Potential Benefits

- May provide mitochondrial protection against oxidative stress from MDMA*

- May protect against the reduction of serotonin metabolites (5-HT and 5-HIAA)*

Selected Research

Acetyl-L-carnitine provides effective in vivo neuroprotection over 3,4-methylenedioximethamphetamine-induced mitochondrial neurotoxicity in the adolescent rat brain (2009)

"successfully demonstrate[s] that pretreatment with ALC exerts effective neuroprotection against the MDMA-induced neurotoxicity at the mitochondrial level, reducing carbonyl formation, decreasing mtDNA deletion, improving the expression of the respiratory chain components and preventing the decrease of 5-HT levels in several regions of the rat brain."

Side note, why no Alpha Limphoic Acid?  ALCAR stays in your system for longer than ALA does (about 4.2h for 500 mg ALCAR vs 36 min for 600 mg ALA). {x}

Potential benefits

- NAC may support the synthesis of glutathione, a key antioxidant, that fights inflammation and improves detoxification*

- NAC helps regulate glutamate levels, which may support a range of learning and memory events and may improve addictive behavior and psychiatric disorders*

- NAC may reduce MDMA’s hyperthermic effects*

- May reduce MDMA memory impairment and cognition*

Selected Research

Overview on the Effects of N-Acetylcysteine in Neurodegenerative Diseases (2018), Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on bisphenol A-induced cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress in rats (2011), The protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on oxidative stress in the brain caused by the long-term intake of aspartame by rats (2014)

"Results of the present study show that NAC has potential to reverse cognitive dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by BPA exposure in rats."

"N-acetylcysteine treatment may exert a protective effect against the oxidative damage in the brain, which was caused by the long-term consumption of the acceptable daily dose of aspartame by rats."

Potential benefits

- May reduce oxidative stress*

- May support healthy aging of the brain*

- May improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure*

Selected research

Protective effect of grape seed extract ... Effect on oxidative stress and energy failure (2021), Differential Neuroprotective Activity of Two Different Grape Seed Extracts (2011), Improvement in Memory and Brain Long-term Potentiation Deficits Due to Permanent Hypoperfusion/Ischemia by Grape Seed Extract in Rats (2013) 

"Grape seed extract (GSE) is a natural phytochemical mixture exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties."

"Data suggest the presence of high-affinity molecular targets for polyphenols in hippocampal neurons, which induce neuroprotective effects"

"study suggests that GSE exhibits therapeutic potential for short-and long-term memories ... most likely related at least in part to its antioxidative and free radical scavenging actions."

Potential Benefits

Thiamin deficiency may be linked to nerve damage and impaired sensory perception*

Selected Research

B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy (2016)

"Riboflavin protects against neurotoxicity through ameliorating oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurogenic inflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and homocysteine neurotoxicity."

Potential Benefits

Riboflavin deficiency may be linked to oxidative stress and numerous central nervous system diseases*

Selected Research

Riboflavin Has Neuroprotective Potential (2017)

"Riboflavin protects against neurotoxicity through ameliorating oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurogenic inflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and homocysteine neurotoxicity."

Potential Benefits

- Niacin is a precursor to NAD and NADP, two important coenzymes crucial for energy production*
- Niacin deficiency has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders, and other neurological diseases*

Selected Research

Niacin in the Central Nervous System: An Update of Biological Aspects and Clinical Applications (2019)

"Maintenance of the intracellular NAD pool is not only important to fuel redox metabolism but also to support NAD-dependent, non-redox signaling pathways" 

Potential Benefits

- B6 may support neurotransmitter creation, including serotonin and dopamine*

- B6 deficiency may lead to inflammation*

Selected Research

Plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate is inversely associated with systemic markers of inflammation in a population of U.S. adults (2012), Vitamin B6 in clinical neurology (1990)

"This study, in combination with past findings, further supports our hypothesis that inflammation is associated with a functional deficiency of vitamin B-6."

