Mind Lab Pro Ingredients: Is the formula any good?

As you’ll know if you came here from our review of Mind Lab Pro, this is a nootropic supplement made by Opti Nutra. This UK-based supplement company also makes Performance Lab Mind, another popular brain supplement.

Mind Lab Pro is frequently featured on lists of the best nootropics published by leading nootropics websites. It is currently ranked #2 on our top nootropics list precisely because of its impressive ingredients list. But a lot of people – especially those new to nootropics – might not know what these active ingredients are or how they work.

This Mind Lab Pro ingredients guide will discuss all 11 ingredients as well as their respective roles in the human brain.

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Mind Lab Pro Ingredients

Clinically tested in independent trials (using human participants), each of the 11 Mind Lab Pro ingredients have been proven safe for regular human consumption.

 

Typical of Opti Nutra, a lot of effort has gone into ensuring the purity and “cleanliness” of every constituent of Mind Lab Pro. Each ingredient in the nootropic is vegan-friendly, non GMO, and 100% natural. Here are brief overview of the individual ingredients in Mind Lab Pro and how they work.

Citicoline

Citicoline is the main active ingreident in Mind Lab Pro, responsible for a lot of the mental performance benefits associated with this stack. Citicoline increases levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is the main executive neurotransmitter. Higher acetylcholine levels improves cognitive performance across multiple measures, especially brain fog and mental processing speed.

Citicoline also increases mental energy by as much as 13%, and it has been shown to increase brain cell membrane formation by 26 percent. Mind Lab Pro contains 250mg, which is a great dose.

Phosphatidylserine

The brain cell membranes contain the majority of Phosphatidylserine, which provides fluidity, enhances receptors and increases neurotransmitters. This nootropic supports brain cell energy, nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain cell repair by increasing glucose metabolism. It facilitates the transmission of brain chemicals.

Mind Lab Pro uses Sharp PS Green, a branded form of Sunflower Lecithin, which they claim is more bioavailable than normal phosphatidylserine and better at arresting cognitive decline. We think using Sharp PS Green is just a waste of money – there’s no real difference between that and normal phosphatidylserine.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa monnieri is a fantastic natural nootropic and one of the most effective memory supplements in the world. There is some disagreement over how this Mind Lab Pro ingredient really works. Studies show that it is an adaptogen, and others show it to have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

We think the best evidence suggests that Bacopa monnieri promotes neuron dendrite growth. This would explain why 200-300mg per day for 12 weeks can have such a massive effect on memory retention, memory formation accuracy and memory recall speed.

Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Mind Lab Pro is a unique ingredient that provides nootropics and hericenones as well as erinacines. It increases NGF production, which can sustain brain plasticity and assist with brain cell formation and function. This has the effect of dramatically improving memory function, focus and overall cognitive performance in the long-term.

Lion’s mane is probably the best natural nootropic supplement for boosting brain regeneration. Mind Lab Pro doses it at 500mg, which is plenty.

Maritime Pine Bark Extract

Maritime pine bark extract is a very specialist nootropic ingredient, and it is one that sets Mind Lab Pro apart from the herd. Maritime pine bark is extremely rich in proanthocyanidins; compounds which both protect brain cells from oxidative stress and promote cerebral blood flow. This makes it a great supplement for long-term brain health and a powerful guard against brain degeneration.

But as we’ll discuss below, we don’t think this antioxidant is significantly better than other antioxidants proven to help with brain health, such as pterostilbene.

L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosineis an amino acid and a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine. As well as being vital for optimal cognitive function, dopamine is responsible for motivation and mood balance. Tyrosine supplements increase dopamine, which in turn boosts motivation and enhnces mental performance generally.

Mind Lab Pro uses N-Acetyl–L-Tyrosine, which Opti Nutra claim is much more bioavailable than L-Tyrosine. A review of the clinical evidence suggests that there is no real difference between L-Tyrosine and N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine.

L-Theanine

Theanine is one of the most commonly used natural ingredients in nootropic stacks, so it is no surprise to see it listed on the Mind Lab Pro ingredients list. An amino acid found in tea, Theanine has some pretty impressive nootropic properties. Consuming large doses helps clear brain fog, enhance focus and increase brain energy.

Most importantly, Theanine counters the negative effects of caffeine and other stimulants while simultaneously heightening the benefits of those substances. By stacking theanine and caffeine, you can enjoy massive increases in energy and focus with only mild side effects.

Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogen used to fight chronic stress and fatigue. As an adaptogen, it works by making your body – including your brain – more resistant to the negative effects of stress and anxiety. This has several cognitive benefits, including improved mental processing and more mental clarity.

