MRI Performance NO2 Black – Check Out This Formula!

MRI Performance NO2 Black – Check out this formula! This is the company that invented the nitric oxide boosting category way back in 2003. I was there when it hit the retail supplement industry like an earthquake! Of course, this category has grown like wildfire over the years. Now it’s a standard of virtually every pre-workout on the market, not to mention all the stand-alone nitric oxide (N.O.) products available. In this edition of Supplement Spotlight, we’re going to take a look at the creator of the category. Let’s get started!

The History Of Nitric Oxide Supplements

In my recent article on The 5 Best Pump Boosters, I focused on the most advanced formulas available today. But before any of those existed, there was one product that introduced lifters to the idea of chasing a pump through supplementation: the original MRI Performance NO2.

Let’s face it, for many lifters, pumps are everything. MRI was the company that “got” what nitric oxide could do for the average lifter – massive pumps! Not to mention, nitric oxide pushed nutrients and oxygen to the muscles quickly. 

From The Retail Supplement Floor (Early 2000s)

When NO2 first showed up, I was a Regional Manager with the number one retail supplement chain. At the time, NO2 didn’t look like much – it was just a bottle of capsules with a bold claim: better pumps through nitric oxide. But it worked and worked well! By securing early placement in the biggest retail supplement chain, MRI Performance didn’t just launch a product—they created an entirely new category.

Customers didn’t come in asking for nitric oxide. They came in asking, “What’s this NO2 stuff?”

That curiosity—and the pumps people felt in the gym—did the rest.

MRI NO2 Recap

Category	Details
Product Name	Technically, its MRI Performance NO2 Black Muscle + Pump
Company	MRI Performance (Medical Research Institute)
Category	Nitric Oxide (NO) Booster
Category Origin	Widely credited as launching the nitric oxide supplementcategory with NO2® (~2003)
Original Concept	Increase nitric oxide to enhance blood flow, muscle “pumps,”and nutrient delivery
Retail Breakthrough	Early exclusive distribution through the number one retail supplement company helped bring NO2 into mainstream fitness
Original Formula	Primarily arginine-based capsules (simple, single-pathway NO support)
A Modern Variation	NO2 Black — multi-ingredient, powdered pump formula
Key Ingredients	Citrulline, Nitrosigine®, S7™, glycerol (HydroMax®), agmatine
Mechanism Evolution	From arginine-only → multi-pathway NO production + hydration + volumization
Stimulant Content	Stimulant-free (no caffeine)
Primary Benefits	Increased pumps, vascularity, endurance, and training performance
Positioning	“Pump-focused” supplement, often stacked with stimulant pre-workouts
Legacy Impact	Helped define the “pump” category that later became standard in pre-workouts

That original formula consisted of just a single ingredient: the amino acid arginine. It sounds incredibly simple but it was effective. That’s a lot like creatine, also an effective single ingredient. And here’s the kicker – Ed Byrd was the man responsible for both (MRI was his company, and before that he was a founder of EAS, who introduced Phosphagen, the first creatine product). What a legacy! One man introduced two of the most important supplements in the history of the industry!

No doubt most readers know that arginine is not well-absorbed, in fact in any article on citrulline that I write, I point this out. To solve this dilemma, MRI used L-arginine alpha-ketoglutarate (also known as arginine AKG). This ingredient is arginine with an alpha-ketoglutarate molecule bonded to it to improve the absorption of arginine. 

What Is MRI Performance NO2 Black?

When NO2 first appeared, it wasn’t competing with pre-workouts—it was creating a category that didn’t exist yet. At the time, most supplements focused on protein, creatine, or basic energy formulas. The idea of increasing nitric oxide to improve blood flow and muscle fullness was new to the average lifter.

Once MRI was established with the original product, they expanded their line. NO2 Black is the ultimate result of that (in terms of nitric oxide boosters). This is a powder formula that includes not only several N.O. boosting ingredients, but also HydroMax® glycerol, a very potent cell volumizer. In other words, NO2 Black reflects how far the category has come. Instead of relying on a single ingredient, it uses multiple pathways to increase nitric oxide, along with hydration and volumization components.

