MuscleTech Cell Tech Creatine Formula Supplement Review

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MuscleTech Cell Tech is part of their performance series, and available in two variations; Hardgainer, and Hyper-Build. The big difference between the two is the BCAA ratio, where Hardgainer uses 2:1:1, and Hyper-Build uses 4:1:1 (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine).

So which version best supports your strength, muscle building, and endurance goals, and how does the price compare to buying BCAA and creatine supplements separately?

In this review we’ll take an in-depth look at the full ingredients list, beyond the 5g of creatine per serving (3.5g creatine monohydrate, 1.5g creatine HCI).

This includes important comparisons between the levels of vitamins, BCAAs, creatine, carbs, and calories in Cell Tech, and levels in other top rated creatine powders, such as BPI Sports Best Creatine.

We’ve also added supplement stack recommendations, optimised for powerlifting and bodybuilding. These will help guarantee your strength and size gains are supported pre-workout, intra-workout, and post-workout.

MuscleTech Cell Tech ingredients

MuscleTech have a history of producing some truly unique supplements, especially when it comes to their Performance Series. But what’s included in Cell Tech, and how is it better than other creatine supplements?

Muscle Growth and Strength Matrix

Cell Tech is one of only a few supplements to blend more than one type of creatine. While there’s no shortage of creatine monohydrate research, we’re yet to find a single peer reviewed published study using creatine hydrochloride (HCL).

Creatine HCL has been molecularly bound with hydrochloric acid to enhance solubility and absorption. This means it can be absorbed into the body faster than creatine monohydrate, but once there performs the same role.

Each serving contains 3.5 g of creatine monohydrate, and 1.5 g of creatine HCL.

Cell-Volumizing Amino Acid Matrix

Taurine is one of the most abundant amino acids in the body, but it’s not used in protein synthesis. Instead, it plays an important role in maintaining cellular integrity in the heart, muscles, and central nervous system (CNS).

Taurine is designed to volumize cells, increasing the uptake of alanine. L-alanine is a non-essential amino acid in humans, widely used for protein construction and an important source of energy for muscles and the CNS.

Each serving contains 1 g of taurine and 500 mg of L-alanine.

BCAA Matrix

Branched-chain amino acids (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine) make up about a third of muscle protein.

One study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, found ingestion of a BCAA supplement was superior to ingestion of a whey supplement or sports drink.

Researchers noted a greater decrease in body fat percent, increase in lean mass, and 10-rep strength gains.

Leucine is the most highly studied of the BCAAs, which is why most supplements contain a higher dose than the other two.

A study of leucine supplementation on exercise performance reported significant strength and power gains after lucine supplementation compared to a placebo.

MuscleTech have followed a popular ratio of BCAAs (2:1:1), with 500 mg of L-leucine, 250 mg of L-isoleucine, and 250 mg of L-valine per serving.

Lipoic-Tech

Alpha lipoic acid is a popular ingredient in multivitamins, anti-aging supplements, and weight loss products. Unfortunately there’s not much evidence to support the weight loss claims.

One study found 1800 mg per day led to a modest weight loss in obese patients, while another found health benefits for patients with diabetic neuropathy.

But the study we’re most interested in is one published in the International Journal of Sports nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.

This study found alpha-lipoic acid taken with creatine can enhance muscle total creatine content more than creatine alone.

Each serving of Cell Tech contains 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid.

Multi-Stage Carb Blend

The final ingredient blend is a combination of glucose polymers, dextrose, Modcarb (trademark of VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc.), waxy maize, and highly branched cyclic dextrin.

You’re also getting a small dose of vitamins, including 125 mg of vitamin C and 5.25 mg of vitamin B6 per serving.

Protected by patents:

Health benefits of creatine

For a comprehensive list of creatine health benefits, we recommend taking a look at our Creatine Buying Guide.

Post-workout or pre-workout?

Muscletech recommended usage

Take 1 scoop of CELL-TECH with 6 oz of water immediately following your workout. If you’re not training that day, have your serving when you wake up.

For better results:
Double the serving size. Take 2 scoops of CELL-TECH with 12 oz of water, either following your workout or in the morning, depending on if you’re training that day.

For best results:
As a loading phase, for the first 7 days take 2 scoops of CELL-TECH with 12 oz of water in the morning when you wake up and immediately following your workout.

If you’re not training that day, take the second 2-scoop serving during the day.

For maintenance, reduce your intake to 2 scoops with 12 oz of water immediately after your workout, or in the morning if you don’t workout that day.

Mixability and taste

Flavors:

Cell Tech vs. Vintage Build

Cell Tech vs. MusclePharm Creatine

What size is the best value?

With a serving size of 1 scoop (49g), each tub provides you with either 28 or 55 servings. Following a recommended dose of 2 scoops per day, thee smaller tub should last 2 weeks, with the larger tub enough for a 1 month supply.

At the time of writing this review, the best value for money comes from the larger 2.7kg tub. Each serving was priced at $0.70, compared to $0.89 per serving for the smaller 1.3kg tub.

That’s why we always recommend calculating the average cost per serving, across all sizes, before making a final buying decision.

Save money with Amazon

If you’re looking to save money on your monthly supplement order, you might want to consider the Amazon Subscribe & Save program.

Subscribe & Save allows you to unlock savings of up to 15% on a wide range of sports nutrition products, including MuscleTech Cell Tech (selected sizes only).

You can save 5% with a subscription to 1 product, or save the full 15% by subscribing to 5 products, provided they’re all delivered to the same address. The delivery schedule can be set from monthly, up to once every 6 months.

Although 5 products might sound a lot, if you already supplement with a protein powder, multivitamin, creatine, BCAA, and glutamine, the savings can soon add up.

But it’s best to order before you run out of your current supplements, because Amazon set the day of the month each order is sent (same day each month e.g. 14th.).

Who are MuscleTech?

MuscleTech are currently one of the biggest names in fitness and sports nutrition, with products split across their Performance, Essential, SX-7, and Premium Series’.

Performance Series supplements are designed for high intensity workouts and powerful results. This includes many of their biggest names, such as Anabolic Halo, Hydroxycut, Nitro Tech, and Cell Tech.

In many cases these supplements are backed by double-blind scientific studies, highlighting the benefits of adding these products to your diet.

With Nitro Tech this can mean significant improvements in lean muscle mass, recovery, performance, and strength. For Hydroxycut, this means CLA stacked with L-Carnitine and Garcinia Indica for advanced weight loss results.

But MuscleTech also have some of the most complex ingredient combinations on the market, making it difficult to decipher exactly what you’re getting.

That’s why we recommend taking a look at our MuscleTech supplement guide. This includes a summary of the health benefits, which sizes and flavors are available, and dosages for the main ingredients.

We’ve also added in-depth reviews and comparisons with other top rated nutrition companies, to guarantee you only buy the best supplement for your fitness goals.

Review Overview