As the research director for Angies Option GRM (GrassRoots Movement), I get to review hundreds of products people submit for my opinion. Only a handful of products pass the stringent vetting process and appear on our shopping page. This page has to be requested, but will come weekly to those who want our opinion on companies and products. One of the areas we have investigated involves gels designed to relieve pain and support muscle recovery. There are many of them in the marketplace. Formulas are designed to massage cramping muscles, reduce inflammation, and promote the healing of micro-fiber muscle tears. Generally, they are rich in magnesium to support muscle recovery and relaxation. This helps athletes and individuals manage soreness and maintain peak performance. Recently, one of them met our vetting requirements.
I am not able to share the name of the product on our website, but you can request further information by emailing us at
Support@AngiesOptionGRM.org or if you are already receiving our shopping page every Wednesday, you will see it listed there. On this blog article, I will limit myself to a brief description of the science behind this technology.
This particular product utilizes a patented transdermal delivery system to bypass digestive issues that would impede enhanced muscle performance and recovery. The ingredients are designed to buffer lactic acid, support muscle recovery, and provide immediate physical comfort. The key ingredients are:
- L-Carnosine: A proprietary muscle-buffering complex that absorbs through the skin to help fight muscle fatigue, buffer lactic acid, and maintain muscle pH balance during intense physical activity. Carnosine consists of 2 amino acids (beta alanine and L-histidine) linked together.
- Magnesium Sulfate: Provides transdermal magnesium to support muscle contraction, relaxation, and energy production, aiding in a faster overall recovery.
- Menthol (1.25% - 1.5%): Acts as a topical analgesic to provide immediate cooling relief, soothe overworked muscles, and temporarily reduce the sensation of discomfort. (Note: A non-menthol formulation is also available).
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- Glycerin: A humectant used to hydrate the skin and allow for smooth application without stickiness.
- Ethoxydiglycol: Also known as diethylene glycol monoethyl ether or DEGEE. Acts as a penetration enhancer to help the active ingredients absorb efficiently through the skin barrier. It dissolves (solubilizer) both water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients, preventing them from crystallizing out of formulas.
- Water: The base solvent for the gel.
- Xanthan Gum: A thickening agent that gives the formula its gel consistency.
- Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, and Sorbic Acid: Preservatives used to maintain product stability and shelf life.
How It Works in the Body
- Buffers Lactic Acid and Hydrogen Ions: Carnosine and magnesium—help neutralize the accumulation of hydrogen ions in muscles. This prevents the sharp drop in pH (muscle acidity) that causes the burning sensation and muscle failure during intense activity.
- Improves Peak Power and Endurance: By delaying muscle fatigue, the transdermal delivery allows athletes and active individuals to train at a higher intensity for a longer duration.
- Accelerates Muscle Recovery: Applied after a workout, the gel aids in reducing localized soreness and stiffness, helping the body bounce back faster for subsequent training.
Applicable quotes from the patent (US 10,973,868):
Patented Transdermal Delivery System Targeting Muscle Repair Via Skin Gel
“An active ingredient that is topically applied to the skin must be able to penetrate the uppermost barrier of the skin, the Stratum Corneum (SC), before being delivered to its site of action in the necessary concentrations. However, aside from specific transport mechanisms, in general, due to the lipophilic properties of the SC, hydrophilic molecules are not able to penetrate the Stratum Corneum effectively. Therefore, obtaining skin bioavailability of hydrophilic active substances, like peptides or peptide-like substances is challenging.”
“The present inventors have unexpectedly found that the presence of magnesium ions (Mg2+) coordinated to carnosine, produces a significant increase in the carnosine level in the lower skin layer following application to the skin. Furthermore, it was found that a composition containing a physiologically active amount of a carnosine–magnesium complex applied to the skin of athletes, considerably improved the physical performance of the athletes.”
“In one embodiment the topical composition may comprise a skin absorbing enhancer component. The skin absorbing enhancer may also be referred to as a carrier, in particular as a carrier for the carnosine-magnesium complex, which may facilitate the transport of the carnosine-magnesium complex through the skin.”
“The skin absorbing agent or carrier may comprise an ether alcohol, an aliphatic alcohol or ester or mixtures thereof.” (Ethoxydiglycol)
Role in Reducing Lactic Acid Buildup
“Carnosine is broken down in the body by the enzyme carnosinase found in most tissues except skeletal muscle. This partially accounts for the high concentrations of carnosine found in skeletal muscle.”
“When skeletal muscles are involved in moderate to intense exercise, lactic acid is normally generated. This subsequently dissociates into lactate and H+. The production of protons can alter pH levels and it is known that the majority of protons produced in the blood during exercise are buffered by the bicarbonate buffering system. The pKa of this system is 6.1, which is less (more acidic) than that of carnosine (pKa of 6.83), and thus a greater pH change is needed to elicit benefits from this system. Since the pKa of carnosine is closer to the physiological pH, it is likely that this molecule acts as a primary buffer during high-intensity exercise.”
Antioxidant Role Against Oxidative Stress
“Aside from buffering effects, carnosine has been found to have other physiological roles. For example, it is able to act as an effective antioxidant against oxidative stress. During exercise, reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be produced due to increased respiration (causing an increase in electron flow in the electron transport system), or due to a decrease in pH (leading to oxygen being released from hemoglobin resulting in increased pO2 in the tissues). Some believe that the production of ROS is related to muscle fatigue during activity. Carnosine is also linked to enzyme regulation related to activation of myosin ATPase, which is used to help maintain ATP stores.”
“Considering that carnosine assists in controlling Ca2+ and lactic acid concentrations, acting in addition as an effective antioxidant against oxidative stress, the formulation of a topical product that increases the concentration of carnosine in the body would be of remarkable cosmetic and pharmaceutical interest.”
Physicological Roles in Treatment and Prevention of Other Medical Conditions
“The carnosine-magnesium complex of the present disclosure may be used in the treatment, amelioration and/or prevention of a number of medical conditions, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, autistic spectrum disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, aging, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The carnosine-magnesium complex of the present disclosure may improve many medical conditions, in particular where a drop in pH or a pathological oxidation occurs.”
