CORE Nutritionals just launched Pump BLACK, a non-stimulant pre-workout targeting blood flow, muscle endurance, and focus without caffeine. Available in four flavors at launch, it’s a significant overhaul of CORE’s previous pump formula — and the Full Yield nitrate system at its heart is what separates it from most competitors in the non-stim category.
CORE Nutritionals Pump BLACK uses the Full Yield nitrate system to stack free-form ingredients AND their nitrate forms. 10g citrulline, 3.2g beta-alanine, 2.5g betaine, plus 1g total nitrates. Three distinct NO pathways, zero caffeine, zero compromises.
Put simply… this formula is a beast.
Rather than choosing between free-form ingredients and their nitrate-bonded counterparts, Pump Black stacks both for citrulline, beta-alanine, and betaine. Each compound pairs with its nitrate form, and the label reports the combined total yield from both sources, achieving clinical (and beyond clinical) for all of them.
That means 10,000mg total citrulline (9,270mg free-form plus ~730mg from citrulline nitrate), 3,200mg total beta-alanine (2,600mg free plus ~600mg from beta-alanine nitrate), and 2,500mg total betaine (1,850mg anhydrous plus ~650mg from betaine nitrate). Each nitrate form contributes 1,000mg of dietary nitrate, bringing the total NO3-T load to 3,000mg per serving. Not many brands are executing this dual-layer approach, but it’s a smart way to deliver both the primary ingredient’s mechanism and meaningful nitrate-driven vasodilation from the same compounds.
We’ve covered CORE’s pump formula evolution before, which introduced a VasoDrive-AP-based update in the Fun Sweets Cotton Candy edition. Pump Black takes another path, adding Nuritas’ PeptiPump Lentil Protein Hydrolysate at 200mg, a patented lentil-derived bioactive peptide ingredient that supports vascular function through ACE modulation, a mechanism that complements the upstream citrulline and nitrate pathways rather than duplicating them. Cognizin Citicoline at 250mg and L-Tyrosine at 2,000mg round out the focus side of the formula, with Cognizin backed by human trial data on attention and mental clarity.
If these ingredients are unfamiliar to you, then strap in, we’ve got the science below:
Total Nitrates: 1020mg
Before digging into each ingredient, let’s separate the nitrates, as they’re in three different components below at the following doses:
- 400mg from beta alanine nitrate
- 350mg from betaine nitrate
- 270mg from citrulline nitrate
This yields a total of 1020mg nitrate in a full serving – a massive dose of over a gram! So what’s this mean?
Dietary nitrate works via the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway: ingested nitrate converts to nitrite via oral bacteria in the mouth, then further reduces to nitric oxide in the bloodstream, a process that accelerates under the low-oxygen, low-pH conditions of intense exercise. Nitrate also appears to reduce the oxygen cost of submaximal exercise by supporting muscle contractile and mitochondrial efficiency — benefits that complement citrulline’s upstream L-arginine-NOS pathway and give the formula two independent mechanisms to boost nitric oxide bioavailability.[1]
A 2025 umbrella review of 20 meta-analyses found nitrate supplementation improved time-to-exhaustion, muscular endurance, and peak power output, with stronger effects at doses above 372mg and with more than three days of use.[2] Core Pump BLACK’s ~1,020mg of actual nitrate clears that minimum dose by nearly threefold.
And that’s a component that doesn’t even have its own area on the label! Now on to the rest of those yields:
Full Yield L-Citrulline (Vegan Fermented) – 10,000mg
L-Citrulline is the primary driver of blood flow in this formula. The 10,000mg total yield pulls from both free-form vegan fermented citrulline and the citrulline nitrate fraction discussed above — a dual-source approach that delivers full-dose citrulline and contributes to the formula’s nitrate stack simultaneously.
The mechanism runs through the arginine-NOS pathway: once absorbed, citrulline converts to L-arginine in the kidneys, which nitric oxide synthase (NOS) uses to generate nitric oxide (NO). What makes citrulline the better delivery vehicle is bioavailability. Oral L-arginine is largely destroyed by intestinal arginase before it ever reaches circulation, while citrulline bypasses that bottleneck entirely and raises plasma arginine more effectively than arginine supplementation itself.[3] The resulting NO supports vasodilation, oxygen delivery, and muscle contractile efficiency, which are effects that stack on top of the formula’s nitrate-driven NO pathway rather than duplicating it.
