in adults over 50.
The Problem: Your Body Is Working Against You
After 50, you lose approximately 3% of muscle strength every year.
It's not your fault. It's biology.
Your mTOR pathway - the switch that builds muscle protein - becomes less responsive with age. The same amino acid signals that used to trigger muscle building in your 30s barely register in your 60s.
The mechanism? Your mTOR pathway - the biological switch that builds muscle protein - becomes less responsive with age. Amino acid signals don't trigger muscle synthesis like they used to.
That's where the research comes in.
The Study: What They Did
In 2017, researchers at Tufts University published a clinical trial testing whether a specific combination of three ingredients could reactivate muscle building in older adults.
Title: "Efficacy of a novel formulation of L-Carnitine, creatine, and leucine on lean body mass and functional muscle strength in healthy older adults: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study"
Published: Nutrition & Metabolism, January 2017
Funding: U.S. Department of Agriculture / NIH
Institution: Tufts University, Georgetown University Medical Center
Participants
- 42 healthy adults aged 55-70
- Sedentary lifestyle (like most people over 50)
- Randomized into three groups: the combination formula, L-Carnitine only, or placebo
The Formula (Daily Dose)
- 3000mg Creatine Monohydrate
- 2000mg L-Leucine
- 1500mg L-Carnitine
- 400 IU Vitamin D3*
*The study included 400 IU Vitamin D3 - less than the daily recommended intake (600-800 IU). Based on the low dosage and existing research, this amount likely had minimal impact on muscle outcomes. The three core ingredients - Creatine, Leucine, and L-Carnitine - drove the muscle-building results.
Duration
8 weeks - no exercise program required
The Results: What Actually Happened
(P = 0.013)
(P = 0.029)
(P = 0.017)
"The primary composite outcome improved by 63.5 percentage points in the L-Carnitine-combination group vs. placebo (P = 0.013)."
— From the published study
Translation from Science to English:
The group taking the Creatine + Leucine + L-Carnitine formula gained actual, measurable lean muscle mass and increased their lower body strength - without changing their activity levels or exercise routines.
The placebo group? They actually declined slightly, as expected with aging.
But here's what makes this different from every other supplement study:
They didn't just measure weight or strength. They took muscle biopsies - actual tissue samples - and measured what was happening at a cellular level.
Result: 81% increase in mTOR protein expression.
That means the formula literally turned the muscle-building machinery back ON in participants' cells.
How It Works: The mTOR Pathway
mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) is the master regulator of muscle protein synthesis. Think of it as the on/off switch for building muscle.
The study found that participants taking the Creatine + Leucine + L-Carnitine formula showed an 81% increase in total mTOR protein levels compared to baseline.
This wasn't speculation - they took muscle biopsies and measured it directly.
L-CARNITINE (1500mg)
- Transports fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production
- Increases protein biosynthesis by sparing amino acids from being burned for energy
- Suppresses genes responsible for muscle protein degradation
- Increases levels of IGF-1 and Akt1 - upstream activators of mTOR
L-LEUCINE (2000mg)
- The most potent amino acid for activating muscle protein synthesis
- Directly triggers mTOR pathway activation
- Prevents muscle degradation during aging
- L-Carnitine has been shown to increase leucine bioavailability
CREATINE (3000mg)
- Maintains ATP for immediate muscle energy during contraction
- Promotes muscle protein synthesis
- Enhances leucine bioavailability by decreasing its oxidation
- The creatine/phosphocreatine system is deficient in aging populations
THE SYNERGY: Each ingredient works individually, but together they create a compounding effect. L-Carnitine increases leucine availability. Creatine preserves leucine from being oxidized. All three converge on the mTOR pathway - the master switch for muscle building.
LC2 vs. The Study Formula: What You're Getting
We didn't "base it on" the research. We use the exact muscle-building dosages from the clinical trial.
*The study included 400 IU Vitamin D3 - a trace amount below the recommended daily intake (600-800 IU for adults). Research shows this low dose has minimal impact on muscle outcomes. We focused on the three core ingredients that directly activated the mTOR pathway and drove the muscle-building results. Most adults over 50 should be supplementing Vitamin D separately at higher doses (2000-5000 IU) anyway.
Same core formula. Same results. Better taste.
Why These Three Ingredients Together
Most supplements either:
- Use proprietary blends (so you don't know actual dosages)
- Underdose key ingredients to save money
- Add 15 ingredients in tiny amounts
- Market on hype, not data
The Tufts researchers tested this specific combination because each ingredient amplifies the others:
1. CREATINE
Maintains energy and preserves leucine from being broken down for fuel
2. LEUCINE
Triggers the mTOR pathway to start building muscle protein
3. L-CARNITINE
Increases leucine bioavailability and suppresses muscle breakdown genes
Together, they create a synergistic effect that's greater than the sum of the parts.
That's not marketing speak. That's what the muscle biopsies showed.
Read The Full Study Yourself
Don't take our word for it. Read the peer-reviewed research published in Nutrition & Metabolism, a scientific journal indexed by the National Institutes of Health.
READ STUDY ON NIH.GOV →Common Questions
A: The study included 400 IU of Vitamin D3 - less than the recommended daily intake for adults (600-800 IU). Based on this low dosage and existing research on Vitamin D's role in muscle building, this amount likely had minimal impact on the muscle-building results. We focused on the three core ingredients - Creatine, Leucine, and L-Carnitine - that directly activated the mTOR pathway and triggered muscle protein synthesis. Most people over 50 should be supplementing Vitamin D separately at higher, more effective doses (2000-5000 IU daily) anyway.
A: Creatine alone helps, but the research showed the COMBINATION of Creatine + Leucine + L-Carnitine produced significantly better results than any ingredient alone. They work synergistically - L-Carnitine increases leucine bioavailability, creatine preserves leucine from oxidation, and all three converge on the mTOR pathway. The combination activated mTOR by 81%. That's the difference.
A: The study participants were sedentary and still gained 2.2 lbs of muscle in 8 weeks. However, the researchers noted that combining the supplement with resistance training would likely produce even better results. Think of LC2 as turning your muscle-building machinery back ON. Exercise tells it WHERE to build.
A: The study showed measurable changes at 8 weeks. Some of our customers report feeling more energy and faster recovery within 2-3 weeks. Everyone's different. We recommend committing to the full 8 weeks - same as the study.
A: Every ingredient in LC2 has decades of safety data. The study participants were monitored for adverse events and blood markers. All remained in normal ranges. That said, if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or other serious conditions, consult your doctor before taking ANY supplement. We're not doctors and don't give medical advice.
A: Yes. Every batch is third-party tested for potency, purity, and safety. Email info@50pe.com with the lot number from your container and we'll send you the Certificate of Analysis for that specific batch.
Try The Formula From The Study
Same core ingredients. Same dosages. Clinically-validated results.
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