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=Scientific Studies=
The science behind VAAM is rather limited, with no studies that show an improvement in human endurance performance, and one study showed a reduction in fat burning. There is only one study that used GHS. Here is a brief summary of the studies that are available.
* When untrained, fasted mice were put in a pool and forced to swim to avoid drowning, VAAM improved swimming times over water, glucose or casein (a milk [[Protein|protein]])<ref name="VAAMSwimMice"/>. This is the only study that shows improved endurance rather than other blood markers. The VAAM given was equivalent to about 900 packets of Vespa (700mg/Kg or 52.5g for a 150Lb/75Kg human).
** This study also checked the blood lactate and glucose level in the mice after 30 minutes of swimming. This test used GHS in addition to VAAM, and GHS showed a greater level of blood glucose than VAAM, with a similar (low) level of lactate.
* A second similar study again used untrained, fasted mice that swam to avoid drowning. Here VAAM showed increased fat metabolism and increased [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenesis ketogenesis] compared with casein<ref name="VAAMMiceFat"/>.
* Taking 10.8g of VAAM with 38g of sugar increased markers of ketogenesis during 45 minutes of exercise in humans compared with 48.8g sugar<ref name="VAAMketone"/>. Note that the study did not show that fat burning was increased, just markers of ketogenesis. This is the equivalent of about 190 packs of Vespa.
* Taking VAAM (3g/day) & exercise or placebo & exercise for 12 weeks in previously sedentary elderly women produced a slightly greater improvement in fitness and body fat<ref name="SasaiMatsuo2011"/>. This is the equivalent of about 50 packs of Vespa per day.
* An unpublished study (available as an abstract only) showed that 10g/70Kg of VAAM produces a slight reduction in [[Heart Rate|heart rate]] during 30 minutes of exercise compared with casein protein<ref name="VAAMUnpublishedHR"/>. This is the equivalent of about 175 packs of Vespa.
* VAAM given to rats prevented a rise in blood lactate and increased markers of ketosis compared with a milk protein control<ref name="TsuchitaShirai-Morishita1997"/>.
==Publication Bias?==
* The benefit of Vespa may be due to the placebo effect, especially given the high cost which generally improves the effectiveness of a placebo. Some of the reports of improved performance with Vespa are when it's taken with large amounts of protein, which should negate any benefit, strongly suggesting a placebo effect. To understand how widespread the anecdotal evidence could be for a placebo, you can look at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy Homeopathy] which is generally accepted as quackery.
* The way Vespa is used may result in indirect performance improvements. Vespa recommends a much lower level of calorie intake when using the Vespa than is common in ultra-endurance events. It may be that athletes that use Vespa may consume a more effective level of fueling that promotes better performance.
=Testing Vespa=
I did a simple trial of Vespa using two runs, one with Vespa and one with a placebo. I had my son make up two electrolyte drinks, each with 3/4 teaspoon of salt and two packets of sugar free flavoring in 64 ounces of water. In one he added 2 packets of Vespa and the other 10g honey. Each packet of Vespa contains 5g of Honey and I wanted to eliminate any impact that might come from the carbohydrates. This proved to be important as there was slight taste of honey detectable in both cases even with the flavoring. At the time of the run I'd been on a ketogenic diet, with blood ketones at or above 1.0 mmol/liter for more than four weeks. On each run I took half the drink 45 minutes before running, then the remainder at the half way point of the marathon distance. I drank other fluids to thirst, but had no other calories. Each run was performed in the morning on a treadmill set to 8:00 min/mile pace and a 4% decline. The treadmill is in a garage, so temperature and humidity was high, but similar in both cases.
==Blood metrics==
The samples below were taken using a [http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System/dp/B000N64MZA Precision Xtra meter] and [http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Xtra-Blood-Ketone-Strips/dp/B001EL30TM ketone strips], a [http://www.amazon.com/TRUEResult-Blood-Glucose-Starter-Kit/dp/B002CGT08S TRUEresult meter] and [http://www.amazon.com/TRUEtest-Test-Strips-100-Count/dp/B002CGT09M glucose strips], and a ReliOn 741CREL blood pressure meter. I stopped running to obtain the measurements at the half way point, which took a similar amount of time on each test. Two blood glucose samples were taken at each point to counter inaccuracy of glucose testing. The variation between the two tests is within what I would consider random variation. The blood ketone level is slightly lower in the Vespa test, which might indicate slightly less fat burning, but both tests indicate ongoing ketosis.
