Cyanidin 3-Glucoside Capsules

Why Should I Take Cyanidin 3-Glucoside?

This brilliantly purple anthocyanin really took the bodybuilding world by storm a few years ago, as a nutrient partitioning agent geared at optimizing body recomposition. Through the years, cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) reached fairly legendary status within bodybuilding communities because it works incredibly well. The magic behind C3G, is that it shuttles nutrients from our diet towards our muscles, while shuttling nutrients away from areas in the body where these nutrients will be stored as fat. This is a process which is referred to as nutrient partitioning, and can help enhance muscle mass, while reducing fat mass. This is basically any bodybuilder's dream!

One thing we were surprised by though, is that through the excitement of C3G being used as a body recomposition tool, its effects on cognition and mood went mostly unrecognized. However, when we first beta-tested C3G, we were immediately impressed by a noticeable nootropic and mood boosting effect. The nootropic effect reminded us of the nootropic effects blueberries can have, which makes sense, because blueberries also happen to be a rich source of C3G. Furthermore, we noticed that the effects of caffeine were amplified when combined with C3G. Through some research, we found that C3G actually inhibits the monoamine oxidase enzymes, which explains why it potentiates the effects of caffeine. Overall, we are quite enamored with the cognitive effects of C3G, and together with its potent body recomposition effects, it has quickly become one of our favorite anthocyanin supplements!

What is Cyanidin 3-Glucoside?

Cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) is perhaps a more familiar compound than you think, because it is one of the main anthocyanins in berries and red wine, and produces a vivid purple color. In fact, most purple vegetables, like purple corn, purple carrots and black rice, are purple in part due to their high C3G content. Black rice, which is often referred to with the intriguing name “forbidden rice” is perhaps one of the highest sources of C3G, and thus it is likely not surprising to learn that our C3G is extracted from this black rice. Black rice earns the name “forbidden rice” because it was particularly cherished by ancient Chinese aristocracy, with black rice mostly being reserved for emperors, and thus, being forbidden for commoners. There were a few reasons for this, one of which being that black rice is significantly harder to cultivate than regular rice, and secondly, because at the time it was recognized that this intriguing purple pigment had significant health benefits!

Getting into the chemistry of C3G a bit more, it is what we refer to as a cyanidin glycoside, meaning that at the core of C3G we find cyanidin, which is then linked to a sugar group. In the case of C3G, this sugar molecule is glucose, but other glycosides of cyanidin also exist. For example, our tart cherry is rich in another cyanidin glycoside called cyanidin 3-rutinoside. When these cyanidin glycosides are orally consumed, various enzyme systems, most notably intestinal beta-glucosidase, can deglycosylate the cyanidin glycosides. This deglycosylation reaction then yields the aglycone, cyanidin. Cyanidin is referred to as an anthocyanidin (aglycone), whereas glycoside versions of cyandin are referred to as anthocyanins. In plants, cyanidin pretty much only exists in glycoside forms, but a lot of the effects are likely coming from the aglycone cyanidin, which is being produced in our bodies via enzyme activity. As we’ll find out soon, this means that C3G shares many of the same effects of the cyanidin 3-rutinoside that is in our tart cherry extract, because both C3G and cyanidin 3-rutinoside are precursors to cyanidin!

However, one important thing to note is that not all C3G is deglycosylated during the initial stages of absorption. In fact, the sugar group on C3G may allow it to be actively transported by the bilitranslocase transporter. This means that the glucose group on C3G can help the bioavailability of cyanidin quite significantly. In fact, the glycosides of cyanidin may also be able to be transported through the lymphatic system, something which the aglycones cannot readily do. However, it was shown in a study that C3G does become extensively deglycosylated even after absorption, which means that one of the biggest players here is cyanidin, with the glycosides simply acting to stabilize the cyanidin, while significantly boosting its absorption!

Our black rice extract is standardized to 25% Cyanidin 3-Glucoside.

Cyanidin 3-Glucoside Benefits & Uses

• Promotes nutrient partitioning
• Supports recovery
• Boosts cognitive function

Anthocyanin Powered Body Recomposition

One of the biggest appeals of C3G, is that it helps with the concept of nutrient partitioning. This concept refers to how our bodies allocate nutrients that we consume via our diet. In a worst case scenario, almost all of the food we eat would rapidly get stored as fat, with fairly few of those nutrients being taken up by our muscles. In a best case scenario, almost all of the food we eat would be taken up into our muscles and stored as glycogen, whilst fairly few of those nutrients are being stored as fat. C3G appears to be able to get us close to that best case scenario, helping to redirect more of the nutrients we eat to our muscles, and ensuring that less nutrients get stored as fat. This effect is what is referred to as nutrient partitioning.

