Avantera Elevate Review: Everything You Need To Know

2nd February 2024

Quick Decision Guide - Avantera Elevate vs Leading Nootropic (NooCube)

Avantera Elevate: Nootropic Claims in Review

Avantera Elevate positions itself as a cutting-edge nootropic supplement, promising a multifaceted approach to boosting cognitive function and mental performance. The brand's ambitious claims suggest that their formula can support energy, focus, mood, and gut health. They also highlight the inclusion of seven clinically studied ingredients and the fact that their product is subject to third-party testing [1]. However, a closer examination raises questions about the substance behind these assertions.

Firstly, the promise of enhanced energy and focus is a common pledge within the nootropic community, yet the efficacy of such supplements can vary widely. Avantera Elevate's claim to improve mood and gut health alongside cognitive benefits is an interesting angle, suggesting a holistic approach to wellness. However, the interplay between gut health and cognitive function, while supported by emerging research [2], requires more concrete evidence within the context of Avantera's specific formulation.

The mention of "seven clinically studied ingredients" is noteworthy, yet the effectiveness of a nootropic does not solely rest on the inclusion of studied components but also on the dosage, synergy among ingredients, and the quality of the studies themselves [3]. For instance, the presence of ingredients like Turmeric Extract and Lion's Mane is backed by research suggesting potential benefits for cognitive function and mood [4]. However, without transparent information on dosages that align with those used in clinical settings, the real impact of these ingredients remains speculative.

A deeper dive into its formulation and claims reveals significant gaps between marketing and measurable scientific standards, particularly concerning ingredient dosages and transparency.

1. Supports Energy, Focus, Mood, and Gut Health

• Scientific Assessment:The efficacy of nootropic supplements heavily relies on the presence of ingredients in clinically effective doses. Avantera Elevate's use of a proprietary blend obscures the exact amounts of each ingredient, making it impossible to verify if they meet the dosages proven effective in clinical studies. For instance, while caffeine and L-Theanine have been shown to synergistically enhance focus and reduce anxiety at certain dosages [5,6], the undisclosed amounts in Elevate's blend raise questions about their potential effectiveness. Similarly, the benefits of Lion's Mane on cognitive function and mood enhancement are documented but require specific dosages that exceed what a proprietary blend might conceal [7].
• The Issue with Proprietary Blends:Proprietary blends allow manufacturers to withhold the exact amounts of each ingredient, claiming it as a trade secret. This practice is problematic for consumers seeking transparency and assurance that a product contains scientifically validated dosages. It also hinders the ability of healthcare professionals to recommend such supplements confidently.

2. Seven Clinically Studied Ingredients

• Scientific Assessment:While the ingredients themselves may have been subject to clinical studies, the effectiveness of a supplement is not just about having these ingredients, but about having them in the right amounts. The mention of "clinically studied ingredients" can be misleading if the product does not contain similar dosages to those used in effective clinical trials. This discrepancy casts doubt on the claim's validity, as lower doses may not deliver the promised benefits.

3. Third-Party Tested

• Scientific Assessment:Third-party testing is an essential quality control measure, ensuring that a supplement meets certain standards for purity and potency. However, without detailed disclosure about what was tested and the results, this claim does little to guarantee the effectiveness of the ingredient dosages or their alignment with clinical evidence.

4. Cognitive Functions and Stress Management

• Scientific Assessment:Ingredients like Bacopa monnieri and citicoline have been recognized for their cognitive benefits, including memory enhancement and support for mental energy, respectively [8,9]. Yet, the impact of these ingredients is dose-dependent. Without clarity on the amounts within Elevate, it's challenging to assess their potential efficacy for cognitive improvement and stress management.

Avantera Elevate's reliance on a proprietary blend and the absence of disclosed, clinically effective doses significantly undermines the credibility of its claims. For consumers and professionals alike, the lack of transparency about ingredient dosages is a red flag, suggesting that the product may not live up to its promises of enhancing cognitive functions and overall well-being.

Does Avantera Elevate Work?

Our Avantera Elevate Experience: An In-depth Analysis

Embarking on the journey with Avantera Elevate, our team was buoyed by the promise of a supplement that could not only clear the mental fog but also enhance cognitive functions such as memory, focus, creativity, and overall mental clarity. The claims of supporting energy, focus, mood, and gut health, alongside the mention of seven clinically studied ingredients and third-party testing, set high expectations. However, our experience with Avantera Elevate painted a more muted picture than anticipated, especially when contrasted with the best brain supplements we've previously tested.

The Promise vs. The Experience

Energy and Focus: The blend of caffeine and L-Theanine, known for their synergistic effects on enhancing alertness while minimizing the jittery side effects of caffeine alone, suggested a solid foundation for improved energy and focus [10]. Yet, the experience was less than stellar. While there was a slight uptick in alertness, it was not the significant boost one might expect or has experienced with other top-tier supplements. This discrepancy highlights a potential issue with the dosing within the proprietary blend, where the exact amounts of each ingredient are not disclosed.

Mood and Gut Health: With ingredients like Turmeric Extract and Lion's Mane, there was an anticipation of mood elevation and potential gut health benefits, given their anti-inflammatory properties and emerging evidence supporting the gut-brain axis [11,12]. However, the real-world effects were subtle, bordering on imperceptible. This outcome could point to the dosages of these components being below the clinically effective levels.

