Mind Lab Pro vs Alpha Brain
The bottom line
Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain are dietary supplements promoted with claims that they can enhance memory or improve brain function. Dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public.
Key takeaways
- Direct evidence that dietary supplements can prevent Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia is lacking.
- The Alpha Brain ingredient list on this page includes cat's claw. Some studies of the use of cat's claw during pregnancy suggest it is unsafe.
- Some supplements can interact with medications, interfere with lab tests, or have dangerous effects during surgery.
- Short-term supplementation with vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid has not been shown to improve cognitive functioning in older adults.
- Before taking a dietary supplement, talk with your health care professional, and take it only as described on the label.
Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain are currently some of the most common nootropics in the USA. They are highly trusted products with many positive reviews.
In this article, I will explain what each of them does and how they are different.
Table of Contents
- What are nootropics?
- Why are nootropics important?
- What is Mind Lab Pro?
- What is Alpha Brain?
- Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain – The Pricing
- Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain – The Ingredients
- What are alternatives?
- Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain: Conclusion
What are nootropics?
Both of those products are classified as nootropics. These are the supplements or drugs that boost our cognitive abilities, such as memory, concentration, creativity, and attention 1.
They can help us in everyday tasks, including:
- Remembering and recalling information – Many students who take nootropics state that those supplements help their study process. They can remember and recall more easily and have high achievements in various fields.
- Motivation – Nootropics affect synapses between neurons in our brains. Some of them can even influence our emotions and motivation by altering synapses in the limbic system (particularly in the amygdala, which plays a role in generating emotions).
- Alertness – Coffee, the most popular nootropic, was known for many centuries for its capacity to increase our alertness and reduce reaction time.
Why are nootropics important?
Nootropics, regardless it is a supplement, or any other substance, is promoted with claims that it can enhance memory or improve brain function. Most people “use” cognitive enhancers unwittingly.
The major compound of everyday nootropics is caffeine, which is naturally found in coffee, cocoa, tea, kola nuts, and guarana and added to many sodas, and energy drinks. Caffeine’s main mechanism of action is mediated by blocking adenosine receptors in your brain, making you feel less tired.
The general recommended dose for caffeine intake is 40-300 mg 2. For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.
What is Mind Lab Pro?
What are the benefits of Mind Lab Pro?
But Mind Lab Pro is an exception to this rule. It is sold over the counter, and they have eye-catching claims on their website, such as:
- Brain Regeneration and Neuroprotection
- Enhanced Motivation
- Increased Energy Levels
- Improved Memory
- Positive Feelings and General Satisfaction
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Mind Lab Pro is a natural supplement developed by the company called Opti-Nutra. People have always been skeptical about the effectiveness of natural nootropics. And indeed, many natural substances are either pseudoscientific or grant minimal benefits to the mind.
Supplements are known to claim such impressive benefits, and one might get lost in the overwhelming descriptions of positive sentiments.
Both supplements make you feel like you are getting super-human strength. But is Mind Lab Pro worth your money? To answer that question, let’s dig deeper into the make-up of this supplement.
Mind Lab Pro: The Ingredient List
The thing that differentiated Mind Lab Pro from the other competitors is the comprehensiveness of the ingredients. While other supplements have one or two main active compounds, Mind Lab Pro marks all the necessary checkboxes that nootropic supplements should possess.
Ingredients are in ample doses and have high quality to provide a positive brain boost. What’s more, Mind Lab Pro is 100% vegan.
Mind Lab Pro contains a unique combination of 11 brain-supporting ingredients that grant the drug its potency.
Here is the full list of Mind Lab Pro ingredients:
- 250 mg Citicoline (Cognizin)
- 175 mg N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
- 100 mg L-Theanine (Suntheanine)
- 100 mg Phosphatidylserine (Sharp PS Green)
- 150 mg Bacopa Monnieri (45% bacosides)
- 75 mg Maritime Pine Bark Extract
- 500 mg Lion’s mane mushroom
- 50 mg Rhodiola rosea (3% rosavins & 1% salidroside)
- 2.5 mg Vitamin B6
- 100 mcg Vitamin B9
- 7.5 mcg Vitamin B12
Let’s dig deeper into some of the most important chemicals for your brain:
Citicoline
Decline in memory and thinking skills that occurs normally with age. Taking citicoline seems to help memory loss in people aged 50 to 85 years.
