If you have been in the industry as long as I have, you remember the year from Jack3d (the most amazing pre-workout supplement) was banned. Jack3d was everyone's "go to" pre-workout supplement. You'd see it at the gym, at your friend's house, at work, at school, absolutely everywhere. Why? Because it worked. Why did it work so well? Because of a new ingredient at the time, DMAA.
What is DMAA?
DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) is a powerful stimulant that became famous in high-stimulant pre-workout supplements (like Jack3d) for producing intense energy, focus, alertness, and workout drive. It was especially popular during the late 2000s and early 2010s and was a key ingredient in several legendary pre-workouts of that era. Due to safety and regulatory concerns, the FDA considers DMAA an unlawful dietary supplement ingredient, and products containing it cannot legally be marketed as dietary supplements in the U.S.
When Was Jack3d Original Banned?
Letters were sent to supplement manufacturers and retailers in 2012 about this ingredient and restricting the sale of it.
I personally don't believe it was removed because it didn't work, or that it was bad for you, but because of Internet rumors about it and that the goverment actually doesn't want something working that well. That is my personal opinion though.
Learn about the alternative, DMHA.
So What Does the Jack3d Formula Look Like Today?
Because DMAA had to removed from shelves and can no longer be sold legally, companies needed to come out with an alternative. That alternative is DMHA. This ingredient is very similar to DMAA, though not quite as strong. I think it's the most effective alternative on the market today though. And this is what USP Labs decided to put in their Jack3d pre-workout supplement, DMHA. The rest of the formula is pretty much identical to the original, but DMAA was switched with DMHA.
How Much DMAA was in the Original Jack3d?
The original Jack3d formula was a proprietary blend, so the exact dosage of DMAA is unknown.
What is DMHA?
DMHA (dimethylhexylamine), also known as 2-aminoisoheptane, is a stimulant ingredient that has been used in some high-stimulant pre-workout supplements. It’s typically included to provide a noticeable boost in energy, focus, alertness, and workout intensity, making it popular among people looking for a stronger pre-workout experience. DMHA is often compared with DMAA, although they are different compounds. Because of regulatory and safety concerns, DMHA has faced significant scrutiny and is not considered a lawful dietary ingredient by the FDA for use in dietary supplements in the U.S.
Back to Jack3d
Now because of the ban on DMAA, at least in the UK and the US, you won't be able to find it. But I have seen bottles with DMAA on eBay and other fishy 3rd party websites. These bottles definitely are not from USP Labs, but show they contain DMAA. Do they? Not sure. If they do, its definitely not legal. If they don't...what is in it? I personally would order any bottles that you see like this. You are putting this stuff in your body, you want to know what is in it.
What About Today's Jack3d Formula. Is it any Good?
Working in the supplement industry, I still find Jack3d to be an amazing pre-workout supplement. If you read the label, you can take 1-3 scoops per day. For an effective and "feel it" dose of DMHA, I recommend the 3 scoops pre-workout. But if you are a beginner to DMHA or pre-workout supplements in general, you might want to start with 1 scoop and make your way up once you access your tolerance.
Is the Original Jack3d Ever Coming Back?
The original Jack3d formula won't be coming back until the UK and US governments remove it from the banned list. While the current administration is more lenient on supplements in general, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for DMAA is once again be available to the public.
Final Thoughts
The bad news is that you can no longer get the original Jack3d from 2010-2012. The good news is that you can get the new version of Jack3d with DMHA from Supplement Warehouse. While not quite as good as the original, this is still one of the strongest pre-workout supplements on the market due to the DMHA.