Citrulline also plugs into the urea cycle, where it may help buffer ammonia buildup during intense training, an independent mechanism that can support perceived effort and muscle soreness. A 2020 meta-analysis of 13 studies found citrulline supplementation significantly reduced post-exercise rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and muscle soreness at 24 and 48 hours post-training.[4]
On the performance side, two separate meta-analyses document strength and volume benefits. Vårvik et al. found that 6 to 8g of citrulline malate increased total training repetitions by approximately 6.4% versus placebo.[5] Trexler et al. confirmed a statistically significant edge for high-intensity strength and power tasks (SMD=0.20), noting the benefit may be most meaningful for competitive athletes where margins are small.[6] Both analyses used 6 to 8g of citrulline malate as their research base. Pump BLACK’s 10,000mg total yield clears that range by a substantial margin.
Full Yield Beta Alanine – 3,200mg
Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid that raises muscle carnosine concentrations, an intracellular pH buffer that helps counter the hydrogen ion buildup driving fatigue during high-intensity effort.[7] As carnosine accumulates in skeletal muscle with consistent daily use, it supports the capacity to sustain output before that acid-driven slowdown sets in.
The clinically studied range runs 3.2g to 6.4g daily, and Pump BLACK’s 3,200mg lands right at the lower bound we see in most pre-workouts. Meta-analytic data show beta-alanine meaningfully supports exercise capacity, with the strongest benefits on efforts lasting 60 to 240 seconds.[8][9]
CORE delivers this through the Full Yield system: 2,600mg free-form plus ~600mg from beta-alanine nitrate. New users who notice tingling (paresthesia) can start with a half-serving to gauge tolerance. It’s a normal physiological response to the ingredient.
Full Yield Betaine Anhydrous – 2,500mg
Betaine Anhydrous, also known as trimethylglycine (TMG), works through two distinct mechanisms that go well beyond typical pump ingredient territory.
As an osmolyte, it draws water into muscle cells, supporting intracellular hydration and cell volume. That hydration state appears to influence protein synthesis signaling and may help attenuate fatigue during training.[10][11]
As a methyl donor, betaine converts homocysteine to methionine, feeding the S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) pathway. SAMe is required for creatine biosynthesis in the body — an indirect but meaningful connection to the phosphocreatine energy system.[12]
The performance research supports its inclusion. Apicella et al. found betaine supplementation significantly raised IGF-1 and lowered cortisol post-exercise while enhancing Akt and p70 S6K phosphorylation in muscle tissue, pointing to a more favorable anabolic signaling environment.[13] A six-week trial at 2.5g/day in trained men showed improvements in body composition, arm cross-sectional area, and bench press work capacity.[11][10]
Pump BLACK’s 2,500mg total yield (1,850mg anhydrous plus ~650mg from betaine nitrate) lands at the studied dose, and the nitrate fraction feeds directly into the formula’s nitrate stack.
L-Tyrosine – 2,000mg
L-Tyrosine is the direct precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine via the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. Under demanding training conditions, these catecholamines deplete faster than the body can naturally replenish them, and supplemental tyrosine provides the raw substrate to close that gap.
The cognitive research here is well-characterized: a 2015 review of tyrosine studies found it to be an effective cognitive enhancer specifically when dopamine and/or norepinephrine are temporarily depleted, with the clearest benefits under short-term stressful or cognitively demanding conditions.[14] A separate rapid evidence assessment of 14 controlled trials found a positive pattern across all cognitive stress studies, though it noted the evidence base warrants further development.[15]
At 2,000mg, CORE lands at the upper end of the typical supplemental range. Paired with Cognizin Citicoline, this gives Pump BLACK a dual-mechanism approach to focus support with no caffeine required.
Taurine – 1,000mg
Taurine is one of the most abundant free amino acids in skeletal muscle, and it earns its place in Pump BLACK by reinforcing the formula’s core mechanisms from multiple angles.
