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* 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"/>.
* In untrained subjects, 5.7g VAAM slightly reduced the [[Rating of Perceived Exertion|RPE]] during 60 minutes of cycling compared with a non-calorie control. However, the rate of fat burning was actually higher in the placebo case than with VAAM<ref name="Demura-2003"/>. (The study does some ugly analysis to show that because the fat burning started even lower for the placebo, it went up relatively more than the VAAM.) The study used the equivalent of about 100 packets of Vespa.
* 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. It's possible that the differences in ketone levels are due to the extra carbohydrate intake rather than the VAAM. This is experiment used 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* An unpublished study (available as an abstract only) showed that 10g/70Kg of VAAM produces a slight reduction in heart rate during 30 minutes of exercise compared with casein protein<ref name="VAAMUnpublishedHR"/>. This is the equivalent of about 175 packs of Vespa.
* 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. This protocol matches the recommendations on the Vespa web site that states "For most marathoners it is recommended that one VESPA is taken 45 minutes prior to the race and another at the half marathon mark". 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" |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" |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" |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. * It's quite possible that Vespa acts only as a placebo, but it's been shown that a good placebo can improve performance dramatically<ref name="Ross-2014"/>.
=References=
<references>
<ref name="VAAMMiceFat">JAIRO | The Activation of Fatty Acid Metabolism by Vespa Amino Acid Mixture (VAAM)and Related Nutrients during Endurance Exercise in Mice http://jairo.nii.ac.jp/0025/00000958/en </ref>
<ref name="VAAMSwimMice">Effects of <I>Vespa</I> Amino Acid Mixture (VAAM) lsolated from Hornet Larval Saliva and Modified VAAM Nutrients on Endurance Exercise in Swimming Mice https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jspfsm1949/44/2/44_2_225/_article </ref>
<ref name="Demura-2003">{{Cite journal | last1 = Demura | first1 = S. | last2 = Nagasawa | first2 = Demura, Y. | last3 = Kitabayashi | first3 = Nagasawa, T. | last4 = Matsuzawa | first4 = Kitabayashi, J. | title = Matsuzawa, Effect of amino acid mixture intake on physiological responses and rating of perceived exertion during cycling exercise. | journal = , Percept Mot Skills | , volume = 96 | , issue = 3 Pt 1 | , pages = 883-95 | month = , Jun | year = 2003 | doi = | , PMID = [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12831267 12831267 }}]</ref><ref name="TsuchitaShirai-Morishita1997">{{cite journal|last1=Hiroshi Tsuchita|first1=Hiroshi|last2=, Yoko Shirai-Morishita|first2=Yoko|last3=, Taki Shimizu|first3=Taki|last4=, Takashi Abe|first4=Takashi|title=, Effects of a Vespa amino acid mixture identical to hornet larval saliva on the blood biochemical indices of running rats|journal=, Nutrition Research|, volume=17|, issue=6|year=, 1997|, pages=999–1012|, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn=/02715317 02715317|], doi [http://dx.doi=.org/10.1016/S0271-5317(97)00064-X 10.1016/S0271-5317(97)00064-X}}]</ref>
<ref name="VAAMUnpublishedHR">Hornet Juice Sports Drink Burns Fat for Extra Energy and Endurance http://www.hornetjuice.com/study-2.html </ref>
<ref name="SasaiMatsuo2011">{{cite journal|last1=Hiroyuki Sasai|first1=Hiroyuki|last2=, Tomoaki Matsuo|first2=Tomoaki|last3=, Minoru Fujita|first3=Minoru|last4=, Masato Saito|first4=Masato|last5=, Kiyoji Tanaka|first5=Kiyoji|title=, Effects of regular exercise combined with ingestion of vespa amino acid mixture on aerobic fitness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in sedentary older women: A preliminary study|journal=, Geriatrics & Gerontology International|, volume=11|, issue=1|year=, 2011|, pages=24–31|, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn=/14441586|14441586], doi [http://dx.doi=.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2010.00630.x 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2010.00630.x}}]</ref>
<ref name="VespaGel">VESPA CV-25 (12 pack of pouches) http://www.vespapower.com/VESPA-CV-25-12-pack-of-pouches_p_7.html </ref>
<ref name="TakashiYoshiya1991">{{cite journal|last1=Abe Takashi|first1=Abe|last2=, Tanaka Yoshiya|first2=Tanaka|last3=, Miyazaki Hiromitsu|first3=Miyazaki|last4=, Kawasaki Yasuko Y.|first4=Kawasaki|title=, Comparative study of the composition of hornet larval saliva, its effect on behaviour and role of trophallaxis|journal=, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Comparative Pharmacology|, volume=99|, issue=1-2|year=, 1991|, pages=79–84|, ISSN [http://www.worldcat.org/issn=/03064492|03064492], doi [http://dx.doi=.org/10.1016/0742-8413(91)90079-9 10.1016/0742-8413(91)90079-9}}]</ref>
<ref name="VAAMketone">Science Links Japan | Effects of ingestion of Vespa Amino Acid Mixture (VAAM) under postprandial conditions on blood ketone body concentrations during prolonged exercise in humans. http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200113/000020011301A0397887.php </ref>
<ref name="Ross-2014">R. Ross, CM. Gray, JM. Gill, The Effects of an Injected Placebo on Endurance Running Performance., Med Sci Sports Exerc, Nov 2014, doi [http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000584 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000584], PMID [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25412293 25412293]</ref>
</references>
