The Science Behind Our Ingredients

Caffeine is one of the most studied athletic supplements. It is known to increase alertness and reduce perceived exertion during exercise. Caffeine is typically a main ingredient for all pre-workout / energy formulas. Novae Supplements uses naturally sourced caffeine from green tea in our products.

Source: Spriet LL. Caffeine and exercise performance: an update. Sports Sci Exch. 2020;33(203):1-5.

L-Citrulline is an amino acid which the body uses to produce L-arginine. Generally, this process supports nitric oxide production and increased blood flow. Promising research has been performed in controlled lab tests showing that citrulline can improve exercise performance for high intensity and strength exercise. L-Citrulline is produced by the body, but is also found naturally in plants like watermelons, squash and cucumbers.

Sources:
Li A, Li H, Chen J. The effects of L-citrulline supplementation on cerebrovascular function during sprint interval training in taekwondo athletes. J Exerc Sci Fit. 2025;23(4):222-228. doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2025.04.004
Cabre HE, Greenwalt CE, Gould LM, Smith-Ryan AE. The effects of L-Citrulline and Glutathione on Endurance performance in young adult trained males. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2023;20(1):2206386. doi:10.1080/15502783.2023.2206386
Glenn JM, Gray M, Jensen A, Stone MS, Vincenzo JL. Acute citrulline-malate supplementation improves maximal strength and anaerobic power in female, masters athletes tennis players. Eur J Sport Sci. 2016;16(8):1095-1103. doi:10.1080/17461391.2016.1158321
Viribay A, Fernández-Landa J, Castañeda-Babarro A, Collado PS, Fernández-Lázaro D, Mielgo-Ayuso J. Effects of citrulline supplementation on different aerobic exercise performance outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2022;14(17):3479. doi:10.3390/nu14173479

A key cofactor in the body's energy metabolism, supporting the conversion of food into usable cellular energy during training. Available research typically points to B-12 supplementation improving performance for individuals who have B-12 insufficiency but limited data is currently available for individuals already having sufficient B-12 levels. Our product contains small dosages of vitamin B-12 to ensure nutritional needs are being satisfied.

Source: Woolf, K., & Manore, M. M. (2006). B-vitamins and exercise: Does exercise alter requirements? International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 16(5), 453–484.

Pectin is a prebiotic fiber used as our gummy base, known to feed beneficial gut bacteria. Pectin is derived naturally from citrus fruit peels. Pectin is also more stable at higher temperatures compared to competing animal-based gelatin gummies. This makes pectin gummies a more attractive supplement for athletes (like runners), where body heat would otherwise break down gelatin gummies.

Source: Pascale N, Gu F, Larsen N, Jespersen L, Respondek F. The potential of pectins to modulate the human gut microbiota evaluated by in vitro fermentation: a systematic review. Nutrients. 2022;14(17):3629. doi:10.3390/nu14173629

Sugar is critical for maintaining muscle glycogen stores in the body, particularly in the case of prolonged exercise or endurance sports. Our gummies are sugar coated to help maintain glycogen and blood glucose during intense exercise.

Source: Peinado AB, Rojo-Tirado MA, Benito PJ. El azúcar y el ejercicio físico: su importancia en los deportistas [Sugar and exercise: its importance in athletes]. Nutr Hosp. 2013 Jul;28 Suppl 4:48-56. Spanish. doi: 10.3305/nh.2013.28.sup4.6796. PMID: 23834092.

Beta-Alanine is a controversial amino acid used in competing workout energy products. While it is known to delay muscle fatigue, it is also known to cause itch or tingling sensations after consumption through paresthesia. This is not an allergic reaction, however, the feeling is undesirable and distracting for some athletes, which is why it is not added in Novae products.

Source: Liu Q, Sikand P, Ma C, Tang Z, Han L, Li Z, Sun S, LaMotte RH, Dong X. Mechanisms of itch evoked by β-alanine. J Neurosci. 2012 Oct 17;32(42):14532-7. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3509-12.2012. PMID: 23077038; PMCID: PMC3491570.

L-Theanine is an amino acid often paired with caffeine in energy and focus blends, to try and smooth out some of the jittery effects some consumers experience with caffeine. Canadian Natural Health Product regulations restrict the administration of L-Theanine with caffeine because of conflicting relaxant to stimulant use cases between the two supplements.

Source: Health Canada. Information on L-Theanine. canada.ca

Yes. Gummies deliver the same active ingredients as powders or capsules, just in a format that's easier to dose consistently and doesn't require water or mixing - which in practice means people actually take them as directed.

Chewing gummies starts breaking them down in the mouth before they even reach the stomach, so absorption can begin sooner than with a capsule that has to dissolve first. Most people feel effects from Novae Athletic Gummies within 15-20 minutes.

Yes, when formulated correctly. Amino acids are heat- and pH-sensitive, so gummy manufacturing has to account for that during cooking and curing - it's part of why gummy supplements take more R&D to get right than a simple powder blend.

Yes - no water needed to take them, easy to carry, and easy to chew mid-run or at an aid station, which makes them a more practical option than mixing a powder before or during a race.

Yes. The ingredients in an amino acid/caffeine blend like Novae Athletic Gummies support focus and endurance regardless of gender - there's nothing sex-specific about how the body uses caffeine, citrulline, or B-12.

Caffeine and the amino acids in Novae Athletic Gummies are not banned substances under most major anti-doping frameworks (e.g. WADA). That said, supplement formulations and testing bodies vary, so competitive athletes should always check their organization's specific banned-substances list before use.

Look for a gummy base made with a prebiotic fiber like pectin rather than plain gelatin and sugar - it feeds beneficial gut bacteria instead of just acting as filler. That's the approach we took with Novae Athletic Gummies' pectin base.

No. Novae Athletic Gummies use a pectin base rather than gelatin, making them fully vegan.

A typical gummy bear is just sugar, gelatin, and flavoring - unlike Novae gummies, there are no active performance ingredients inside it. Novae gummies look and taste great, just like gummy bears, but are formulated like a supplement. This includes measured amounts of caffeine, L-citrulline, and B-12 per serving, built on a pectin base instead of gelatin. You still get the easy, great-tasting format of a gummy bear with the functional benefit of a pre-workout.

Yes, Novae Supplement Pre-Workout Gummies are produced in Canada. Our orders are fulfilled from our base in Toronto, and our team also works periodically in Montréal.