Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger is shedding light on some alarming issues with pre-workout supplements. On April 1, 2025, he took to his Arnold’s Pump Club newsletter to call out pre-workout manufacturers who are inaccurately listing their ingredients.
Seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger keeps a close eye on the latest fitness and wellness trends. From deceptive supplementation to fad diets, he always brings expert insight to clear the air for his diehard fans.
At 77, longevity is one of his biggest motivators, as he hopes to live to 100 years old. This led him to take a closer look at pre-workouts, which appear to have some major ingredient discrepancies.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes Aim At Pre-Workouts: “The Label Doesn’t Match What’s in the Bottle”
Looking at a recent study, Schwarzenegger revealed that researchers discovered pre-workout labels don’t align with what’s advertised on the bottle.
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“What’s Really In Your Pre-Workout?
You might be taking supplements to improve performance, but researchers found something very disturbing when they started testing the products you trust. Unfortunately, what’s on the label doesn’t match what’s in the bottle — and it happens more frequently than you’d believe.”
Researchers found that 89% of sports supplements claiming to have performance-boosting properties didn’t accurately list ingredients.
“Scientists found that 89 percent of sports supplements claiming to contain performance-boosting botanicals either didn’t list the specific ingredient or contained it in unlisted forms or amounts.
In this study, researchers tested 57 sports supplements marketed for performance enhancement. These products claimed to contain botanical ingredients believed to increase strength, endurance, or fat loss.”
Similar to his views on supplements like fish oil, Schwarzenegger was concerned with label accuracy.
“While you can argue whether the ingredients tested actually work (most have sparse research to back up the claims), that’s not what was most concerning. This wasn’t an argument about efficacy — it was a blatant abuse of label accuracy.”
Looking at 57 products, ‘The Austrian Oak’ confirmed that only six listed their ingredients accurately. Meanwhile, another 40% used unlisted ingredients, and 12% contained banned or unapproved drugs.
- Only 6 of the 57 products (11%) accurately listed the ingredient on the label.
- 40% of products contained a different botanical ingredient than what was listed.
- 12% included banned or unapproved drugs that are not allowed in dietary supplements.
Schwarzenegger warned that dietary supplements aren’t as regulated as pharmaceuticals, so manufacturers can cut corners, passing risk to consumers.
“Dietary supplements are not regulated with the same scrutiny as pharmaceuticals. Manufacturers aren’t required to prove safety or effectiveness before selling a product, and oversight of ingredient quality is often inconsistent or absent.
So whether you’re buying online or in retail, at best, you might not be using the active ingredients you’re purchasing and — at worst — you could be using something illegal or dangerous.”
Schwarzenegger contends that this problem is prevalent with other supplements, too, like multivitamins and creatine.
“And it’s not just botanicals. Research has shown that everything from creatine to multivitamins and protein powders have inaccurate labels.
While everyone has to work within their budget, the reality is that the majority of the cheapest supplements are priced so affordably because they don’t invest in certification, which can cost into six figures (or more).”
Schwarzenegger recently compared the performance-boosting effects of pre-workouts versus coffee. Surprisingly, scientists found that black coffee provided just as many benefits for training performance as pre-workout supps.
While pre-workouts can certainly boost your training, Schwarzenegger said that over half of them fail to meet the mark since they include inaccurate ingredients and/or amounts. In retirement, he continues to offer fans actionable advice to better their lives and physiques.
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