What is the difference between Growth and Build in Transparent Labs?

January 3, 2026 •

3 min read

Over 4,000 supplement brands compete in the U.S. alone, making it difficult to understand the fine distinctions between products. Transparent Labs' Growth and Build supplements, despite similar-sounding names, target distinct aspects of fitness: Growth focuses on muscle cell signaling, while Build provides a broader performance-enhancing and recovery formula.

Quick Summary

This guide breaks down the core differences between Transparent Labs' Growth and Build supplements, focusing on their key ingredients, primary benefits, and ideal use cases to help you align your supplement choice with your specific fitness goals.

Key Points

Growth targets pure muscle mass: The supplement is a single-ingredient formula based on Mediator® Phosphatidic Acid, which directly activates the mTOR pathway for muscle protein synthesis.
Build is for comprehensive performance: Build uses a blend of multiple ingredients like PeakO2™ and elevATP® to support endurance, strength, and overall athletic output.
Different mechanisms of action: Growth focuses on anabolic signaling at the cellular level, while Build improves oxygen utilization, energy availability, and nutrient absorption.
Stacking is possible: You can combine Growth and Build to get the benefits of both, addressing both muscle-building and overall performance simultaneously.
Choose based on your goal: Select Growth for hypertrophy-focused training or Build for broader athletic performance and endurance goals.

Understanding the Core Differences Between Transparent Labs Growth and Build

Transparent Labs, a brand known for its transparent labeling and evidence-based formulas, offers a variety of supplements for serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Two of their most frequently compared products are Growth and Build. While both aim to support muscle-building efforts, their mechanisms and core ingredients are fundamentally different, addressing distinct needs in an athlete's regimen.

Transparent Labs Growth: Targeting Muscle Hypertrophy at the Cellular Level

Transparent Labs Growth is a highly specialized, single-ingredient formula designed specifically to enhance muscle protein synthesis and promote lean muscle mass. Its effectiveness hinges on one key ingredient: Mediator® Phosphatidic Acid.

The Science Behind Phosphatidic Acid

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a lipid molecule involved in cell signaling, including activating the mTOR pathway, a key regulator of muscle protein synthesis and growth, especially when muscles are subjected to mechanical tension from resistance training. Supplementing with PA, such as through Growth, can amplify this signaling, leading to increases in muscle thickness, strength, and lean body mass in trained individuals. This approach directly supports muscle building regardless of protein intake.

Transparent Labs Build: A Comprehensive Performance Booster

Transparent Labs Build is a multi-ingredient formula aimed at improving overall athletic performance, endurance, and speeding up recovery. Instead of focusing on a single pathway, Build combines several compounds for a holistic effect.

Key Ingredients in the Build Formula

Build contains a mix of ingredients chosen for specific benefits. These include:

PeakO2™: Adaptogenic mushrooms to improve oxygen utilization and stamina.
elevATP®: To boost cellular energy (ATP) for muscle contractions.
Epicatechin: A flavonoid that may inhibit myostatin, a muscle growth regulator, and improve blood flow.
AstraGin®: To enhance nutrient absorption.
SenActiv®: An adaptogenic blend supporting muscle energy and recovery.

This blend helps Build support performance across several areas, from power output to reducing fatigue and aiding recovery.

Comparison: Growth vs. Build

Here's a comparison to highlight the main differences between Growth and Build:


Feature	Transparent Labs Growth	Transparent Labs Build
Primary Goal	Maximize muscle hypertrophy and lean mass.	Enhance overall athletic performance, strength, endurance, and recovery.
Key Ingredient(s)	Mediator® Phosphatidic Acid.	PeakO2™, elevATP®, Epicatechin, AstraGin®, SenActiv®.
Mechanism of Action	Activates the mTOR pathway to directly stimulate muscle protein synthesis.	Uses multiple ingredients to boost ATP production, inhibit myostatin, improve oxygen utilization, and enhance nutrient absorption.
Ideal User	Individuals whose main focus is maximizing muscle mass gain and body composition.	Athletes or gym-goers seeking a comprehensive performance boost to train harder, longer, and with more stamina.
Best Used	For dedicated muscle growth cycles and maintenance.	During intense training blocks or when overall performance optimization is the goal.
Stackability	Can be easily stacked with other products like Build and Creatine HMB.	Works synergistically with other supplements, including Growth.

Choosing the Right Supplement for Your Goals

Your fitness goals are the key to deciding between Growth and Build. If your main objective is significant lean muscle growth, Growth is a direct and powerful option, focusing on the mTOR signaling pathway with phosphatidic acid. This is best during hypertrophy-focused training.

If you prioritize overall athletic performance, including endurance, strength, and faster recovery, Build offers a broader solution. Its blend of ingredients supports various performance aspects, making it suitable for athletes in diverse activities. Transparent Labs also notes that stacking Growth and Build is possible to combine the anabolic signaling of Growth with the performance benefits of Build.

Understanding their distinct functions is essential. Growth is specialized for muscle mass, while Build is a more general performance enhancer. Your training phase and desired results should guide your choice.

Can Growth and Build Be Stacked Together?

Yes, Growth and Build can be stacked for enhanced results. Combining them offers the benefits of both: Growth's direct muscle protein synthesis boost and Build's improvements in endurance, ATP, and recovery. This combined approach supports both cellular growth signals and the metabolic needs for peak performance.

Conclusion: Selecting Based on Your Training Needs

Transparent Labs' Growth and Build are both science-backed but serve different purposes. Growth is focused on maximizing muscle hypertrophy through phosphatidic acid, while Build is a broader formula for enhancing various aspects of athletic performance, like stamina and recovery. Choose based on your primary goal – pure muscle mass for Growth, or overall performance for Build. Stacking them is an option for those wanting a comprehensive strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main active ingredient in Transparent Labs Growth is Mediator® Phosphatidic Acid, which is designed to stimulate the mTOR pathway and drive muscle protein synthesis for enhanced hypertrophy.

Transparent Labs Build provides a range of benefits including enhanced athletic performance, improved endurance, increased strength, and faster recovery due to its blend of adaptogenic mushrooms, ATP boosters, and other ergogenic aids.

For the specific goal of maximizing muscle mass gain, Growth is the more targeted and potent option, as it is formulated to directly enhance the cellular signaling required for muscle hypertrophy.

Yes, Growth and Build can be safely and effectively stacked together. Transparent Labs suggests they are complementary, with Growth boosting anabolic signaling and Build augmenting overall athletic capacity.

No, Growth is not a pre-workout supplement. It is a stimulant-free anabolic catalyst designed for muscle growth and can be stacked with other pre- or post-workout products.

Build contains PeakO2™, a blend of adaptogenic mushrooms that has been shown to improve oxygen utilization and increase time to exhaustion, which supports endurance during long and intense workouts.

Transparent Labs stands out by using clinically-dosed, research-backed ingredients without proprietary blends, artificial sweeteners, or fillers. All products are third-party tested to ensure purity and potency.

Choose Growth if your primary goal is maximizing muscle hypertrophy. Opt for Build if you need a comprehensive performance boost covering endurance, stamina, and recovery. For maximum results, consider stacking both based on your training phases.