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C4 Original Pink Lemonade

Cellucor
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(28932 ratings)
Niacin 30 mg
Folate 250 mcg
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate 1 Gram(s)
Product Image
Score 76.0

C4 Original is a popular pre-workout, delivering reliable energy and focus primarily due to caffeine, though key performance ingredients like creatine and beta-alanine are underdosed for optimal benefits. This larger size offers exceptional value per serving.

Quantity: 390 Gram(s)Servings size: 7 Gram(s) (60 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Heart Health
Skin Health
Energy
Metabolism Boost
General Health

Score 76.0

C4 Original is a popular pre-workout, delivering reliable energy and focus primarily due to caffeine, though key performance ingredients like creatine and beta-alanine are underdosed for optimal benefits. This larger size offers exceptional value per serving.

Quantity: 195, Flavour: Cherry LimeadeQuantity: 195, Flavour: Fruit PunchQuantity: 195, Flavour: Icy Blue RazzQuantity: 195, Flavour: WatermelonFlavour: Fruit PunchFlavour: Strawberry Margarita
Analysis

C4 Original is a highly popular pre-workout supplement designed primarily to enhance workout performance through increased energy and focus. Its formulation includes a proprietary 'Explosive Energy Blend' which is primarily caffeine-driven, alongside key performance ingredients like Creatine Nitrate, Beta-Alanine, and Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate (AAKG). While users widely report a significant energy boost and improved focus from the caffeine, the dosages of ingredients aimed at muscle endurance (Beta-Alanine) and strength/power (Creatine Nitrate) are generally considered below the clinically effective amounts for optimal benefits by sports nutritionists and researchers, meaning full benefits for muscle gain and endurance might not be realized without stacking other supplements. The use of a proprietary blend also reduces transparency regarding exact ingredient quantities.

Pros
  • Effective for providing immediate energy and focus due to caffeine.
  • Widely available and comes in many flavors, generally well-liked for taste.
  • Contains a blend of ingredients targeting multiple aspects of workout performance.
  • Offers exceptional value per serving compared to smaller tubs and other alternatives.
Cons
  • Proprietary 'Explosive Energy Blend' lacks transparency on exact caffeine dosage and other components.
  • Key performance ingredients (Creatine Nitrate, Beta-Alanine, Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate) are dosed below levels considered optimal or clinically effective for maximizing their benefits.
  • Beta-Alanine can cause paresthesia (tingling sensation) in some users.
Warnings
  • High caffeine content may not be suitable for individuals sensitive to stimulants.
  • Beta-Alanine may cause harmless skin tingling (paresthesia).
  • Individuals with pre-existing heart conditions should consult a doctor due to stimulant content.
  • Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, despite some broadly stated health goals.
$42.90($0.71 per serving)
Amazon
$ 42.90
iHerb
$ 49.99
Ingredients
IngredientAmount per serving
Calories 0 Calorie(s)
Total Carbohydrate 1 Gram(s)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 250 mg
Niacin (Niacinamide) 30 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate) 500 mcg
Folic Acid 250 mcg
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) 35 mcg
Calcium (Calcium Silicate) 24 mg
CarnoSyn (Beta-Alanine) 1.6 Gram(s)
NO3-T (Creatine Nitrate) 1 Gram(s)
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate 1 Gram(s)
Explosive Energy Blend 425 mg
Adults 18–50 Women
Categories
Niacin 75.0
Provides 30mg of Niacin (as Niacinamide), which is a good supplementary dose for general vitamin B3 needs without typically causing the 'flush' associated with nicotinic acid, contributing to energy metabolism.
Folate 70.0
Contains 250mcg of Folic Acid, a B vitamin important for cell growth and metabolism, contributing to overall health and energy production.
Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate 60.0
Includes 1 gram of AAKG, a nitric oxide precursor. While it contributes to workout pumps and blood flow, the dosage is lower than what is typically recommended for maximizing these effects compared to alternative standalone AAKG products or L-Citrulline.
Goals
Energy 90.0
The product contains a potent 'Explosive Energy Blend,' primarily caffeine, which is highly effective at increasing alertness and reducing perceived exertion during workouts, as commonly reported by users.
Fitness 70.0
While containing ingredients like Beta-Alanine and Creatine Nitrate that support fitness, their dosages (1.6g Beta-Alanine, 1g Creatine Nitrate) are lower than what is typically recommended for maximal performance and muscle saturation by sports science.
Muscle Gain 65.0
Creatine Nitrate is included, which supports strength and power essential for muscle gain, but the 1g dose is significantly below the commonly recommended 3-5g daily intake for effective creatine saturation and muscle growth.
85 Value

Arginine AKG 3 g Unflavored

Nutricost
4.8
★★★★★
(211 ratings)
Delivers a significantly higher dose of Arginine AKG (3g per serving compared to C4's 1g) and typically comes in larger quantities, offering excellent cost-effectiveness for targeted nitric oxide support and muscle pump benefits.
92 Value