Some studies have found that Rhodiola rosea supplementation can be as effective as prescription drugs such as sertraline for reducing depression and anxiety. Mind Lab Pro contains a fairly good dose of Rhodiola which should benefit practically everybody.

Vitamin B6

It may seem like a simple vitamin, but B6 is a nootropic supplement in its own right when used correctly. First and foremost, B6 is a great supplement for boosting brain energy levels.It is a vital nutrient for energy metabolism, and having low B6 will leave your brain cells unable to release energy from food.

But perhaps more importantly for a nootropic ingredient, B6 is needed for dopamine synthesis. The Tyrosine in Mind Lab Pro would be fairly useless without B6 to help you turn it into usable brain dopamine!

Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9, also known as folate, has the most significant nootropic properties of all the B vitamins. More than one clinical study has found that B9 supplementation improves cognitive function. Several peer reviewed studies have suggested that B9 supplementation may protect the brain from age related cognitive decline by reducing homocysteine levels. This helps keep the brain oxygenated, promoting brain cell regeneration and healthy neuron function.

Vitamin B12

Like B6 and folate, B12 is a highly effective nootropic with serious neuroprotective properties. There is a reason why B12 is in all the best cognitive enhancers after all!

B12 is needed for several bodily processes important for cognition. Low B12 is a common cause of chronic fatigue, and B12 deficiencies can lead to mild cognitive impairment as your ability to create and maintain nerve cells will be reduced.

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Mind Lab Pro Formula FAQs

Does Mind Lab Pro work immediately?

Many users report immediate cognitive benefits within a couple of hours of taking a 4-capsule double-serving of Mind Lab Pro. This is no doubt down to the significant dose of Citicoline. However, the main benefits of Mind Lab Pro only kick in after 6-12 weeks of daily use.

Does Mind Lab Pro increase dopamine?

Mind Lab Pro contains N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine which is a precursor to dopamine. Supplementing with Tyrosine in any form has been found to increase dopamine levels in the brain.

Does Mind Lab Pro contain caffeine?

No, Mind Lab Pro does not contain any caffeine. Most people recommend taking Mind Lab Pro with coffee i you want a sitmulatory effect. We advise taking Vyvamind instead if you want the focus and energy kick of caffeine.

Can you take Mind Lab Pro on an empty stomach?

You can take Mind Lab Pro on an empty stomach. Taking this nootropic before breakfast with coffee will typically heighten its effects and make them come on much quicker.

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Conclusion: Is Mind Lab Pro’s formula any good?

Mind Lab Pro contains 11 ingredients which have all been proven to enhance cognition in some way in clinical trials. In most cases, the ingredients have the backing of multiple randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials.

Importantly, the Mind Lab Pro formula is composed of natural ingredients with clinical range dosages known to improve cognitive function. None of the ingredients are thought to cause side effects

We have no doubt that Mind Lab Pro can help improve mental performance in a similar manner even to pharmaceutical smart drugs.

But is Mind Lab Pro the best nootropic you can use right now?

We don’t think so.

In terms of boosting mental performance and controlling stress in times of peak cognitive demand, we think there are better, far cheaper nootropic supplements out there.

Learn more: Mind Lab Pro for ADHD.

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Is Mind Lab Pro Worth The Money?

Any discussion of a nootropic’s formula needs to finish with a look at the price.A stack can have the best ingredient list imaginable but if it costs $500 a bottle it’s obviously not a great option.

A one-month supply of Mind Lab Pro currenlty costs $69.00!

That is extremely expensive, even for a complete daily nootropic like this.

The reason Mind Lab Pro is so expensive is that opti Nutra hagve insisted on using the most costly ingredient forms possible wherever they could. By this we mean using branded, patented compounds instead of more generic or “white label” ingredients.

This might sound like a good thing, and it can be. But the Mind Lab Pro formula is not improved in any way by vitrue of the fact it uses branded ingredients.

there is no difference between Sharp PS Green and any other kind of pure phosphatidylserine as far as the body is concerned. The only difference is how it is produced; something that makes it substantially more expensive but changes nothing about the end product.

The same goes for NALT, Suntheanine, and Cognizin – all products that are produced in an obscure way but are indistinguishable to pure, generic versions of the same ingredients.

Compared with other nootropics, the formula just doesn’t look worth the $70 price tag. NooCube, for example, covers all of the same aspects of brain function as Mind Lab Pro – brain fog, memory retention, long-range brain health, all of it.

It doesn’t waste money on vanity ingredient forms. It does contain Lutemax, but this form of lutein has actually been proven to be more effective than other forms of the compound, so the extra cost is worth it. In any case, NooCube costs $29.99 a bottle when you buy the largest package, or half the price of Mind Lab Pro.