{| class="wikitable"
! Time
! Measurement
! Test 1 (placebo)
! Test 2 (Vespa)
|-
| rowspan="3"|
45 minutes before the start.
| Blood glucose
| 80 (78, 81)
| 76 (75, 76)
|-
| Blood ketones
| 1.2
| 1.0
|-
| Blood pressure
| 111/80, 67
| 128/81, 57
|-
| rowspan="3"|
Half way
| Blood glucose
| 83 (82,83)
| 81 (81,80)
|-
| Blood ketones
| 0.8
| 0.6
|-
| Blood pressure
| 97/63, 96
| 101/72, 94
|-
| rowspan="3"|
Finish
| Blood glucose
| 82 (80,83)
| 84 (84, 83)
|-
| Blood ketones
| 1.1
| 0.9
|-
| Blood pressure
| 93/68, 102
| 96/65, 102
|}
==Heart Rate metrics==
The table below shows the heart rate data for the two runs. The distances are close to miles, but calibration errors on my [[Footpod]] resulted in each distance lap being about 1.07 miles. There does not appear any significant difference in heart rate values except for the last couple of miles which are probably due to slight differences in hydration.
{| class="wikitable"
! Distance
! Test 1 (placebo) Avg. HR
! Test 2 (Vespa) Avg. HR
|-
| 1
| 108 (56%)
| 114 (58%)
|-
| 2
| 121 (62%)
| 119 (61%)
|-
| 3
| 122 (63%)
| 121 (62%)
|-
| 4
| 122 (63%)
| 122 (62%)
|-
| 5
| 121 (62%)
| 120 (62%)
|-
| 6
| 127 (65%)
| 124 (64%)
|-
| 7
| 127 (65%)
| 125 (64%)
|-
| 8
| 128 (66%)
| 125 (64%)
|-
| 9
| 123 (63%)
| 118 (60%)
|-
| 10
| 126 (65%)
| 120 (61%)
|-
| 11
| 129 (66%)
| 123 (63%)
|-
| 12
| 129 (66%)
| 124 (64%)
|-
| 13
| 122 (63%)
| 119 (61%)
|-
| 14
| 121 (62%)
| 119 (61%)
|-
| 15
| 124 (64%)
| 125 (64%)
|-
| 16
| 128 (65%)
| 125 (64%)
|-
| 17
| 130 (67%)
| 129 (66%)
|-
| 18
| 123 (63%)
| 134 (69%)
|-
| 19
| 124 (63%)
| 126 (65%)
|-
| 20
| 131 (67%)
| 129 (66%)
|-
| 21
| 132 (68%)
| 131 (67%)
|-
| 22
| 123 (63%)
| 134 (69%)
|-
| 23
| 119 (61%)
| 137 (70%)
|-
| 24
| 134 (69%)
| 138 (71%)
|-
| 25
| 135 (69%)
| 141 (72%)
|-
| Overall
| 125
| 126
|}
==Perceived Exertion==
Both runs had similar levels of perceived exertion through the duration.
==Initial Fatigue==
One concern with this test is if the first run creates fatigue that changes the second run. Looking at the [[Modeling Human Performance| metrics I track for my training]], the two tests have similar levels of training stress and this length of run is not unusual for me; I've run the marathon distance or longer 48 times in the last 12 months.
{| class="wikitable"
! Training Metric
! Test 1 (placebo)
! Test 2 (Vespa)
|-
| Total miles in previous 28 days
| 320
| 329
|-
| [[Training Monotony]]
| 1.06
| 1.25
|-
| CTL
| 326
| 321
|-
| ATL
| 330
| 321
|-
| Banister Fitness
| 7002
| 6905
|-
| Banister Fatigue
| 4243
| 4131
|-
| Busso Fitness
| 9952
| 9866
|-
| Busso Fatigue
| 5738
| 5634
|}
==Test Conclusion==
I learned after both tests that the Vespa condition was the second test. I was not able to detect a difference between the Vespa condition and the placebo based on any metric. Obviously this test has only a single sample, and while I tried to standardize as many of the conditions as possible, there are still variations in temperature, hydration, nutrition on the prior day, sleep patterns, or other minor factors.
==Test Limitations==
There are obvious limitations on this test, but it is the best I can do given the limited resources I was able to provide. To be of scientific value, the test would need to be repeated with a larger sample size. However, I hope that this will inspire people to perform similar blinded tests of products.
=Recommendations=
* It's hard to recommend taking Vespa given it costs $6.75 per packet ($69 for 12) and has little scientific support. To get the amount that improved performance in untrained mice would require eating 900 gels and cost $5,175. On the other hand, there is little in the Vespa that could cause a problem, so other than the cost it should be low risk.
* Using [http://www.vaam-power.com/ Hornet Juice] is cheaper at $3 per serving and each serving provides 37 times more VAAM than Vespa. * I tried Hornet Juice a number of times on long (24-30 mile) training runs and noticed no difference, but as noted above, Hornet Juice and Vespa are not identical in their ingredients. * My simple test of Vespa showed no benefit at the marathon distance.
=References=
<references>
