Cordyceps
(Cordyceps militaris)
Yuan G, An L, Sun Y, Xu G, Du P. Improvement of Learning and Memory Induced
by Cordyceps Polypeptide Treatment and the Underlying Mechanism. Evid Based Complement
Alternat Med. 2018 Mar 15;2018:9419264. doi: 10.1155/2018/9419264. PMID: 29736181;
PMCID: PMC5874985.
Kim YO, Kim HJ, Abu-Taweel GM, Oh J, Sung GH. Neuroprotective and therapeutic effect
of Cordyceps militaris on ischemia-induced neuronal death and cognitive impairments. Saudi J
Biol Sci. 2019 Nov;26(7):1352-1357. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.08.011. Epub 2018 Aug 17. PMID:
31762595; PMCID: PMC6864366.
Nkodo A. A Systematic Review of in-vivo Studies on Dietary Mushroom Supplementation for
Cognitive Impairment (P14-021-19). Curr Dev Nutr. 2019 Jun 13;3(Suppl 1):nzz052.P14-021-19.
doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzz052.P14-021-19. PMCID: PMC6574952.
Lion's Mane
(Hericium erinaceus)
Docherty S, Doughty FL, Smith EF. The Acute and Chronic Effects of Lion's Mane Mushroom
Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Stress and Mood in Young Adults: A Double-Blind,
Parallel Groups, Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2023 Nov 20;15(22):4842. doi: 10.3390/nu15224842.
PMID: 38004235; PMCID: PMC10675414.
Saitsu Y, Nishide A, Kikushima K, Shimizu K, Ohnuki K. Improvement of cognitive functions by
oral intake of Hericium erinaceus. Biomed Res. 2019;40(4):125-131. doi:
10.2220/biomedres.40.125. PMID: 31413233.
Written by David Rossiaky on February 22, 2023; Fact checked by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph.D.,
Latest Study Suggests Lion's Mane Mushrooms May Boost Brain Health; Healthline.com
Tongkat Ali
(Eurycoma Longifolia)
Tambi MI, Imran MK, Henkel RR. Standardized water-soluble extract of Eurycoma longifolia,
Tongkat Ali, as testosterone booster for managing men with late-onset hypogonadism?
Andrologia. 2012 May;44 Suppl 1:226-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01168.x. Epub 2011
Jun 15. PMID: 21671978.
Talbott SM, Talbott JA, George A, Pugh M. Effect of Tongkat Ali on stress hormones and
psychological mood state in moderately stressed subjects. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013 May
26;10(1):28. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-10-28. PMID: 23705671; PMCID: PMC3669033.
Alice Erwig Leitão, Melissa Carvalho de Souza Vieira, Andreia Pelegrini, Edson Luiz da Silva,
Adriana Coutinho de Azevedo Guimarães, A 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized trial to evaluate the effect of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) and concurrent
training on erectile function and testosterone levels in androgen deficiency of aging males
(ADAM), Maturitas, Volume 145, 2021, Pages 78-85, ISSN 0378-5122.
Cissus Quadrangularis
Oben JE, Enyegue DM, Fomekong GI, Soukontoua YB, Agbor GA. The effect of Cissus
quadrangularis (CQR-300) and a Cissus formulation (CORE) on obesity and obesity-induced
oxidative stress. Lipids Health Dis. 2007 Feb 4;6:4. doi: 10.1186/1476-511X-6-4. PMID:
17274828; PMCID: PMC1800848.
Piyush S. Bafna, Payal H. Patil, Saurabh K. Maru, Rakesh E. Mutha, Cissus quadrangularis L: A
comprehensive multidisciplinary review, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 279, 2021,
114355, ISSN 0378-8741.
D. UM, J. Akhtar, and S. A. Khan, in Chemistry, Biological Activities and Therapeutic Applications
of Medicinal Plants in Ayurveda, ed. A. Amalraj, S. Kuttappan, and K. Varma, The Royal Society
of Chemistry, 2022, ch. 12, pp. 289-324.
Fadogia Agrestis
Yakubu MT, Akanji MA, Oladiji AT. Aphrodisiac potentials of the aqueous extract of Fadogia
agrestis (Schweinf. Ex Hiern) stem in male albino rats. Asian J Androl. 2005 Dec;7(4):399-404.
doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2005.00052.x. PMID: 16281088.
What are Fadogia Agrestis’ Main Benefits? October 26, 2023, Examine.com
Oyekunle, O.A., Okojie, A.K. & Udoh, U.S. Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of an Extract
of Fadogia agrestis in Rats. Neurophysiology 42, 124–129 (2010).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-010-9140-x
Creatine Monohydrate
Avgerinos KI, Spyrou N, Bougioukas KI, Kapogiannis D. Effects of creatine supplementation on
cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Exp Gerontol. 2018 Jul 15;108:166-173. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013. Epub 2018 Apr 25.
