If XR® Was Formulated for Surgical Recovery… Why Is Everyone Taking It?

Reimagining “Protein” for a New Era

XR® was conceived to support the profound catabolic stress of surgical recovery—muscle breakdown, inflammation, and slowed wound healing. But as modern life increasingly mirrors these stressors—from microgravity to aging, physical strain to biohacking—the formula’s purpose has expanded. This isn’t just about “protein.” It’s about targeted amino acids delivering precision support for performance, longevity, and recovery.

The Science Behind XR®’s Ingredients

1. Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) and Surgical Recovery

A recent meta-analysis covering 19 studies (~903 patients) showed that perioperative supplementation with EAAs significantly reduced muscle atrophy in hip and knee arthroplasty patients (SMD for quadriceps: 0.69; hamstrings: 1.04), though effects on strength and function varied (Khani et al., 2025).

2. Protein & EAAs to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs)

A systematic review of lower-limb surgeries indicated protein and/or EAA supplementation may moderately improve patient-reported outcomes—including physical function, symptom relief, and quality of life—though mobility and muscle mass gains were less certain (Brown et al., 2025).

3. Counteracting Sarcopenia with HMB

β‑Hydroxy β‑methylbutyrate (HMB)—a metabolite of leucine—has clinical backing: multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses support its role in preserving or increasing lean muscle mass and strength in older adults battling sarcopenia, with robust safety data.

4. EAAs and Recovery in Elderly Post-Surgery

In older adults recovering from hip fracture, supplementation with amino acids enhanced walking recovery, while combining essential amino acids with exercise improved muscle strength, mass, and gait speed.

Amino Acids vs. Protein: Why Quality and Precision Matter

Amino acids are the true molecular drivers of protein synthesis, healing, and resilience. According to Time, EAAs help support muscle maintenance, immunity, wound healing, and recovery from stressors—from surgery to strenuous work or aging.

This precision is key—especially as our ability to respond to traditional protein intake declines with age.

Anabolic Resistance: The Hidden Barrier to Muscle Recovery After 40

As we age, our bodies undergo anabolic resistance—a clinically observed blunting of the muscle’s ability to respond to protein and exercise. This means the same amount of protein that helped build muscle in your 20s may no longer be effective in your 50s or beyond.

A landmark review in Nutrients (Burd et al., 2021) documents how aging reduces the efficiency of muscle protein synthesis in response to dietary protein intake (MDPI). Factors include decreased mitochondrial function, chronic inflammation, and altered amino acid metabolism.

Why it matters:

• Most protein powders aren’t formulated to overcome anabolic resistance
• XR® delivers rapidly absorbed, leucine-rich EAAs at therapeutic doses that bypass metabolic bottlenecks in older adults and high-stress conditions
• This makes XR® not only ideal for surgical recovery, but also for athletic performance, aging, and anyone facing high physical or metabolic demands

XR®: Where Clinical Science Meets Daily Performance

Rooted in recovery science: XR® delivers clinically studied amino acids at optimal dosages to prevent muscle loss, support strength, and modulate catabolic stress in surgical settings (Ueyama et al., 2023).

NSF Certified for Sport®: Ensures each batch is rigorously tested and free from banned substances—offering purity and trust for elite athletes, astronauts, and everyday peak performers alike.

More than recovery: Inspired by astronaut muscle preservation in microgravity, applicable for aging populations, high-performance athletes, and longevity-minded individuals.

Why Everyone’s Reaching for XR®

Whether you’re recovering from orthopedic surgery, combating age-related muscle loss, pushing athletic boundaries, or simply living with intention—XR® meets your biology where it is, and helps push it forward.

Forget “more protein.”
Think precise, potent, proven.

References

1. Ueyama H, Asano M, Tachi Y, Aoto K, Fujita N. Perioperative essential amino acid supplementation facilitates quadriceps muscle strength and volume recovery after total knee arthroplasty: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Res. 2023. doi:10.1002/jor.25540
2. Hendrickson NR, Zielinski MD, Wojcik SM, Schenck LP, Carpenter CW, Melin-Aldana H, Mathis DT. Conditionally essential amino acid supplementation reduces postoperative complications and mitigates muscle wasting following fracture fixation. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022;93(2):213-221. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000003732
3. Khani Y, Alvarez AM, Tansley G, Gollogly S. Peri-operative protein or amino acid supplementation for total joint arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025;20(1):155. doi:10.1186/s13018-025-05847-4
4. Brown E, Chang LM, Raval P. Amino acid supplementation may help prevent muscle wasting after orthopedic surgery: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2025;483(5):1012-1023. PMID: 39802328
5. Aquilani R, Boschi F, D’Antona G, Viglio S, Iadarola P. Essential amino acid supplementation in rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery improves muscle strength and recovery outcomes. Clin Nutr. 2023. Cited by: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS); Clinical Update. [Referenced summary]