On the vascular side, taurine supports endothelial nitric oxide production through eNOS upregulation and phosphorylation, contributing to vasodilation alongside citrulline’s L-arginine-NOS pathway and the formula’s nitrate stack.[16] In muscle tissue, it assists the sarcoplasmic reticulum with calcium handling to help maintain force output during repeated contractions, and acts as a direct antioxidant to help reduce exercise-induced muscle damage markers like creatine kinase.[17][18]
A 2018 meta-analysis found oral taurine in the 1g to 6g range produced a statistically significant improvement in endurance performance.[19] A 2021 review identified 1g to 3g taken 1 to 3 hours pre-exercise as the range where aerobic performance, time-to-exhaustion, and DOMS attenuation benefits are most consistently observed. The 1g dose is well-represented in that dataset.[18] Pump BLACK’s 1,000mg fits squarely in that window.
Cognizin® Citicoline – 250mg
Cognizin® citicoline (CDP-choline) is a precision-sourced, patented form of choline from Kyowa Hakko. Unlike basic choline salts, citicoline splits during absorption into two bioactive components: choline and cytidine, which converts to uridine in the bloodstream. This dual-pathway delivery is what sets it apart: choline fuels acetylcholine synthesis and helps maintain neuronal membrane integrity via phosphatidylcholine, while uridine feeds back into the Kennedy pathway to replenish membrane phospholipids directly.
At the cellular level, citicoline supports frontal lobe bioenergetics by increasing phosphocreatine in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region central to attentional control.[20] It also supports dopaminergic neurotransmission, which declines with age and tracks closely with working memory and executive function performance.[21]
The 250mg dose here is clinically supported: it mirrors the lower arm of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy women ages 40 to 60, where that dose produced significantly fewer attentional errors after just 28 days.[21] Separate research in healthy older adults found that citicoline supplementation significantly improved episodic memory and composite memory scores versus placebo.[22]
Pine Bark Extract (Pinus pinaster, std. 95% proanthocyanidins) – 250mg
Pine bark extract (Pinus pinaster, standardized to 95% proanthocyanidins) contributes a distinct vasodilatory mechanism that doesn’t overlap with citrulline’s arginine-NOS pathway or the formula’s nitrate-nitrite-NO conversion route. Its proanthocyanidins activate eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) directly, increasing phosphorylation at Ser¹¹⁷⁷ to drive nitric oxide output from the endothelium itself.[23]
The antioxidant activity is equally relevant here. Superoxide quenches nitric oxide rapidly in circulation, so the procyanidins’ ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species helps protect the NO that the rest of Pump BLACK’s formula generates — making this as much about preserving NO bioavailability as producing it.
Human data back the inclusion. An 8-week, double-blind, crossover RCT found Pycnogenol at 200mg/day significantly improved flow-mediated dilation (FMD) from 5.3 to 7.0 in CAD patients while oxidative stress markers declined, with no change observed in the placebo group.[24] Pump BLACK’s 250mg dose clears that studied threshold.
PeptiPump® Lentil Protein Hydrolysate — 200mg
PeptiPump® is a patented lentil protein hydrolysate from Nuritas, developed using the company’s AI-guided peptide discovery platform. Its primary confirmed mechanism is angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. In the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), ACE converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, one of the most potent endogenous vasoconstrictors. Blocking that conversion supports healthy vascular tone and normal blood flow.[25]
That gives Pump BLACK a third distinct mechanism for supporting circulation, separate from citrulline’s L-arginine-NOS route and the nitrate stack’s nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway. Research on food-derived ACE-inhibitory peptides from protein hydrolysates confirms this class can inhibit both circulating and tissue ACE, and the bioavailability of small peptides through intestinal transport is well-characterized.[26][27]
Nuritas confirmed on the PricePlow Podcast that additional clinical data covering energy production and physical performance endpoints is on the way. The 200mg dose is consistent with performance applications for this ingredient class, and the ACE-inhibitory mechanism adds depth to an already multi-layered vascular formula.