Potential Benefits

- Optimal B-vitamin status may be associated with better cognitive health in aging

- Niacin deficiency has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disorders, and other neurological diseases*

Selected Research

Folic acid supplementation improves cognitive function ... (2016) Emerging roles for folate and related B-vitamins in brain health across the lifecycle (2015), Folate and Vitamin B12: Function and Importance in Cognitive Development (2011)

"Daily oral administration of a 400-μg folic acid supplement to MCI subjects for 12 months can significantly improve cognitive performance and reduce peripheral inflammatory cytokine levels."

"Poor folate and vitamin B12 status short of clinical deficiency is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke among older adults"

Take three capsules daily or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

Do not use if pregnant or nursing. If you have a history of kidney stones or seizures or are taking medication, consult your healthcare practitioner before use. Maintain adequate fluid intake while taking this product. Keep out of the reach of children.

Why are we testing this?

Validating the authenticity and potency of ingredients is accomplished using complex scientific equipment and laboratory analyses. 

Why do I care?

This commitment to testing is in keeping with U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), which established stringent requirements for companies involved with dietary supplement manufacturing, packaging and labeling. GMPs stipulate that manufacturers must evaluate the identity, purity, quality, strength and composition of their dietary ingredients and dietary supplements to help ensure products are safe and accurately labeled.

Why are we testing this?

Capsule weight is one variable to determine proper measurement of dosages, as well as packing and shipping concerns.

Why do I care?

The accuracy and uniformity of capsule size and weight are paramount to ensuring proper dosage.

Test limit information:

Less than or equal to 30 Minutes

Why are we testing this?

The disintegration test measures the rate at which a tablet or capsule dissolves. Testing is performed using a standardized method defined by the United States Phamacopia.

Why do I care?

Knowing how quickly a product dissolves is important from a formulation standpoint and is a necessary quality measure to support both product consistency and bioavailabilty.

Test limit information:

Negative/10g

Why are we testing this?

This test is performed using the United States Pharmacopeia method, recognized by the FDA, and is a very sensitive test that recognizes presence through a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE result.

Why do I care?

Testing for E. coli contamination confirms this bacteria, which can cause acute intestinal illness in healthy individuals and more serious health risks in young, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals, is not present.

Test limit information:

NMT100 MPN/g

Why are we testing this?

This test is performed using the United States Pharmacopeia method, recognized by the FDA, and is a quantitative test that results in an estimated count of the most probable number per gram.

Why do I care?

The family Enterobacteriaceae encompass approximately 20 genera including multiple food pathogens. This result is considered a useful indicator of hygiene and sanitation and serves as a general screening process for recognizing the presence of pathogenic bacteria at levels that may be detrimental to individuals with immunological sensitivities.

Test limit information:

Negative/10g

Why are we testing this?

This test is performed using the United States Pharmacopeia method, recognized by the FDA, and is a very sensitive test that recognizes presence through a positive or negative result.

Why do I care?

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria that frequently exists on the skin or in the nose. S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses, from minor skin infections to life-threatening diseases. The recent development of antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA make testing for staph an absolute imperative.

Test limit information:

Negative/10g

Why are we testing this?

This test is performed using the United States Pharmacopeia method, recognized by the FDA, and is a very sensitive test that results in only a positive or negative result.

Why do I care?

Salmonella spp. can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella spp. often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Due to the risks, testing to ensure a product is free from Salmonella spp. is critical to a comprehensive quality and safety program.

Test limit information:

NMT 1,000 CFU/g

Why are we testing this?

Total plate count is the enumeration of aerobic, mesophilic organisms that grow in aerobic conditions under moderate temperatures of 20–45 °C. This test is performed using the United States Pharmacopeia method, recognized by the FDA, and is a quantitative test that results in a count of colony-forming units per gram. It can also be known as aerobic plate count.

Why do I care?