As noted, NO2 isn’t just another pump supplement—it’s the reason pump supplements exist in the first place. Modern formulas may be more advanced, but they all trace back to the same idea: better blood flow can improve the training experience. NO2 Black is the latest version of that original concept.

The Benefits of MRI Performance NO2 Black

NO2 Black provides the following benefits:

• Increased Blood Flow
• Enhanced Nutrient Delivery
• Increased Endurance
• Removal Of Muscular Waste Products 
• Supports Protein Synthesis

A Look At The Pump and Muscle Growth

Any lifter wants more muscle growth, and it’s thought that the pump may contribute to the process. Now, there is more than one theory on how muscle growth happens. The theory we’re talking about here is the Sarcoplasmic theory, which is the expansion of muscle cell volume, specifically the sarcoplasm (fluid, glycogen, and mitochondria), rather than the contractile myofibrils. This theory suggests muscles can increase in size without a proportional increase in strength. This approach is tied into a high rep, moderate-weight routine that increases metabolic stress and muscle glycogen storage. (1)

Nutrient & Oxygen Delivery

In addition, and I mention this a lot when I talk about this topic, a nitric oxide pump increases nutrient and oxygen delivery to your working muscles. As this is happening, waste products are removed. This is important because it supports between-set recovery. 

Now, with that in mind, NO2 Black contains ingredients that dilate blood vessels and relaxes smooth muscle (the muscle responsible for blood flow). This creates a natural pump, and of course NO2 Black ramps this up dramatically.  

Let’s Look At The Ingredients!

Here’s how the formula stacks up.

Servings per Container – 30 / 15  – Serving Size – 1 / 2 Scoops

Vitamin C – 125mg/250mg

Vitamin C is, among a host of functions, a popular immune system boosting nutrient. Studies have suggested that Vitamin C can support nitric oxide absorption. 

PUMP & FEED FORMULA

This is the first of three complexes (although the following two consist of a single ingredient). 

L-Citrulline – 4g/8g

L-Citrulline is a proteinogenic amino acid that converts into arginine once it’s in your body. The thing about citrulline is that it absorbs better than arginine, making it more effective at stimulating nitric oxide production. In other words, it outperforms arginine at arginine’s own game. Citrulline is considered one of the best nitric oxide boosting ingredients on the market. (2)

HydroMax® Glycerol – 1500mg/3000mg

Here’s an ingredient that is very well known as a potent cell-volumizer. Glycerol is an osmolyte, which means it pulls water and nutrients into your muscles. NO2 Black features a patented version called HydroMax® Glycerol. This high-quality version is a combination of glycerol and silica. The primary thing that makes HydroMax a superior version of glycerol is that its glycerol content is 65%. That is considerably higher than what you will find in regular, unpatented glycerol monostearate. 

Glycerol has another very impressive benefit – improved endurance. While this effect will be different for everybody, you might find your endurance is dramatically extended. These benefits make glycerol one of the most exciting new supplements on the market. NO2 Black shows impressive innovation by being more than a nitric oxide booster. Interestingly, the man behind the original N.O. booster was the same man behind the original cell volumizer.

Nitrosigine® (Arginine Silicate Inositol) – 750mg/1500mg

I believe that the best supplements of any type use patented ingredients. MRI Performance NO2 Black contains three: Nitrosigine, S7, and HydroMax glycerol. I also believe that the best ingredients are clinically supported. The company that’s behind nitrosigine has 30 clinical studies that back up its effectiveness. 

Nitrosigine is a combination of arginine and silicon. It has a couple of stand-out features: it acts quickly and it extends the pump for 6 hours! Nitrosigine does more than promote great pumps. It has also been shown to elevate focus and increase energy. Finally, it has 10 patents supporting its effectiveness. (3)

L-Ornithine – 750mg/1500mg

L-Ornithine is an amino acid and a precursor of citrulline that has been shown to stimulate the production of nitric oxide. Not only that, it widens blood vessels. Historically, ornithine and arginine have an interesting past as a bodybuilding supplement. In fact, the combination of these two date back years before the introduction of NO2. What was it used for? This combination was promoted to be an effective GH booster, marketed to be as powerful as GH drugs themselves. 