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Popular dietary supplement on its own. Used to improve alertness, attention, and focus. It generates important brain chemicals that help neurons communicate and may even regulate mood.
L-Theanine (Suntheanine)
One of the very few nootropics that modulate brain waves. It affects alpha waves which are associated with relaxation.
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Involved in the formation and sending of signals within neurons. PS also promotes healthy nerve growth factors and supports the neurogenesis needed for long-term potentiation (LTP). Memory formation depends on healthy LTP.
Bacopa Monnieri
Very well-studied herb used for thousands of years to reduce anxiety and depression, enhance memory formation, and improve general mental performance.
Maritime Pine Bark Extract
Promotes brain regeneration to promote mental clarity and long-range brain health. It also stimulates nitric oxide release to relax blood vessels and support blood flow to the brain.
Lion’s mane mushroom
Helps relieve mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. Direct evidence that dietary supplements can prevent dementia is lacking. Depression can be a serious illness, so consult a health care provider.
Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12
All of the vitamins from the B family are responsible for cognitive health. Short-term supplementation with these three B vitamins has not been shown to improve cognitive functioning in older adults, although longer-term studies have pointed to a possible role in slowing cognitive decline. Taking too much vitamin B6 can cause serious side effects.
So, the main question remains, does Mind Lab Pro actually work with all of those ingredients combined? Since everyone is different and our brain chemistry is dissimilar, it’s difficult to say whether the supplement will work. Nevertheless, Mind Lab Pro is promoted with claims that it can enhance memory or improve brain function, and the FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold.
According to reviews, many people feel its full effect in a couple of weeks. Some profess that it had truly remarkable results, including the ability to double their workload and maintain intense focus for prolonged periods.
Mind Lab Pro is easily absorbed, and therefore you can try taking it with coffee if you are a coffee-lover too. Since both of them are stimulants, they compatibly interact with each other, producing even greater effects. From my experience, combining these 2 helps me to get into the “flow” zone for few hours. The work becomes exciting, and my productivity jumps up significantly. The duration of those effects is individual, but on overage, it lasts 4-5 hours before gradually wearing off. Therefore, Mind Lab Pro is ideal for creativity and heightened attention span.
Why is Mind Lab Pro so popular?
For many popular nootropic companies, the quality is not the main driver of their success, but rather the marketing. Mind Lab Pro has high quality, as well as outstanding marketing. Mind Lab Pro has many positive reviews on Amazon and other websites.
Mind Lab Pro: Safety
The nootropic drugs that are prescriptive and contain synthesized chemicals cause side effects, such as insomnia, blurry vision, high blood pressure, a fast heart rate, circulation problems, and addiction.
Mind Lab Pro is sold as a natural supplement, but do not assume that the term natural ensures that a product is safe. Take it only as described on the label. Having said that, even you feel minor negative changes in your everyday life, such as increased gastrointestinal problems, stop taking the supplement and consult your doctor to check whether Mind Lab Pro is suitable for your current health status.
What is Alpha Brain?
What are the benefits of Alpha Brain?
The supplement claims to support memory and focus and helps to get into the “flow” state.
There are 6 different types of Alpha Brain containers, each with its strong points:
- Shroom TECH Immune – Immunity, General Wellness
- Shroom TECH Sport – Focus, Energy.
- New Mood – Mood, Sleep.
- Alpha Brain – Focus, Memory, Energy.
- Alpha BRAIN Instant – Focus, Memory, Energy.
- Total Human – Focus, Memory, Mood, Energy, Immunity, Sleep, General Wellness.
Having reviewed Mind Lab Pro, you might think how can it have any worthy natural nootropic competitor. But Alpha Brain is not as far from the winner’s title as you imagine. It has many similar properties as its competitor with an impressive price point.
Alpha Brain is a very well-rounded and popular over-the-counter nootropic across the USA. Onnit Labs developed it,and it rapidly rose to popularity after its release in 2011.
