ATP Supplement Fuels Exercise, Speeds Recovery, and May Protect Brain Cells

Replenishing ATP through supplementation helps maintain muscle function, improve exercise performance, and support healthy aging.
ATP Supplement Fuels Exercise, Speeds Recovery, and May Protect Brain Cells
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Emma Suttie
Emma Suttie
D.Ac, AP
|Updated:
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Disodium ATP is a widely used supplement designed to boost athletic performance and accelerate recovery. It works by potentiating ATP—the essential energy carrier in cells—which is naturally depleted when we exercise. Studies have shown that disodium ATP can enhance muscle strength, improve blood flow, decrease muscle fatigue, and support faster recovery after physical activity.

ATP Versus Disodium ATP

ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is a molecule that stores and transports energy inside the cells of all living things. Cells need this energy to perform a variety of functions, including muscle contractions, DNA and RNA synthesis, the movement of proteins and fats in and out of cells, and cellular communication. It is also a molecule that our bodies continuously produce.

Disodium ATP

Disodium ATP is a form of ATP that has added sodium ions that improve its stability and solubility, making it a better choice for use as a dietary supplement. ATP is the naturally occurring form found in the cells of living things, and disodium ATP is a stabilized form used in nutritional supplements, said Douglas Kalman, co-founder of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and a clinical associate professor at Nova Southeastern University. He earned his doctorate in exercise and nutritional biochemistry from Touro University.

Key Benefits of Disodium ATP

When we exercise, the demand for ATP increases up to 1,000-fold. Intense exercise can significantly reduce ATP stores in muscles because ATP is essential for sustaining muscle activity during workouts.
Replenishing ATP through supplementation might help maintain muscle function and improve overall exercise performance.

Improved Muscle Strength

A study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism investigated the effects of 12 weeks of oral supplementation with 400 milligrams (mg) daily of ATP disodium combined with resistance training.
Emma Suttie
Emma Suttie
D.Ac, AP
Emma is an acupuncture physician and has written extensively about health for multiple publications over the past decade. She is now a health reporter for The Epoch Times, covering Eastern medicine, nutrition, trauma, and lifestyle medicine.
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