PMID: 29704637; PMCID: PMC6093191.
Gordji-Nejad, A., Matusch, A., Kleedörfer, S. et al. Single dose creatine improves cognitive
performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep
deprivation. Sci Rep 14, 4937 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54249-9
Sandkühler, J.F., Kersting, X., Faust, A. et al. The effects of creatine supplementation on
cognitive performance—a randomised controlled study. BMC Med 21, 440 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03146-5
L-Citrulline
Theodorou AA, Zinelis PT, Malliou VJ, Chatzinikolaou PN, Margaritelis NV, Mandalidis D, Geladas
ND, Paschalis V. Acute L-Citrulline Supplementation Increases Nitric Oxide Bioavailability but
Not Inspiratory Muscle Oxygenation and Respiratory Performance. Nutrients. 2021 Sep
22;13(10):3311. doi: 10.3390/nu13103311. PMID: 34684312; PMCID: PMC8537281.
Yabuki Y, Shioda N, Yamamoto Y, Shigano M, Kumagai K, Morita M, Fukunaga K. Oral L-citrulline
administration improves memory deficits following transient brain ischemia through
cerebrovascular protection. Brain Res. 2013 Jul 3;1520:157-67. doi:
10.1016/j.brainres.2013.05.011. Epub 2013 May 16. PMID: 23685189.
Shafqat, A. (2016) CITRULLINE AND ITS EFFECTS ON MOOD AND COGNITVE FUNCTION, Queen
Margaret University, Edinburgh, no. 52.
Shilajit
(Asphaltum punjabianum)
Dinesh Kumar Surapaneni, Sree Rama Shiva Shanker Adapa, Kumari Preeti, Gangineni Ravi Teja,
Muruganandam Veeraragavan, Sairam Krishnamurthy, Shilajit attenuates behavioral symptoms
of chronic fatigue syndrome by modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and
mitochondrial bioenergetics in rats, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 143, Issue 1, 2012,
Pages 91-99, ISSN 0378-8741
Jaiswal, A.K.; Bhattacharya, S.K.. Effects of Shilajit on Memory, Anxiety and Brain Monoamines
in Rats. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 24(1):p 12-17, Jan–Mar 1992.
Carlos Carrasco-Gallardo, Leonardo Guzman, Ricardo B. Maccioni, Shilajit: A Natural
Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease,
Volume 2012, Issue 1, 674142, 23 Feb 2012.
Annatto
(Bixa orellana)
Sen CK, Khanna S, Rink C, Roy S. Tocotrienols: the emerging face of natural vitamin E. Vitam
Horm. 2007;76:203-61. doi: 10.1016/S0083-6729(07)76008-9. PMID: 17628176; PMCID:
PMC3681510.
Rae Yi Xin Par, Cheryl Wei Ling Teo, Javier Joon Kiat Tan, Yee Wei Ung, Kiang Soon Heng, Li Ting
Hang, Mervyn Yeo, Wei Ney Yap, An Open-Label, Single-Arm Pilot Study of Tocotrienols
Supplementation on Improving Memory and Attention in Healthy Young Adults, Journal of
Functional Foods, Volume 92, 2022, 105055, ISSN 1756-4646.
Sen CK, Khanna S, Roy S. Tocotrienols: Vitamin E beyond tocopherols. Life Sci. 2006 Mar
27;78(18):2088-98. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2005.12.001. Epub 2006 Feb 3. PMID: 16458936; PMCID:
PMC1790869.
Green Tea
(Camellia sinensis)
A.B. Sharangi, Medicinal and Therapeutic Potentialities of Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) – A review,
Food Research International, Volume 42, Issues 5–6, 2009, Pages 529-535, ISSN 0963-9969.
Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, RDN, CDCES; Written by Kris Gunnars, BSc and Dylan
Bailey, MS, RD, FAND; Updated on December 6, 2023; 10 Evidence-Based Benefits of Green Tea;
Healthline.com
Silvia A. Mandel, Tamar Amit, Limor Kalfon, Lydia Reznichenko, MoussaBH Youdim, Targeting
Multiple Neurodegenerative Diseases Etiologies with Multimodal-Acting Green Tea
Catechins12, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 138, Issue 8, 2008, Pages 1578S-1583S, ISSN
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Black Pepper Standarized Extract 95% piperine
(Piper nigrum)
Makayla Meixner MS, RDN, March 21, 2019, 11 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Black Pepper,
Healthline.com
Balakrishnan R, Azam S, Kim IS, Choi DK. Neuroprotective Effects of Black Pepper and Its
Bioactive Compounds in Age-Related Neurological Disorders. Aging Dis. 2023 Jun 1;14(3):750-
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Medically reviewed by Sade Meeks, MS, RD; Written by Alicia Sparks Akers, June 2, 2021; What
are the Health Benefits of Black Pepper? medicalnewstoday.com
Boron
(as boron glycinate)
Penland, J.G., Dietary Boron, Brain Function, and Cognitive Performance, Environ Health
Perspect, 1994 Nov;102 Suppl 7(Suppl 7):65-72. doi: 10.1289/ehp.94102s765.