Alpha Brain: The Ingredients List
Like the Mind Lab Pro, Alpha Brain is gluten-, caffeine-, nut-, and dairy-free. However, Alpha Brain is not a vegan product.
Many of the ingredients are the same as Mind Lab Pro. Alpha Brain generally has positive reviews on Amazon, and many people feel the effects within a week or so.
Onnit Labs is very meticulous about ingredients, but unfortunately, we don’t know the exact doses:
- Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCl).
- L-Tyrosine.
- Oat (straw) Extract.
- Phosphatidylserine.
- Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (bark) Extract.
- L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC).
- Bacopa (aerial parts) Extract.
- Huperzia serrata (aerial parts) Extract.
- L-Leucine.
- Pterostilbene.
- Vegetarian Capsule (Cellulose, Water).
- Silica
Many of the amino acids and vitamins listed here act as neurotransmitters or stimulants. Most of them are concentrated in the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is highly associated with executive functions and higher thinking.
Why is Alpha Brain so popular?
Since its release in 2011, Alpha Brain’s popularity skyrocketed. Apart from great marketing and quality, their popularity was due to high admiration and endorsements from Joe Rogan and other celebrities.
Alpha Brain: Safety
Alpha Brain contains cat’s claw. Some studies of the use of cat’s claw during pregnancy suggest it is unsafe, and it might interact with anticoagulant, antiplatelet, and blood pressure drugs, although cat’s claw appears to be safe when used orally for short periods of time. However, be wary if you get any of the following: nausea, headaches, jaw pain, body odor, vivid dreams and nightmares, anxiety, insomnia. While Alpha Brain is not addictive, it’s not wise to take pills every day.
Is Alpha Brain Worth it?
Alpha Brain is a dietary supplement, and dietary supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold to the public. It targets getting into the flow state. Even though Alpha Brain is displayed as an organic product, its usage creates an artificial change in the brain.
Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain – The Pricing
If we compare the prices of these 2 products, Alpha Brain is more affordable. Alpha Brain’s container includes 90 capsules for $80. Therefore, it costs $1.78 per day. Mind Lab Pro is $75 for 1 month supply, making it $2.50 per day.
Since the ingredients of both products are comparably superb, it’s hard to say which of them would be more cost-effective. Mind Lab Pro probably costs more partly because it doesn’t contain any fillers.
Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain – The Ingredients
Let’s make side by side nootropic ingredients comparison of Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain:
table
As you can see, Alpha Brain by Onnit is not fully transparent – they’ve smarty protected the individual ingredient amounts inside blended combos.
If we had the exact ingredient amount, it would be easier to make the comparison. Instead, we are left in a position to have a bit of doubt and concern about the Alpha Brain product.
What are alternatives?
While both of those supplements are of excellent quality, there are few natural nootropics that you could try:
Ginkgo Biloba – is marketed for brain health, but it is uncertain whether it actually influences cognitive performance in healthy people.
Creatine – great brain booster for memory, with this natural nootropic improving short-term memory and reasoning, especially in vegetarians and stressed-out individuals 4.
Acetyl L Carnitine – This compound shares similarities with amino acids and works to fuel your body with energy.
Also, be sure to check our ultimate guide about the best nootropic stack.
Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain: Conclusion
Mind Lab Pro and Alpha Brain are dietary supplements promoted with claims that they can enhance memory or improve brain function. The FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold to the public, so talk with a health care professional before taking either.
While Alpha Brain is cheaper, Mind Lab Pro has a perfected ingredient list. Mind Lab Pro is completely a vegan product, compared to Alpha Brain leaning towards the paleo side.
References
- What Are Nootropics or Smart Drugs or Cognitive Enhancers? (2019, July 30). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/nootropics-smart-drugs-overview
- Caffeine: How much is too much? (2020, March 6). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20045678
- Kennedy, D. (2016). B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy—A Review. Nutrients, 8(2), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8020068
- Boost Your Brain Power: Creatine, A Compound Found In Muscle Tissue, Found To Improve Working Memory And General Intelligence. (2003, August 13). ScienceDaily.
