C4 Sport (5th Gen) Review
- NSF certified for athletes
- Fully disclosed, no proprietary blends
- On par with C4 Original
- Real electrolyte support
- Focus is the weakest area
- Older 4th Gen Legacy also exists
- Only 20 servings per tub
- No larger optional serving
- Lighter than C4 Ultimate
Effects Timeline
AI-estimated changes in effects over the first 3 hours after taking the recommended serving.
C4 Sport is the current "5th Generation" formula, and a genuinely solid one — every ingredient is individually disclosed, with no proprietary blends hiding the real doses.
It is also NSF certified, meaning it is independently tested for banned substances & contaminants.
It lands essentially even with C4 Original across the board, with real electrolyte support built in, though focus is the comparative weak point and C4 Ultimate remains the stronger option overall.
Cellucor also still sells an older "4th Generation Legacy Series" version under the same name — a meaningfully weaker, proprietary-blend formula with less caffeine (135mg vs. 200mg here) but more servings per tub (30 vs. 20).
Honest take: A genuinely solid, fairly priced, fully transparent pre-workout with real NSF certification behind it.
Ingredient breakdown
Every dose · every gap| Ingredient | Clinically effective dose | Dose in C4 Sport (5th Gen) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta Alanine | 4.5 g | 2 g | 44%Under-dosed |
| L-Arginine | 4 g | 2 g | 50%Under-dosed |
| Betaine Anhydrous | 2.5 g | 1.25 g | 50%Under-dosed |
| Creatine (from Creatine Nitrate) | 3 g | 0.68 g | 23%Under-dosed |
| Nitrates (from Creatine Nitrate) | 500 mg | 321 mg | 64%Moderate dose |
| Taurine | 2–3 g | 1 g | 50%Under-dosed |
| Caffeine Anhydrous | 200–400 mg | 200 mg | 100%Clinically effective |
| Huperzine-A | 200 mcg | 50 mcg | 25%Under-dosed |
| Magnesium (elemental, from Magnesium Citrate) | 50–150 mg | 20 mg | Hydration support |
| Calcium | 100–300 mg | 25 mg | Hydration support |
| Sodium (elemental, from Sea Salt) | 0.3–1 g | 0.23 g | Hydration support |
| Potassium (elemental, from Dipotassium Phosphate) | 100–400 mg | 190 mg | Hydration support |
- Beta Alanine2 g44%Under-dosed
- L-Arginine2 g50%Under-dosed
- Betaine Anhydrous1.25 g50%Under-dosed
- Creatine (from Creatine Nitrate)0.68 g23%Under-dosed
- Nitrates (from Creatine Nitrate)321 mg64%Moderate dose
- Taurine1 g50%Under-dosed
- Caffeine Anhydrous200 mg100%Clinically effective
- Huperzine-A50 mcg25%Under-dosed
- Magnesium (elemental, from Magnesium Citrate)20 mgHydration support
- Calcium25 mgHydration support
- Sodium (elemental, from Sea Salt)225 mgHydration support
- Potassium (elemental, from Dipotassium Phosphate)190 mgHydration support
Evidence references
Effect of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Maximal Intensity Exercise in Trained Young Male Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Upper- and Lower-Body Strength and Power: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Effects of Caffeine Intake on Endurance Running Performance and Time to Exhaustion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Does One Shot Work? The Acute Impact of a Single Taurine Dose on Exercise Performance: A Meta-Analytic Review
