About the Product
Marvelous Nutrition's Glycerol is a pure glycerol monostearate powder supplement from the Old School line, specifically designed for cellular hyperhydration, prolonged muscle pump, and maintaining hydration and endurance during training. Glycerol (glycerine, propane-1,2,3-triol) is a three-carbon sugar alcohol with unique osmotic properties that create a state of hyperhydration in tissues — its intracellular and interstitial accumulation increases water retention by muscle tissues, resulting in a denser pump, greater apparent muscle volume, and a lower rate of dehydration during exercise. 5g/dose, 30 minutes before training. Vegan. Unflavoured (neutral). Old School Line. 60 doses, 300g.
Benefits
The osmotic mechanism of glycerol: cellular hyperhydration and prolonged pump:
Glycerol is a highly effective osmotic agent that, upon absorption and distribution in intra- and extracellular compartments, increases the osmolality of body fluids proportionally to the ingested dose. When ingested with water (typically 400 to 600 ml of water per 5g dose of glycerol), glycerol increases plasma and intracellular osmolality, creating an osmotic gradient that "retains" water in tissues and reduces its renal excretion. The practical result is a state of hyperhydration with a greater total water volume in the muscular and vascular compartments, which translates into: a more intense and denser muscle pump (greater cellular turgor pressure that presses membranes against fascia), greater apparent muscle volume (especially visible in athletes with low subcutaneous fat), and greater resistance to dehydration during exercise (the hyperhydrated water reservoir acts as a "buffer" against fluid loss through sweat).
Glycerol monostearate: the most stable and effective form for powdered supplementation:
Glycerol monostearate (GMS) is the ester of glycerol with stearic acid, the most suitable form of glycerol for the production of powdered supplements. Pure glycerol (liquid glycerine, 99% glycerol) is a viscous and very hygroscopic liquid (absorbs moisture from the air) that would be difficult to formulate as a powder without extensive additives. GMS is a solid at room temperature with lower hygroscopicity, allowing the production of a stable and easy-to-mix powder. After ingestion, GMS is hydrolysed by intestinal esterases into free glycerol + stearic acid, with free glycerol being absorbed and distributed systemically. Silicon dioxide (E-551) as an anti-caking agent prevents the formation of clumps in hygroscopic powder during storage.
Post-workout pump: why glycerol prolongs the pump beyond the workout:
One of the most valued properties by bodybuilders is glycerol's ability to prolong the muscle pump beyond the workout. Muscle pump during exercise results from the accumulation of blood, lactate, H⁺, and other osmolytes in working muscle cells, which increase intramuscular osmotic pressure and draw water into the intracellular space. After training, this osmotic pressure quickly dissipates with lactate elimination and vascular redistribution, and the pump disappears in 20 to 30 minutes. Pre-loaded glycerol maintains a higher intracellular osmolality than normal, prolonging the state of hyperhydration and vascular pump even after exercise — which is especially relevant for bodybuilders in competition preparation phases where post-workout muscle appearance is important.
Hydration and endurance: the ergogenic effect in endurance sports:
In addition to the pump, glycerol has a documented ergogenic application in endurance sports in hot conditions: glycerol-induced hyperhydration before prolonged exercise increases the total fluid volume available for thermoregulation (sweat), delays the onset of critical dehydration (>2% body mass loss), and reduces the elevation of core temperature during exercise in the heat. The meta-analysis by Hitchins et al. (1999) documented that hyperhydration with glycerol improved performance in endurance cycling in the heat compared to hyperhydration with water alone. WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) removed glycerol from the list of prohibited substances in 2018, making it legal in competitive sports.
Uses
Recommended dose: Dissolve 5g in 400 to 600 ml of cold water, 30 minutes before training. Drink the entire solution to ensure adequate hyperhydration (glycerol only produces the desired osmotic effect if ingested with a sufficient volume of water). It can be added directly to your pre-workout shaker (INFECTED, Power M.F, Experiment) to simplify preparation. For a greater hyperhydration effect during long sessions or in the heat, the dose can be increased to 10g with 800 ml of water, but always start with 5g to assess gastrointestinal tolerance (high doses of glycerol can cause nausea in some people).