With the nutrient partitioning effect in mind, it can be easy to see why C3G is so popular amongst bodybuilders. Bodybuilders use C3G as a body recomposition agent, which can be employed in two different ways. For example, in a bulking phase, when caloric intake is high, C3G may help direct more of the calories we eat to muscle gain, rather than to fat gain. This means that C3G can help keep us leaner during a bulking phase, while maximizing muscle mass gain. Where C3G is most often used however, is during a cutting phase, in which bodybuilders are focused on becoming leaner, while retaining as much muscle mass as possible. During a cutting phase, caloric intake is significantly reduced, and thus it becomes much more critical to get those nutrients into our muscle, while directing them away from fat stores. This is exactly why C3G appears to be able to do, and due to this, it has become very popular as a supplement during cutting phases!

For individuals who are less concerned with body recomposition for aesthetic reasons, and more concerned with athletic performance, then C3G is also going to be a fantastic ally for multiple different reasons. First and foremost, C3G will help maximize your glycogen stores which your muscles use as a source of energy during physical activity. Secondly, C3G will help improve cellular energy by boosting mitochondrial activity and converting white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue. Combined with the nutrient partitioning effects of C3G, this helps super charge our physical performance!

This brings us to the recovery benefits of C3G, which are likely being powered by cyanidin, which is also how our tart cherry can help improve recovery. These recovery benefits are likely coming from the fact that cyanidin can help reduce uric acid levels. After heavy bouts of exercise, uric acid levels are increased, and this is one of the mediators of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This means that knocking down uric acid levels with cyanidin, may help aid recovery. Anecdotal reports show that tart cherry is indeed quite good for aiding recovery, and with our C3G we are achieving much higher levels of cyanidin, so combined with the nutrient partitioning effects, C3G should be an absolute powerhouse for recovery!

This brings us to the effects profile not often discussed when it comes to C3G, its nootropic effects. We are all likely well aware that berries such as blueberries have fairly pronounced nootropic effects, and a large amount of these benefits are coming from the fact that blueberries are high in anthocyanins, including a relatively large amount of cyanidin glycosides. Thus, it was not surprising that when we first tried C3G, it felt like a very high dose of blueberries. Our vision seemed to increase in width, with more detailed peripheral vision, combined with a certain visual crispness to the world around us. This is also when the pleasant stimulating mood boost started to kick in, in addition to a wonderful sense of physical energy. Part of this effects profile is probably coming from C3G’s effects on blood flow, and particularly cerebral blood flow. The other part is coming from the fact that cyanidin appears to mildly inhibit both monoamine oxidase (MAO) A & B. Inhibiting the MAO enzymes leads to increases in neurotransmitters, and can potentiate the effects of stimulants such as caffeine. In fact, we discovered the MAO inhibiting effects of cyanidin somewhat by accident when a few of us had taken the C3G after a cup of strong coffee and noted a significant increase in the stimulating properties of caffeine!

Cyanidin 3-Glucoside Stacks

The Nutrient Partitioning Stack: Cyanidin 3-Glucoside + Agmatine Sulfate Capsules

Another very popular nutrient partitioning ingredient in the bodybuilding world, is agmatine. Agmatine, likely by increasing beta-endorphin levels, can increase glucose uptake into muscles. Together with the nutrient partitioning effects of C3G, this makes for a potent body recompositioning stack!

The Recovery Stack: Cyanidin 3-Glucoside + Epicatechin 90% Tablets

C3G, via its effects on uric acid, can also help us significantly with recovery, especially from particularly intense bouts of exercise. In particular it can help mitigate delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which is something that epicatechin is also particularly well known for. Both C3G and epicatechin also have significant ergogenic benefits, and thus, stacking the two results in a powerful ergogenic recovery aid!

The Cognition Stack: Cyanidin 3-Glucoside + Cognance Enhanced Bacopa Capsules

Since the release of Cognance, we have learned that it stacks very well with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as Vignatex. With this in mind, we were very curious how C3G stacked with Cognance, and perhaps unsurprisingly, it ended up resulting in a fantastic stack! The effects of C3G + Cognance are less intense than Vignatex + Cognance, however, it feels more rounded and has a special nootropic edge to it. Definitely a winning combination in our books!

Cyanidin 3-Glucoside Dosage

As a dietary supplement, take two capsules of Cyanidin 3-Glucoside daily.

Cyanidin 3-Glucoside Reviews

To gain more insight, see the Cyanidin 3-Glucoside reviews and experiences below.

Where to Buy Cyanidin 3-Glucoside

Nootropics Depot offers 60ct. or 180ct. jars of high-quality Cyanidin 3-Glucoside. Nootropics Depot’s Cyanidin 3-Glucoside has been lab-tested and verified for both product purity and identity.