Total plate count (TPC) indicates the level of microorganisms in a product and is an indication of quality. Obtaining an estimate of the number of bacteria in a product can also assist in evaluating the sanitary practices during manufacturing and processing.

Test limit information:

NMT 100 CFU/g

Why are we testing this?

This test follows the same procedure as the Aerobic Plate Count (APC) test, using a different medium to carry the specimen. The medium is determined by the viscosity of the test sample and depends on if the specimen is a solid or liquid.

Why do I care?

Ruling out the presence of yeast and mold rules out the possibility of life-threatening allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock. Amounts small enough not to cause illness are equally serious as consumption over time can result in cancer, damage to genetic material and damage to the immune system. Testing for yeast and mold in the production atmosphere is equally important, to ensure it never gets into the product.

Test limit information:

Less than or equal to 3.33 mcg/capsule

Why are we testing this?

Highly synthesized dietary supplements can be expected to contain no arsenic. Examples of these would be vitamin C tablets made from ascorbic acid and standard B-complex formulations. In whole plant powders, the story is different. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury might be detected. It is a fact of life, and has been a fact of life since humans began eating the wild plants around them. The metals have always been with us and in us. Today, a dietary supplement cannot be manufactured from plant-based ingredients and not contain some level of heavy metals, including arsenic. So while the word arsenic may elicit fear, arsenic in dietary supplements (when used as directed) is not truly threatening. This test is performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which allows detection for nonorganic materials at part-per-billion concentrations.

Why do I care?

Testing for arsenic ensures products do not contain more than the established acceptable level of arsenic. Long-term, excessive exposure to arsenic has known health risks.

Test limit information:

Less than or equal to 1.36 mcg/capsule

Why are we testing this?

In whole plant powders and other natural ingredients, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury might be detected. It is a fact of life, and has been a fact of life since humans began eating the wild plants around them. The metals are a natural part of the earth's crust and can be found in most soils around the world. Today, it is a well-known fact that it is highly unlikely for plant-based ingredients not to contain some level of heavy metals, including cadmium. The FDA has not set cadmium limits in foods or supplements; however, various health agencies have set exposure standards designed to protect consumers from excess cadmium exposure. This test is performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which allows detection for nonorganic materials at part-per-billion concentrations.

Why do I care?

Excess cadmium exposure can result in an accumulation of cadmium in the body, which in turn can have detrimental effects on the kidneys, lungs, bones, and possibly fetal development; it’s also classified as a human carcinogen by various agencies. Metagenics tests all product for cadmium content and other key heavy metals to ensure that the presence is well within recognized safety exposure limits.

Test limit information:

Less than or equal to .166 mcg/capsule

Why are we testing this?

Metagenics tests for the presence of lead and other heavy metals. In whole plant powders and other natural ingredients, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury might be detected. The metals are a natural part of the earth's crust and can be found in most soils around the world. Today, it is a well-known fact that it is highly unlikely for plant-based ingredients to not contain some level of “heavy” metals, including lead. This test is performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry which allows detection for non-organic materials at part per billion concentrations.

Why do I care?

Excess lead exposure can lead to lead toxicity, which can affect every organ in the human body and cause brain damage, kidney disease, blood disorders, heart disease, and reproductive disease.

Test limit information:

Less than or equal to 6.66 mcg/capsule

Why are we testing this?

Metagenics tests for the presence of mercury and other heavy metals. In whole plant powders and other natural ingredients, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury might be detected. The metals are a natural part of the earth's crust and can be found in most soils around the world. Today, it is a well-known fact that it is highly unlikely for plant-based ingredients not to contain some level of heavy metals, including mercury. This test is performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which allows detection for nonorganic materials at part-per-billion concentrations.

Why do I care?

One of the World Health Organization's top 10 chemicals of major public health concern, mercury can cause damage to the nervous system, digestive and immune systems, lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes. Testing to ensure mercury levels are below the recommended rate ensures consumers are protected from the toxic risks of mercury.