Posted 08 April 2011 - 04:42 PM
i found this supplement, which seems like a good starting point for nootropics....any thoughts?
BrainVigor™ is the most advanced brain formula available today. It's formula has many state of the art nutritional supplements/nootropics including Piracetam, Vinpocetine, Phosphatidylserine, and a lot more. BrainVigor™ has many of the B vitamins that have been found by leading researchers to support optimal brain function, and to top it off an herbal blend of high potency Bacopa Monniera 37% bacosides A+B, Rhodiola Rosea Extract 3% Rosavins, Ginkgo Biloba Extract 24/6 and Panax Ginseng Extract 80 % ginsenosides (saponins. The Rhodiola Extract and the Ginseng Extract are adaptogenic herbs, which are herbs that helps one body to deal with stress and is also known to give energy and endurance. The Ginkgo Biloba has been used for thousand of years in China to help improve circulation to the brain and brain function. Some of the other cutting edge ingredients are listed below.
Cholinergics are chemicals that effect the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, or the parts of our nervous system that use Acetylcholine. Acetylcholine aids memory, concentration, focus, and high-level thought such as: abstract thought, calculations, and innovation. Studies have shown that improving the abundance of Acetylcholine in the brain improves these mental functions and increases the time they may be used without slowing down or stopping. However, be aware that overuse of cholinergetics may have a detrimental effect. The cholinergetics that BrainVigor contain are Acetyl l-Carnitine, DMAE, Piracetam & Vinpocetine.
Piracetam is the most studied and well known of the nootropics. Piracetam (nootropyl) is reported to be an intelligence booster and CNS (central nervous system) stimulant with no known toxicity or addictive properties. Piracetam (2-oxo-Pyrrolidine Acetamide) is derived from the neurotransmitter GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid). The subjective effect described by some people is that piracetam, "wakes up your brain." It's effects and safety are so impressive that piracetam prompted the creation of a new pharmaceutical category called nootropics. The term nootropic comes from a Greek word meaning "acting on the mind."
The effect of piracetam can be increased if taken with DMAE, choline, or Hydergine. When choline and piracetam are taken together there is a synergistic effect that causes a greater improvement in memory than the sum of each when taken alone (Bartus, 1981). One of the most intriguing effects of piracetam is that it promotes the flow of information between the right and left hemispheres of the brain (Buresova, 1976). (Note Excerpt From Smart Drugs & Nutrients Vol 1 by Ward Dean, MD & John Morgenthaler. Excellent source of information and a highly recommended book)
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) is similar to choline, a chemical involved in the processes of learning and memory. It has been known to be beneficial for people with autism, memory deficiency and dementia. It is best not to take it on a daily basis, but to reserve it for days when you need to increase alertness and focus. DMAE can have a slight mood and vision enhancing effect in some people. DMAE has been used to treat America's silent epidemic: Attention Deficit Disorder.
Studies show that DMAE can elevate mood and promote more restful sleep, as well as help increase mental focus, clarity of thought and muscle tone. DMAE occurs naturally in the body. It may be useful in slowing lipofuscion (aging spots) both on the skin and in the brain. In clinical studies, DMAE supplementation has shown great success in the treatment of learning disorders in children. It is also very effective in enhancing mental performance in adults. The secret is DMAE's ability to promote the formation of acetylcholine, an important brain neurotransmitter. DMAE and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) are the breakdown products of the Romanian youth drug, Gerovital.
Phosphatidyl serine does all this through the following actions: Phosphatidyl serine stimulates the release of dopamine (a mood regulator that also controls physical sensations and movement), increases the production of acetylcholine (necessary for learning and memory), enhances brain glucose metabolism (the fuel used for brain activity), reduces levels of cortisol (a stress hormone), and boosts the activity of nerve growth factor, which oversees the health of cholinergic neurons.
When we reach middle age, our levels of Phosphatidyl serine begin to decline, an effect that is worsened by deficiencies of other essential fatty acids, folic acid or vitamin B12. Because Phosphatidyl serine is necessary for effective neurotransmission, Phosphatidyl serine deficiency is linked to mental impairment, including Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementia, depression and Parkinson's disease among middle-aged and elderly people.
Phosphatidyl serine supplements may give a 50-year-old the same brainpower as a healthy 20-year-old. Does this sound too good to be true? Well, according to the 2002 Bottom Line Yearbook, "Phosphatidylserine is the only medication that's been proven to reverse age-related memory loss in clinical studies." Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid concentrated in the brain that maintains memory, learning, concentration, word recall, and mood.
R (+) Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant that contains the "R" form of Alpha Lipoic Acid. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a well known antioxidant formula that is believed to help delay the onset of aging, act as a potent antioxidant in the brain, and has applications for blood sugar regulation.
B Vitamins:
Niacinamide Vitamin B-3 is one of the water-soluble B-complex vitamins. Niacin, or nicotinic acid. Niacinamide is important for many reasons, but especially for its striking effect upon the circulatory and nervous systems. Niacinamide is very important for brain metabolism. Vitamin B3 has helped elderly patients regain mental clarity; because it dilates blood vessels, niacinamide brings more oxygen to the brain.
Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine HCL) is essential for the production of neurotransmitters and for healthy brain function. B6 may also alleviate symptoms including depression and irritability. Any single nutrient deficiency can alter brain function and neurotransmitter production. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that carry information from one nerve cell to another. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with mood are folic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12. Deficiencies of these nutrients are related to anxiety, irritability, apathy, confusion, fatigue, forgetfulness, moodiness and depression.
Vitamin B-12: With recent biotechnology research, vitamin B12 has shown to provide significant mental health benefits to those suffering from depression, those suffering from dementia and even Alzheimer's patients. In fact, with proper dosing of B12 early in age, these same mental health and brain functioning impairments may be prevented. The most common basis on which vitamin B12 is prescribed by a healthcare professional. Once administered, patients will commonly report improved energy levels and, with improved energy, there is increased oxygen flow which, in turn, promotes healthy brain tissue and improves cognitive and reasoning processes within the brain.
Pantothenic Acid: Your body can’t make acetylcholine for intelligent thinking without using pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, for its assembly from choline. So if you’re taking lecithin, choline or DMAE, you need to make sure you have a source of pantothenic acid as well. Pantothenic acid is also a stamina enhancer as it is essential for making steroid hormones, including natural cortisone, which is particularly important when you’re under stress.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 6 Capsules Amount Per Serv. %Daily Value
Pantothenic Acid 80 mg 1600%
B-6 (Pyridoxine HCL) 25 mg 1250%
Niacinamide 20 mg 100%
B-12 1000 mcg 16700%
Piracetam 1000 mg **
Acetyl L-Carnitine 1000 mg **
Choline Bitartrate 1000 mg **
DMAE 250 mg **
Phosphatidylserine 100 mg **
R-Lipoic Acid 100 mg **
Ginkgo Biloba 24/6 100 mg **
Bacopa Monniera 37% 100 mg **
Rhodiola Rosea Extract 100 mg **
Panax Ginseng Extract 80% 100 mg **
Vinpocetine 15 mg **
