Product Review - MyProtein V System Vitamins.

Multi Vitamins have always been a touchy subject in the nutrition world.

Some claim that you should get all of your nutrients from whole food and that adding a multivitamin to your diet as you're just wasting your money and making expensive wee.

On one hand I do agree with this.

You should aim for a well balanced nutrition plan that incorporates all of the macro (and micro) nutrients that you need to recover and stay healthy. Eating a wide variety of healthy, whole, nutritionally dense food is the ideal scenario that everyone should strive for.

However we also live in the real world. And in the real world people are creatures of habit and ease. Most people only rotate through about 6-10 meals a week. Because of this it's a good idea to have a multi vitamin just to plug any of the small gaps that your meals might miss.

This is where a multi vitamin comes in.

Recently I have been trying MyProteins V System.

The V System is a complete vitamin system that caters for the bodies need or certain types of nutrients at certain times of the day. You take 3 capsules in the morning and evening, each providing different vitamins to deal with your bodies demands at certain times of the day.

Here is what MyProtein had to say about it,

What is MP Max V-System?

MP MAX® V-System is a two stage multi-nutrient supplement designed to support an active lifestyle. With two separate formulas to be taken in the AM and the PM, this supplement provides all nutrients in the physically active individual.

Benefits of MP Max V-System

The AM Formula has been designed to supply a comprehensive range of vitamins and minerals such as Astragalus, Green Tea Extract, Korean Ginseng, Kola Nut Extract, Spirulina, Cayenne, Ginger, Liquorice Root, Flax Seed, Lecithin and Whey Protein Concentrate. The PM Formula combines a number of important nutrients including Humulus Lupulus, Lemon Balm, Chamomile.

Who is MP Max V-System suitable for?

For anyone engaged in a long term physical training plan, getting the right dietary balance is absolutely essential. The body requires the right kind of nutrients in order to perform and develop correctly, and whether these come from food or from supplements, they are needed for many purposes. We recommend taking 3 tablets AM and 3 tablets PM

Ok, so what kind of nutrition break down do they have? Let's take a look,

AM Formula:
Per 3 Tablet Serving:
550mg Performance Blend (Astragalus, Green Tea Extract, Korean Ginseng, Kola Nut Extract, Spirulina, Cayenne, Ginger, Liquorice Root, Flax Seed, Lecithin, Whey Protein Concentrate)
498mg Calcium (62% RDA*)
390mg Phosphorous (55% RDA*)
240mg Vitamin C (300% RDA*)
42mg Magnesium (11% RDA*)
30mg Vitamin E (250% RDA*)
27mg Vitamin B1 (2454% RDA*)
30mg Vitamin B3 (188% RDA*)
27mg Vitamin B2 (1928% RDA*)
12mg Potassium
6mg Pantothenic Acid (100% RDA*)
9mg Vitamin B6 (643% RDA*)
4.8mg Zinc (48% RDA*)
4.8mg Para Amino Benzoic Acid
1.8mg Copper (180% RDA*)
1.2mg Vitamin A (150% RDA*)
180µg Folic Acid (90% RDA*)
114µg Iodine (76% RDA*)
90µg Biotin (180% RDA*)
27µg Selenium (49% RDA*)
25.5µg Vitamin K (34% RDA*)
15µg Chromium (38% RDA*)
9.9µg Manganese
3µg Vitamin B12 (120% RDA*)

PM Formula:
1573mg Relaxation Blend (Humulus Lupulus, Lemon Balm, Chamomile)
1110mg Amino Acid Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, L Arg, L Ornithine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, L Isoleucine, L Valine, L Glutamine, Beta Alanine)
249mg Magnesium (66% RDA*)
240mg Vitamin C (300% RDA*)
30mg Zinc (300% RDA*)
4mg Vitamin B6 (286% RDA*)
*RDA = Recommended Daily Allowance

And the ingredients that provide this,

AM Formula:
Bulking Agent (Dicalcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose), Performance Blend (Astragalus Powder, Green Tea Extract, Korean Ginseng, Guarana, Kola Nut Extract, Spirulina Powder, Cayenne Powder, Ginger, Liquorice Root Powder, Flax Seed Powder, Lecithin, Whey Protein Concentrate), Ascorbic Acid Preparation (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose ), Magnesium Oxide, Anti Caking Agent (Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide), Natural Source Vitamin E, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium Phosphate, Nicotinamide, Riboflavin, Vitamin A ,Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Oxide, Cupric Sulphate Anhydrous, Para Amino Benzoic Acid, Manganese, Vitamin K Preparation (Acacia, Sucrose), Chromium Chloride Hexahydrate, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, D Biotin, Sodium Selenite Anhydrous, Cyanocobalamin, Coating (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, Glycerol).

PM Formula:
Bulking Agent (Dicalcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose), Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, L Ornithine, L Arg, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Relaxation Blend (Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Hops Extract (Humulus Lupulus)), Amino Acid Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, L Isoleucine, L Leucine, L Valine, L Glutamine, Beta Alanine), Magnesium Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Flow Agent (Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Coating (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, Glycerol).

That's a lot of stuff!

So did they make a difference? What were they like to take?

First I have to add that it is very hard to judge if something like this is working without having blood tests etc taken. It is one of those supplements that will contribute a small percentage of recovery and health BUT that small percentage will add up over time. This is the second time that I have used the V System, once to help rapid recovery from surgery (worked very well) and now to help recovery. Both times I have been very happy with the results.

Ok, so Pros,

• Both tablets pretty much cover all bases so you know that your body is getting what it needs.
• Really like the Green Tea extract in the morning dose as it gave me a good kick.
• Also liked the inclusion of BCAAs in the evening dose to help with muscle recovery over night.
• High quality supplement.

And Cons,

• Tablet size. Uncomfortable to take and hard to swallow due to lack of coating on capsules.
• Urinating after the morning dose. It made my pee bright yellow despite how much I drank. Bit strange and a little unsettling.
• Cost. For most it is simply going to to high for a multi vitamin. However you do get what you pay for and it is a premium supplement.
• Would have liked a bit more Zinc and Magnesium is the evening dose to help aid sleep. While it is in there, it doesn't provide the same effect of taking regular ZMA.

This is a great supplement that I would highly recommend to athletes or people wanting to get a little extra out of their recovery.

You can get the V System from MyProtein for £14.99 for a full month serving.

Stay healthy,

Mike