Agmatine Sulfate – 750mg/1500mg

Agmatine is another nitric oxide booster. This is an interesting ingredient that supports the production of nitric oxide indirectly. It’s created from arginine, and as it happens, it’s not really that much different from how citrulline works. So how does it work, you might ask? As you know, citrulline converts into arginine once in the body. Interestingly, arginine converts into agmatine. If taken directly as agmatine, you can bypass that and ultimately get a better effect. (4)

VASO-PUMP HEMODIALATOR

This is not really a complex, but one very effective patented ingredient. 

S7® – 100mg/200mg

S7 is one of the three patented ingredients in NO2 Black. S7 is a complex consisting of 7 plant-based compounds: green coffee bean extract, green tea extract, turmeric, tart cherry, blueberry, broccoli, and kale. It works by increasing the body’s natural ability to produce nitric oxide.

There’s one more advantage that S7 has. It doesn’t take a very high dose to get an effective result. And of course, like all patented ingredients, S7 has the clinical studies to support its use. The manufacturer’s website states that S7 can increase the production of nitric oxide by as much as 230%. No wonder it’s a popular ingredient! (5)

DETOX AGENT

Activated Charcoal – 100mg/200mg

Activated charcoal has a long history of use as a detoxifier, even in modern medicine. Once it is in the body, toxins bind to it. That means that your body will operate much more efficiently. In addition, it means the absorption and utilization of the nutrients in the NO2 Black formula will be improved.

How Do I Use NO2 Black?

As per the label directions: On training days mix 1 or 2 scoops with water or your pre-workout at least 30 minutes before working out. To maximize results, drink at least 64 ounces of water daily while using NO2 Black.

Stack Suggestions

Here are some Stacks centered around MRI Performance NO2 Black Muscle + Pump.

Stack # 1

• MRI NO2 Black
• Hi-Tech Precision Protein – This is a hydrolyzed whey protein featuring the exclusive Hi-Tech Embedded Enzyme Technology™. This is the state-of-the-art technology that allows the ultra-anabolic amino acid leucine to be released during the early stages of protein synthesis.
• NutraBio Base – This is a “Core” pre-workout, a newer category that is defined by featuring a streamlined but still effective formula at a value price that works very well in today’s economy. This is not my usual go-to Pre, although I do use it. It’s listed here because it will stack very well with NO2 Black. 
• AllMax Nutrition Creatine – This is one of the best creatine formulas on the market and the one I always suggest in my articles. Why, you might wonder? Because it features patented micronized creatine monohydrate (CreaSyn™). One of the standout features is its purity – this formula boasts a stunning 99.9%!
• AllMax Nutrition VITASTACK – One of the best multivitamin/mineral formulas on the market with a very impressive and complete 7-complex ingredient profile!

Stack # 2

All of the above but add the following:

• NutraBio EAA Pure – This is a premium quality intra-workout EAA formula featuring full disclosure labeling and clinical dosing, as only NutraBio can.
• Competitive Edge Labs MPC-185 – This is DL-185 Dileucine Peptide, a clinically backed highly anabolic leucine peptide that has been shown to ramp up protein synthesis by an incredible 159%! In addition, it will enhance strength, extend endurance, and improve recovery.

Summary

MRI performance NO2 Black – what a formula! This is an excellent product that should be a part of any serious lifters supplement arsenal. After all, there’s nothing like a great pump, right? So why wait, stop by illpumpyouup.com and get yours today!

References:

1. Roberts, M. D., Haun, C. T., Vann, C. G., Osburn, S. C., & Young, K. C. (2020). Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy in Skeletal Muscle: A Scientific “Unicorn” or Resistance Training Adaptation?. Frontiers in physiology, 11, 816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00816
2. https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/?show_conditions=true
3. https://nitrosigine.com/about/
4. Haulică I, et al. Preliminary research on possible relationship of NO with agmatine at the vascular level. Rom J Physiol. (1999). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11068606
5. Nemzer BV;Centner C;Zdzieblik D;Fink B;Hunter JM;König D;. (n.d.). Oxidative Stress or Redox Signalling – New Insights Into the Effects of a Proprietary Multifunctional Botanical Dietary Supplement. Retrieved June 20, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29110555/