ZMA

It is a recovery aid for people who train (very) hard. There was some research done which found that people training hard can be short of zinc and magnesium, and that supplementing with these helps improve performance (but only for those lacking adequate supply). So, if you're a sprinter running workouts at 95-100% speed, ZMA can help, also powerlifters training at a very high percentage of 1RM. For such people, ZMA helps them get more sleep so they recover sooner. But for a distance runner putting in 10-12 miles at 70-80% MHR, it's not so clear whether they are actually training hard enough to cause a deficiency (there is no research on this as far as I know). Many sprinters, though, are firmly convinced that this stuff does work: This is how Victor Conte got his money.

Zinc, Magnesium Aspartate, and B6.

It is supposed to be taken prior to bedtime and anecdotal evidence shows that it seems to help induce more restful sleep (and in many, more lucid dreams).

Some research also suggests that it elevates levels of free testosterone, though a lot of that research was conducted by the very people who developed ZMA, led by none other than Victor Conte of BALCO fame.

I've been taking it lately, mainly to help induce more restful sleep. The common conclusion among users is that it really doesn't seem to do much for T levels, but does help sleep. I notice myself feeling more rested when I wake up, and have definitely experienced some more lucid dreams.

As with many substances, it is not always going to work to the same degree for everyone. Some people swear by it, other people swear at it and wouldn't spend their money on it.

It's up to you. I'd suggest that if you're interested, buy a small supply and try it out. If it works, great. If not, it's only a couple dollars wasted.

Yeah, thanks, I just bought a small bottle, tried it for the second time last night, slept good don't know if the ZMA is the reason why. If it improves recovery that is noticable i'll post about it again. Sounds like it could work best when taken on the nights of short hard intervals.

Victor Conte invented and sold it.

Barry Bonds endorsed it.

It gotta work!!!!

Right?

(FWIW, buying the separate ingredients is cheaper but in vitriolic debates on bodybuilding forums around the turn of the century, someone who might have been Victor Conte (he had a @balco.com email addy)railed against those who said you could get the same result from a homemade dose. And he really laid into anyone who doubted its effectiveness.

However, the study to support his case was shaky as far as being good science, due to the small sample size)

i seem to remember reading about an independent study at western washington u. where their football players showed slightly elevated testosterone levels after using ZMA...does anyone else remember reading this?

i used it when i was training 100mpw last year and i am not sure if it helped me or not....i had never run that far before so i had nothing to compare it to. personally, i don't feel it helped me sleep any better.

If you buy ZMA from SNAC, you are giving your money to Victor Conte. You can buy the equivalent from Twinlab (ZMA Fuel).

If you buy ZMA from SNAC, you are giving your money to Victor Conte. You can buy the equivalent from Twinlab (ZMA Fuel).

I could be wrong but I think that Victor has the trademark or patent and gets a cut from all products sold as 'ZMA.' The other companies buy the right to manufacture/distribute.

As fas as the studies of the product ZMA go, I believe that there was only one that is cited in all the product literature. So it's hardly conclusive.

But then I'm not a scientist either...

what are the specified daily intakes for the ingredients within ZMA per the peer reviewed literature?

the same people who curse the devil drinks his products too....

Not a lawyer wrote:

I could be wrong but I think that Victor has the trademark or patent and gets a cut from all products sold as 'ZMA.' The other companies buy the right to manufacture/distribute.

As fas as the studies of the product ZMA go, I believe that there was only one that is cited in all the product literature. So it's hardly conclusive.

But then I'm not a scientist either...

maybe that was the w.w.u. study? i can't believe i am the only one who remembers it...

also, i know there is some dispute over the correct ratios of each nutrient necessary to achieve optimal results. if you research different brands, you see that the amounts do vary. not sure what this means either.

nor would i be surprised if the whole thing is just snake oil.

Probably a dumb question but is this stuff NCAA legal? Thanks. I would hate to fail a drug test, because I tried a sleeping aid a couple of times.

yes it is...

I have both a .doc and a PDF file version of the WWU study if anyone is interested.

But I believe that your coach or team can't give it to you. Same thing for creatine. You have to get it for yourself.

"what are the specified daily intakes for the ingredients within ZMA per the peer reviewed literature?"

As I recall it's about the RDA for each ingredient.