Spartacus Pre-Workout Review

Spartacus is a pre-workout supplement from VHi Fit. Fueled by 6 g L-Citrulline Malate, 3.2 g Beta-Alanine, 1 g L-Tyrosine, 357.5 mg of total caffeine (from 3 different sources), 200 mg Eria Jarensis, and 250 mcg Huperzine A, Spartacus provides the energy and focus required for a great workout.

I took Spartacus six times (twice before workouts and four before work). It consistently gave me the energy and focus needed to complete the workout or the shift at work. 

Due to the Eria Jarensis, caffeine dosage, and levels of focus, I would only recommend this for intermediate users of pre-workouts looking to explore a higher-stim pre-workout. Since Spartacus is not overly strong, it is a good stepping stone towards higher stim pre-workouts.

Read on for additional details of my experience, the best prices for the Spartacus pre-workouts, and a breakdown of its ingredient label. 

Where to buy it

You can buy Vascular Elite Pump by VHi Fit at the following retailers:

• Supp Kingz
  • LIFTVAULT15 = 15% off 

My Experience

I took Spartacus a handful of times for either the gym or my busy day job (in a hospital, 12-hour shifts). Each time, Spartacus performed magnificently. Smooth energy and great focus pushed me through tumultuous workouts or grueling days at work.

Effects

The main aspects of this pre-workout are smooth energy and great focus.

Spartacus is a pre-workout where I felt the focus and energy come in before the Beta-Alanine tingles. 

Within 5-7 minutes, I felt a sudden but smooth wave of energy that lasted 4-5 hours for a workout and over 6 hours for work. I didn’t feel the need to take anything more for energy.

Within 7-10 minutes, I felt a jolt of focus that stayed with me for hours on end and lasted the entire day (though not as strong as during the first few hours).

Within 12 minutes, the Beta-Alanine tingles began, and they weren’t as strong as I’d expected, but I still felt them nonetheless. I would rate it a 6-6.5 out of 10 in terms of intensity.

With just 6 g Citrulline Malate and 150 mg L-Norvaline, the pumps were decent, though outperformed by the energy and focus.

I felt zero adverse effects while taking Spartacus.

Flavor

The flavor I tried was Peach Rings. With it being not overly sweet and very smooth, with no chemical or bitter taste, I’d give it a solid 8.5 out of 10. The peach rings flavor even had that “fuzzy” taste you get from peach ring candy.

Other flavors include Freedom (Bomb Pop), Frost Walker (Icy Blue Raz), Rainbow Candy, and Pink Lemonade, giving you a good variety and selection of flavors.

Scoop Size

A whole serving is 14 grams, which comes out to be a heaping scoop.

Ingredients

L-Citrulline Malate – 6,000 mg

L-Citrulline Malate is one of the most common pre-workout ingredients. It has extensive evidence supporting its ability to increase nitric oxide production, power output, pumps, blood flow, and endurance. 

Usually, L-Citrulline Malate has a 2:1 Ratio of Citrulline and Malic Acid (hence the Malate). If Spartacus gave us the 2:1 ratio, it would be 4 grams of pure L-Citrulline, thus achieving the effective dose.

Beta-Alanine – 3,200 mg

Beta-alanine supports muscular endurance and can act as a lactic acid buffer. 

However, beta-alanine requires regular intake to be effective, akin to creatine. Daily supplementation of beta-alanine is recommended, with a loading period of three to five weeks needed to be effective.

Spartacus provides an effective dose of 3.2 grams of Beta-Alanine.

L-Tyrosine – 1,000 mg

L-Tyrosine helps “smooth out” some of the harsher effects of stimulants and increases focus. Limited research also shows it can act as a cognitive booster in stressful environments. 

According to Examine, it appears to preserve working memory during acute stressors. Acute stressors include temperature changes and psychological and sleep deprivation. 

Additionally, L-Tyrosine seems to be able to improve attention while under stress.

One gram is a proper dosage, and keeps Spartacus within the range recommended for use in an exercise setting.

Choline DL-Bitartrate – 1,000 mg

Choline is a focus ingredient and is a chlorogenic source. Compared with Alpha GPC, choline bitartrate may not be as effective as a nootropic (source). This is another potential area of improvement for the product formula.

Doses usually range between 500 mg and 2,000 mg.

Caffeine Anhydrous – 295 mg

Caffeine needs no introduction, but it’s one of the most researched sports supplements. Most pre-workouts will range between 175 mg (as with the great M2) and 600 mg (with the smoothest Hooligan). A combined 357.5 mg of caffeine between anhydrous and Infinergy puts Spartacus within the typical 250-400 mg range that’s often seen in pre-workouts.

Eria Jarensis – 200 mg

Eria Jarensis, aka N-Phenethyl Dimethylamine Citrate. Eria Jarensis is a stimulant commonly seen alongside DMHA in high stim pre-workouts.

200 mg is an excellent dose of this ingredient. Usual amounts range from 150 mg to 500 mg, as found in Flame Pre Workout (which is terrific).

L-Norvaline – 150 mg

L-Norvaline is a unique amino acid and a form of the BCAA valine. It is an arginase inhibitor, which helps prevent the breakdown of arginine in the body. It makes the nitric oxide production of citrulline more effective.

Some sources suggest that a standard dose of L-norvaline is between 100 mg and 200 mg, or even up to 400 mg; however, I am not sure how well supported this claim is (Source). 

At 150 mg, it’s within the typical dose you’d see in other pre-workouts. (100-400mg)

Infinergy (Di Caffeine Malate) – 50 mg

Di-Caffeine malate is the “extended-release” version of caffeine. Combined with caffeine anhydrous, it helps extend the effects of a pre-workout and offsets crash effects of high caffeine doses.

Spartacus uses “Infinergy,” the patented form of di-caffeine malate. In theory, this should give you more confidence that it is a high-quality ingredient.

Di-Caffeine Malate yields 75% of actual caffeine, meaning you get 37.5 mg of caffeine from 50 mg.

Caffeine Citrate – 50 mg

Caffeine citrate is a faster-acting version of caffeine when compared to caffeine anhydrous. It’s not common in supplements. Some popular pre-workouts, like Wrecked Extreme and M2, include this ingredient.

Caffeine Citrate is usually 50% Caffeine and 50% Citric Acid, meaning the 50 mg included yields 25 mg of actual caffeine.

Arecoline Hydrobromide – 5 mg

There is very little research on this ingredient. Still, from Massive Joes, Arecoline is a stimulant and psychoactive that can help reduce fatigue, improve mood, and increase physical performance. In particular, Arecoline acts to increase the level of acetylcholine in the body, which can result in improved perception, concentration, and overall cognitive function. 

The most efficacious dose is 2 – 4  milligrams, meaning that Spartacus gives you more than the effective dose at 5 mg, if the effects are what they say they are.

Huperzine A – 250 mcg

Like Choline Bitartrate, Huperzine A is cholinergic and acts as a cognitive enhancer. It is often taken in doses of 50 mcg to 200 mcg, so the amount found in Spartacus lands over the clinically effective range. As an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, it helps lengthen the half-life of cholinergic sources (Examine). 

At 250 mcg, this is a higher dose that you don’t see very often.