I’ve tested and analysed Onnit’s flagship nootropic product “Alpha Brain”. I’ve found that Onnit Labs have been quite a staple in the health supplement industry. They’re claiming that this Alpha Brain product is capable of enhancing cognitive functions, so I put it to the test and will share with you my findings first hand!
I have personally tested and rated Alpha Brain and will dissect the evidence also behind it’s ingredients. I’ve found that there have been a few criticisms in the world of nootropics, some of which have been of both Alpha Brain and Onnit Labs, so I will also let you know my point of view. Are these criticisms really justified? I’m also going to compare Alpha Brain to some other alternatives available on the market. Lets begin!
Alpha Brain: my review of their Nootropic claims:
So, Alpha Brain is advertised as a nootropic supplement which in basic terms means that it aims to improve various mental functions. One of the key things it claims to do (which I really needed) was to help with mental clarity and efficiency. We all know that clear thinking is important! [1]. I felt that one of the main points going for the product is that it doesn’t contain caffeine, which is important as many brain supplements do use caffeine [2]. So Alpha Brain is good in that respect as without caffeine Alpha Brain tries to avoid causing jitters or crashes, making it a good option for people who are sensitive to stimulants. The supplement also claims to help users achieve a "flow state," a focused and immersed mental state, without the need for stimulants[3]. So this sounded like a really good claim which I found very appealing.
Alpha Brain also says it can improve focus and memory, so I was starting to get excited about what this product could do. Things like improving mental focus and your memory are obviously really good things in today’s world which we all know is very distraction heavy. On top it also claims to reduce brain fog which can interfere with your mental clarity and concentration, so all of these good promises were looking very attractive. However, it looked more the case that it’s the product’s ingredients that have the power to do these things rather than the blend of them found in the product. I would also mention that mentioning endorsements from celebrities have lead to some exaggerated claims about how effective the product really is!
So does Alpha Brain really work, here’s my experience and my full analysis:
When I started my trial of Alpha Brain, the manufacturer Onnit Labs talked a lot about nootropics and I expected to experience the robust improvements in cognitive enhancements that it promised. It had some good ingredients like Vitamin B6, Bacopa Monniera and Huperzia Serrata, so my hopes were high. However, my experience was far more understated than I anticipated, and especially so when I compare this to the best nootropics I’ve tried. One of Alpha Brain’s main claims is to aid mental processing [4]. Whilst I did observe a really modest improvement in this area, it wasn’t the really profound enhancement that it promised. Alpha Brain depicted a significantly clearer and more efficient thinking, which after trying the product is very overstated.
In terms of boosting mental performance [5], I found that the supplement did give me some level of improved clarity, but this wasn’t really on a consistent basis and I would also say not remarkably noticeable. I found that it was this inconsistency which made it challenging to conclusively attribute these fleeting moments of improved clarity to the use of Alpha Brain. As I mentioned, Alpha Brain is caffeine free. That feature is there to prevent the sort of jitters you normally get with supplements that are full of caffeine [3]. The is the one claim that did hold true during my testing so I didn’t get any side effects like jitters, energy crashes. This was important if you are especially sensitive to these sorts of things. Alpha Brain also claims to facilitate a flow state [6] which basically is a psychological condition of heightened focus and productivity. This sounds good! I personally experienced a mild increase in my ability to immerse myself in tasks, but again it fell short of the deep productive level that I had expected. So again, a big gap between what the product promised and what I felt. As for enhancing focus [7], my findings were mixed. I found that there was a slight improvement in concentration, but it didn't reach the intensity or consistency experienced with other top-tier nootropics. For me, this was a crucial area where Alpha Brain didn't quite live up to its claims. Alpha Brain also helps to support your memory as well [6]. I personally saw a mild improvement in my ability to recall stuff, but again the impact was low and not what I would have expected from a leading nootropic. Combating brain fog is also listed among the benefits of Alpha Brain [8]. I did experience a minor reduction in mental cloudiness but again wasn’t the clear cut triumph over brain fog that I was really looking forward to. Again this is somewhat disappointing considering the emphasis on this benefit by the brand.
I would say that the subjective nature of my experiences with the product could have just been down to placebo effect vs really attributing this to the product itself!
I’ve also done a full and detailed assessment of the ingredients in Alpha Brain. My research told me that Vitamin B6, for instance, is known for its role in neurotransmitter synthesis [10]. The proprietary blends in Alpha Brain contain elements like Bacopa Monniera, which I have found have been studied for its potential cognitive benefits [11]. However, I am concluding that the real world impact of these ingredients in the dosages provided by Alpha Brain seemed much less potent than the theoretical benefits suggested by scientific research. So a case of looks good on paper, but not in practice.
I feel that a significant concern of mine is that Alpha Brain relies on what it calls a proprietary blend, so this obscures the exact amounts of each individual ingredient. Therefore it’s really hard for me to assess the effectiveness of these ingredients and how well they can work in synergy altogether. This lack of transparency is problematic for me as I wanted to understand precisely what I was consuming in this test and in what quantities too. My fear is that I’m unsure now whether the dosages of these key ingredients are really enough to produce the claimed benefits.
I’ve researched this and scientific literature suggests that certain nootropics are effective only at specific dosages [12,13]. The problem with Alpha Brain is they don’t tell you the specific amounts of each ingredient, so it’s hard to sort of align what you experience yourself when taking the supplement with what the research suggests will happen with these specific ingredients. So I am feeling like ambiguity in formulation is a critical point of consideration for me. I feel like it’s therefore very difficult to evaluate the value that Alpha Brain gave me as a cognitive enhancer.