AstraGin® (Astragalus membranaceus & Panax notoginseng root extracts) – 50mg
Core VEGAN Peanut Butter flavor isn’t your typical chalky plant protein. With 21g protein, added BCAAs for leucine content, digestive enzymes, and Core’s premium flavoring system, they’re making vegan protein actually taste good.
AstraGin® is NuLiv Science’s patented Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng extract, included here as a bioavailability multiplier for key ingredients throughout the formula. Its primary mechanism involves upregulating CAT1 (cationic amino acid transporter) expression at the gene and protein level, driving greater intestinal uptake of the amino acids this formula relies on most.
In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial in 24 healthy subjects, AstraGin supplementation increased arginine area-under-the-curve by 17.3% (p=0.041) while improving the Arg/ADMA ratio by 167% (p=0.007).[28] Since ADMA competes directly with arginine for NOS binding, that ratio shift supports nitric oxide output independent of the transporter effect. NuLiv’s in vitro cell data show citrulline absorption improving 45% and beta-alanine 25%, covering two more key compounds in this formula. CORE’s 50mg dose lands within the range used in human trials.
Sodium (as Sodium Citrate) – 200mg
Sodium is the body’s primary extracellular cation, governing fluid distribution through its osmotic pull on the extracellular fluid (ECF). During training, sweat losses deplete both sodium and fluid. Replacing fluids without sodium triggers a drop in plasma osmolality that suppresses vasopressin and aldosterone, accelerating urine output and working against full rehydration.[29] Sodium restores circulating vasopressin, maintains plasma volume, and stimulates thirst to support voluntary fluid intake.
Core PRE offers an affordable daily driver pre-workout with clinical doses of key ingredients in delicious Fun Sweets Cotton Candy flavors for everyday training.
The citrate delivery form adds a secondary benefit: citrate is a weak base that contributes to systemic acid buffering, complementing beta-alanine’s carnosine-driven intracellular pH support from a different angle. Sweat sodium losses vary considerably between individuals, ranging from 642mg to over 6g per hour in athletes training in the heat.[30] The 200mg here won’t replace those losses on its own, but paired with the potassium citrate below, it lays a meaningful electrolyte foundation to support normal neuromuscular signaling and fluid balance throughout your training session.
Potassium (as Potassium Citrate) – 300mg
Potassium is the body’s primary intracellular electrolyte, and its role in exercise physiology extends well beyond hydration. Sweat potassium concentrations average around 222 μg/mL and remain consistent across multiple hours of sustained effort, making training-related losses a genuine concern for athletes.[31]
What makes potassium directly relevant to a pump formula is its contribution to exercise hyperemia. When contracting skeletal muscle releases potassium into the interstitial space, it activates the Na-K ATPase pump in surrounding vascular smooth muscle cells. That electrogenic activity hyperpolarizes the cell membrane, reducing calcium influx and relaxing arteriolar tone, adding a localized vasodilatory mechanism that operates independently of the arginine-NOS and nitrate-nitrite-NO pathways already at work in this formula.[32]
The citrate form also promotes an alkaline environment that may help buffer exercise-induced acid load, a subtle complement to the beta-alanine carnosine system working alongside it.
What a formula.
Pump Black makes a real case for non-stim pre-workouts doing more than staking out the caffeine-free corner of the shelf. The Full Yield system is smart engineering: rather than sacrificing primary ingredient doses to accommodate the molecular weight overhead of nitrate salts, CORE loads both the free-form and nitrate-bound versions and reports the combined total. You get the full dose of each primary compound plus 1,000mg of total dietary nitrates across three separate ingredients.
PeptiPump adds a third vascular mechanism that doesn’t overlap with the citrulline or nitrate pathways, and Cognizin Citicoline is one of the better-studied nootropics available in this category. CORE isn’t the first brand to explore the Full Yield approach, but the brands actually doing it are few enough that it’s worth calling out. The formula is transparent, the doses are substantial, and the ingredient selection makes sense on every line.
Check PricePlow below for Pump Black pricing and availability across retailers. Sign up for CORE Nutritionals alerts so you’re first to know about new flavors and future releases.
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