Daily Vits

NOW
4.7
★★★★★
(7216 ratings)
A comprehensive multivitamin and mineral supplement that includes many of the general health-supporting ingredients found in C4 (like Niacin, B vitamins, Vitamin C) at a very low price per serving. It offers superior overall nutritional value for daily health compared to C4's focus on pre-workout benefits.
88 Value

Niacinamide 500 mg

NOW
4.7
★★★★★
(8865 ratings)
Provides a much higher dose of Niacinamide (500mg compared to C4's 30mg) for a very modest price per serving. This offers excellent value for specific Niacin supplementation, far exceeding C4's quantity at a lower cost.
95 Performance

Extreme Nitric Stack Kiwi Strawberry

NutraBio
4.8
★★★★★
(22 ratings)
This pre-workout offers a fully transparent label with clinically effective doses of key ingredients like Creatine Monohydrate (3g vs. C4's 1g Creatine Nitrate), a higher dose of AAKG (3.5g vs. C4's 1g), and includes L-Citrulline, which is often more effective for nitric oxide production than AAKG alone. It provides a more potent and comprehensive performance formula.
88 Performance

GH Max

Universal
4.6
★★★★★
(1512 ratings)
While a different type of supplement, this product provides a substantially higher dose of Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (5g compared to C4's 1g), making it a superior choice for maximizing nitric oxide benefits and muscle pump if AAKG is the desired focus.
90 Performance

Max B-ND

Premier Research Labs
4.7
★★★★★
(191 ratings)
This alternative provides a superior and highly bioavailable B-complex, including advanced forms of Folate (5-Formyltetrahydrofolate) and Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin, Hydroxycobalamin, Adenosylcobalamin). While not a pre-workout, it offers significantly better quality and comprehensive B-vitamin support for general health and energy metabolism than C4's B-vitamin complex.
90 Budget

Folic Acid 800 mcg

Spring Valley
4.8
★★★★★
(878 ratings)
This alternative offers Folic Acid, a key component in C4, at an exceptionally low cost per serving, making it a very economical choice for targeted folate supplementation.
80 Budget

Niacin 100 mg

Nature's Way
4.6
★★★★★
(4293 ratings)
Provides Niacin, one of the primary ingredients in C4, at a significantly lower cost per serving. It's a cheaper option if Niacin benefits are the main interest.
85 Budget

B Complex

Sundown
4.7
★★★★★
(18319 ratings)
Offers a comprehensive blend of B vitamins, including Niacin, Folate, and B12, which are all present in C4. This product delivers these essential vitamins at a very competitive price per serving for general energy and health support.
85 Value

Arginine AKG 3 g Unflavored

Nutricost
4.8
★★★★★
(211 ratings)
Delivers a significantly higher dose of Arginine AKG (3g per serving compared to C4's 1g) and typically comes in larger quantities, offering excellent cost-effectiveness for targeted nitric oxide support and muscle pump benefits.
92 Value

Daily Vits

NOW
4.7
★★★★★
(7216 ratings)
A comprehensive multivitamin and mineral supplement that includes many of the general health-supporting ingredients found in C4 (like Niacin, B vitamins, Vitamin C) at a very low price per serving. It offers superior overall nutritional value for daily health compared to C4's focus on pre-workout benefits.
88 Value

Niacinamide 500 mg

NOW
4.7
★★★★★
(8865 ratings)
Provides a much higher dose of Niacinamide (500mg compared to C4's 30mg) for a very modest price per serving. This offers excellent value for specific Niacin supplementation, far exceeding C4's quantity at a lower cost.
95 Performance

Extreme Nitric Stack Kiwi Strawberry

NutraBio
4.8
★★★★★
(22 ratings)
This pre-workout offers a fully transparent label with clinically effective doses of key ingredients like Creatine Monohydrate (3g vs. C4's 1g Creatine Nitrate), a higher dose of AAKG (3.5g vs. C4's 1g), and includes L-Citrulline, which is often more effective for nitric oxide production than AAKG alone. It provides a more potent and comprehensive performance formula.
88 Performance

GH Max

Universal
4.6
★★★★★
(1512 ratings)
While a different type of supplement, this product provides a substantially higher dose of Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (5g compared to C4's 1g), making it a superior choice for maximizing nitric oxide benefits and muscle pump if AAKG is the desired focus.
90 Performance

Max B-ND

Premier Research Labs
4.7
★★★★★
(191 ratings)
This alternative provides a superior and highly bioavailable B-complex, including advanced forms of Folate (5-Formyltetrahydrofolate) and Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin, Hydroxycobalamin, Adenosylcobalamin). While not a pre-workout, it offers significantly better quality and comprehensive B-vitamin support for general health and energy metabolism than C4's B-vitamin complex.