I decided to give it another go and kept on taking Alpha Brain for 9 months more following my initial first review. I’m sorry to say that my findings remain consistent with my original assessment. Yes, I had some small improvements in memory and focus but no where near the levels of cognitive boosts promised by the brand. I did not observe any substantial changes in Alpha Brain’s effectiveness or safety profile.
Alpha Brain Pros and Cons
Pros of Alpha Brain:
It doesn’t contain caffeine: therefore it is ideal for those sensitive to caffeine or looking to avoid stimulants.
A good blend of nootropics: Alpha Brain contains a variety of ingredients known for cognitive enhancement.
Cons of Alpha Brain:
It is made up of a “proprietary blend”: this means they don’t tell you the exact amounts of each ingredient. So you don’t know what you are taking and what is doing what.
Results were underwhelming and mixed: I didn’t feel much of an effect really and sometimes got a bit of a mixed feeling.
Limited scientific evidence: I was able to research some of the ingredients but what stood out was that the specific Alpha Brain formulation lacks comprehensive scientific backing.
Some side effects: I did have a day or two where I experienced some headaches and nausea.
Claims and my experience: I would really conclude that the marketing claims have overstated the effectiveness of the Alpha Brain product.
I’ve studied the science and it’s true that Alpha Brain does contain ingredients that have been studied for their nootropic properties. However, the use of a proprietary blend of these ingredients makes it challenging or near impossible in fact to directly compare what Alpha Brain have used in terms of dosages with those used in the scientific studies. So I am really questioning the supplement's potential effectiveness based on the available scientific evidence.
Side effects and other concerns
Main concerns
Some days the product felt inconsistent: Whilst I didn’t believe the product had much effect, I would say that Alpha Brain was a little inconsistent and variable in it’s effect some days more than others [24]. This happened when I did test the product for a longer period the second time around.
Proprietary blend vs stated quantities of each ingredient: I find the problem with the use of proprietary blends makes it difficult to determine the exact amounts of each ingredient. This gave me cause to raise questions about the efficacy and safety of the dosages used [25].
Sometimes I felt like the product did give me a kick of an immediate result : In the main, I felt like I didn’t feel much of a benefit from Alpha Brain, but on some days I did feel more of a short term boost. From my research, this could be down to the gradual nature of effects from ingredients like Phosphatidylserine and L-Tyrosine [26].
Their claims and my experience: The marketing claims of Alpha Brain, such as significantly combating brain fog and facilitating a "flow state," seemed to be overstated compared to the actual effects that I experienced [27].
The level of Vitamin B6: One word of caution, I found that there is some potential to consumer too much of Vitamin B6. This can have some adverse effects, though this is typically associated with high doses over long periods [28]. Also excessive Vitamin B6 intake over long periods can lead to neurological problems such as neuropathy, characterized by tingling, numbness, and pain in extremities [32].
Some side effects which I did observe or could happen if you took this:
Headaches and nausea: I did experience these from time to time when I tested the product for a second time. It could had been ingredients like Huperzia Serrata which I found out can cause headaches and nausea at certain doses, potentially impacting comfort and usability [29].
Some discomfort with digestion: I found out that Vinpocetine and Cat's Claw extract are associated with gastrointestinal issues, including stomach pain and discomfort [30,31].
Jitters or anxiety could still be a risk: Despite being caffeine-free, other ingredients might still cause mild jitters or anxiety in sensitive individuals, though less common [33].
Insomnia: Some components, particularly those affecting neurotransmitter levels like L-Tyrosine, may lead to sleep disturbances or insomnia in certain users [34].
Allergic Reactions: Although rare, allergic reactions to specific herbal components in the blends cannot be ruled out and may include symptoms like rash or itching [35].
My overall results from Alpha Brain and conclusions:
It gave me minimal cognitive improvement: I only found that it provided small boosts in memory and focus, not living up to its bold marketing promises.
The ingredient amounts are not clear: The use of proprietary blends in Alpha Brain does not disclose the specific amounts of each ingredient, making it hard for me to judge how effective and safe the supplement really is.
It has some missing ingredients that are more proven: I found that Alpha Brain doesn't include several ingredients that have been clinically proven to enhance cognitive function, although that alone does not establish that it is less effective than other formulas.
My recommendation: I would give ThinkEase a look. The main reason is its broad formula and clear ingredient amounts. These are practical advantages when comparing supplements for cognitive performance and brain health.
My overall verdict:
In my review of Alpha Brain, I found that whilst the supplement does make use of a wide variety of nootropic ingredients, it has some real shortcomings. I did feel that there was more of a mixed inconsistent performance when I tested the product for a second time over a longer period. The fact that they don’t declare the ingredients properly was a major let down. All in all, I didn’t experience what the marketing claims suggested. So altogether, whilst my experience was not entirely negative. It did not meet my expectations for a top tier nootropic supplement.
ThinkEase’s formula includes ingredients like Lion’s mane, Bacopa Monnieri and N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine. They also have transparent labelling, allowing me to understand exactly what I would be putting into my body. The disclosed amounts can be compared with the forms and dosages used in scientific studies.
This was a level of clarity that I really found was lacking in Alpha Brain. The differences are in the ingredients and their disclosed dosages. Whilst Alpha Brain did offer me some cognitive benefits, these were slight and inconsistent over a long period of time, plus with some potential side effects. This coupled with the uncertainty of its “proprietary blend” makes ThinkEase’s clear labelling an advantage for me. ThinkEase has clear labelling and a broad selection of researched ingredients. So I would recommend it over Alpha Brain on that basis.