PARAXANTHINE-BASED COMPOSITIONS FOR ENHANCING MUSCLE FUNCTION, NITRIC OXIDE SIGNALING, AND/OR MUSCLE GLYCOGEN LEVELS

1 . A method for increasing muscle function in a subject, comprising:

providing the subject with a composition comprising an effective amount of paraxanthine.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein paraxanthine is present in the composition in amount from about 25 mg to about 600 mg.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein paraxanthine is present in the composition in amount from about 50 mg to about 400 mg.

4 . The method of any of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more compounds selected from the list consisting of: isoleucine, leucine, and valine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, creatine, arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, proline, carnitine, creatinol, beta-alanine, ATP, protein, peptides, and beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of caffeine.

6 . The method claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of caffeine, taurine, tyrosine, and 1-methylxantine.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered in conjunction with a strength training regimen.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the muscle function is increased by from about 10% to about 20%, relative to a subject receiving a control composition without paraxanthine.

9 . A method of increasing muscle strength and/or muscle size comprising administering to a subject in need thereof with a composition comprising an effective amount of paraxanthine.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein paraxanthine is present in the composition in amount from about 20 mg to about 600 mg.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein paraxanthine is present in the composition in amount from about 50 mg to about 400 mg.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition is substantially free of caffeine.

13 . The method claim 9 , wherein the composition is substantially free of caffeine, taurine, tyrosine, and 1-methylxantine.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition is administered in conjunction with a strength training regimen.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein muscle strength is increased from about 10-25% relative to a subject receiving a control composition without paraxanthine.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein muscle size is increased from about 10-20% relative to a subject receiving a control composition without paraxanthine.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein nitric oxide (NO) signaling is increased from about 90-100% relative to a subject receiving a control composition without paraxanthine.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein muscle glycogen levels are increased from about 10-30% relative to a subject receiving a control composition without paraxanthine.

19 . A method of treating or preventing muscle atrophy in a subject in need thereof of comprising administering to the subject and effective amount of paraxanthine.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the subject has been diagnosed with, or is at risk of developing, sarcopenia or cachexia.