Pizzorno L. Nothing Boring About Boron. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015 Aug;14(4):35-48. PMID:
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Mohammad Reza Naghii, Mahmoud Mofid, Ali Reza Asgari, Mehdi Hedayati, Maryam-Saddat
Daneshpour, Comparative Effects of Daily and Weekly Boron Supplementation on Plasma
Steroid Hormones and Proinflammatory Cytokines, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and
Biology, Volume 25, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 54-58, ISSN 0946-672X.
Vitamin D3
(as cholecalciferol)
Eyles DW. Vitamin D: Brain and Behavior. JBMR Plus. 2020 Oct 18;5(1):e10419. doi:
10.1002/jbm4.10419. PMID: 33553986; PMCID: PMC7839822.
Gáll Z, Székely O. Role of Vitamin D in Cognitive Dysfunction: New Molecular Concepts and
Discrepancies between Animal and Human Findings. Nutrients. 2021 Oct 20;13(11):3672. doi:
10.3390/nu13113672. PMID: 34835929; PMCID: PMC8620681.
Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc., Tufts Unviversity, Dec 7 2022, Study: People with higher
levels of vitamin D in the brain have better cognitive function, news-medical.com
Vitamin B6
(as pyridoxine HCl)
Field DT, Cracknell RO, Eastwood JR, Scarfe P, Williams CM, Zheng Y, Tavassoli T. High-dose
Vitamin B6 supplementation reduces anxiety and strengthens visual surround suppression.
Hum Psychopharmacol. 2022 Nov;37(6):e2852. doi: 10.1002/hup.2852. Epub 2022 Jul 19. PMID:
35851507; PMCID: PMC9787829.
Hughes CF, Ward M, Tracey F, Hoey L, Molloy AM, Pentieva K, McNulty H. B-Vitamin Intake and
Biomarker Status in Relation to Cognitive Decline in Healthy Older Adults in a 4-Year Follow-Up
Study. Nutrients. 2017 Jan 10;9(1):53. doi: 10.3390/nu9010053. PMID: 28075382; PMCID:
PMC5295097.
Kang JH, Cook N, Manson J, Buring JE, Albert CM, Grodstein F. A trial of B vitamins and cognitive
function among women at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008
Dec;88(6):1602-10. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26404. PMID: 19064521; PMCID: PMC3470481.
Magnesium
(as magnesium L-threonate)
Medically reviewed by Adam Bernstein, MD, ScD — Written by Zia Sherrell, MPH; Updated February 16, 2024, Medical News Today,www.medicalnewstoday.com
Heather A. Hausenblas, Tarah Lynch, Stephanie Hooper, Aahana Shrestha, Doug Rosendale, Jennifer Gu, Magnesium-L-threonate improves sleep quality and daytime functioning in adults with self-reported sleep problems: A randomized controlled trial,Sleep Medicine: X,Volume 8, 2024, 100121, ISSN 2590-1427
Surman C, Vaudreuil C, Boland H, Rhodewalt L, DiSalvo M, Biederman J. L-Threonic Acid Magnesium Salt Supplementation in ADHD: An Open-Label Pilot Study. J Diet Suppl. 2021;18(2):119-131. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2020.1731044. Epub 2020 Mar 12. PMID: 32162987.
Zinc
(as amino acid chelate)
Bhatnagar S, Taneja S. Zinc and cognitive development. Br J Nutr. 2001 May;85 Suppl 2:S139-
45. doi: 10.1079/bjn2000306. PMID: 11509102.
Eugenio Mocchegiani, Carlo Bertoni-Freddari, Fiorella Marcellini, Marco Malavolta. Brain, Aging
and Neurodegeneration: Role of Zinc Ion Availability. Progress in Neurobiology, Volume 75,
Issue 6, 2005, Pages 367-390, ISSN 0301-0082.
de Vargas LDS, Jantsch J, Fontoura JR, Dorneles GP, Peres A, Guedes RP. Effects of Zinc
Supplementation on Inflammatory and Cognitive Parameters in Middle-Aged Women with
Overweight or Obesity. Nutrients. 2023 Oct 17;15(20):4396. doi: 10.3390/nu15204396. PMID:
37892471; PMCID: PMC10609714.