Cognitive Enhancements: Avantera Elevate's goal for users to experience cognitive improvements and an enhanced sense of well-being was what we looked forward to the most. Bacopa Extract, a well-regarded nootropic for memory support, and Citicoline for mental clarity, were of particular interest [13,14]. Despite these high hopes, the improvements in cognitive functions such as memory, focus, and creativity were marginal. Comparatively, other supplements have led to more noticeable enhancements in these areas.

Reflections

The journey with Avantera Elevate underscores a crucial aspect of nootropic supplements: the importance of transparently disclosed dosages and the synergy between ingredients at those dosages. The proprietary blend, while common in the industry, limits users' ability to gauge the potential effectiveness based on individual ingredient research.

Moreover, the experience brings to light the gap between marketing claims and user experience. While Avantera Elevate promises a comprehensive enhancement of mental faculties and well-being, the actual effects felt were underwhelming. It's a reminder that while the ingredients list can read like a who's who of nootropic research, the real-world outcomes hinge on how these ingredients are delivered.

Avantera Elevate brings to the table a formula that, on paper, superficially ticks all the right boxes but which doesn't actually deliver as it underdoses each ingredient and hides this issue behind proprietary blends. It may offer some benefits, particularly for those new to nootropics, but it falls short of the transformative experience promised and compared to other market leaders.

Avantera Elevate Ingredients: A Scientific Overview

Overall Results

Overall Verdict

In our thorough assessment of Avantera Elevate, a nootropic supplement promising cognitive enhancement, mood support, and improved gut health, we have encountered both promise and concerns. While Avantera Elevate features ingredients such as Turmeric Extract, Lion's Mane, and Bacopa Extract that align with the growing interest in natural cognitive boosters, our real-world experiences and analysis revealed limitations. Chief among these concerns are the use of proprietary blends, which obscure individual ingredient dosages and hinder direct comparisons with clinical evidence, this dosing issue was reflected in the very modest benefits we experienced when using the product.

Contrastingly, our testing period with NooCube, a nootropic supplement featuring ingredients like LuteMax 2020, Bacopa Monnieri, Panax Ginseng, and others, yielded significantly higher levels of cognitive performance, including improved memory recall, focus, and overall mental clarity. Our expectations were grounded in the scientific support for NooCube's components, such as Bacopa Monnieri's cognitive-enhancing effects [31], the neuroprotective properties of Pterostilbene [32], and the cognitive benefits of the L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine combination [33].

What sets NooCube apart is its transparent approach to ingredient dosages, allowing for a direct alignment with established research. This transparency facilitates a more informed expectation of the potential benefits, which is often lacking in products like Avantera Elevate due to the use of proprietary blends.

Overall Verdict and Recommendation

Considering the issues identified with Avantera Elevate, including concerns about efficacy and the lack of dosage transparency, our recommendation leans strongly towards NooCube for individuals seeking a nootropic supplement. NooCube's formula, supported by clinical research and clear ingredient labeling, offers a promising solution for enhancing cognitive functions, mood, and energy levels without the ambiguity associated with proprietary blends. NooCube stands out as a reliable option for individuals looking to enhance their cognitive performance effectively and safely.

References

1. Federal Trade Commission. "Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry."
2. Carabotti, M., Scirocco, A., Maselli, M.A., & Severi, C. (2015). The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Annals of Gastroenterology, 28(2), 203-209.
3. Urban, K.R., & Gao, W.J. (2014). Performance enhancement at the cost of potential brain plasticity: neural ramifications of nootropic drugs in the healthy developing brain. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 8, 38.
4. Cox, K.H.M., Pipingas, A., & Scholey, A.B. (2015). Investigation of the effects of solid lipid curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 29(5), 642-651.
5. U.S. Pharmacopeia. "Dietary Supplements Verification Program."
6. Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine, and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology, 77(2), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.008
7. Owen, G. N., Parnell, H., De Bruin, E. A., & Rycroft, J. A. (2008). The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional Neuroscience, 11(4), 193-198. https://doi.org/10.1179/147683008X301513
8. Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367-372. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2634
9. Chainani-Wu, N. (2003). Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: A component of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9(1), 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1089/107555303321223035
10. Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(4), 353-356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957450
11. Pase, M. P., Kean, J., Sarris, J., Neale, C., Scholey, A. B., & Stough, C. (2012). The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri: A systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(7), 647-652. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0367
12. United States Pharmacopeial Convention. (n.d.). USP Verification Services. Retrieved from https://www.usp.org/verification-services
13. McGlade, E., Locatelli, A., Hardy, J., Kamiya, T., Morita, M., Morishita, K., Sugimura, Y., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2012). Improved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult Women. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 3, 769-773. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2012.36103
14. Camfield, D. A., Stough, C., Farrimond, J., & Scholey, A. B. (2014). Acute effects of tea constituents L-theanine, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate on cognitive function and mood: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 72(8), 507-522. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12120
15. Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: A Review of Its’ Effects on Human Health. Foods, 6(10), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6100092
16. Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., Abdullah, N., & Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 15(6), 539-554. https://doi.org/10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30
17. Neale, C., Camfield, D., Reay, J., Stough, C., & Scholey, A. (2013). Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against modafinil: a review and comparison of effect sizes. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 75(3), 728-737. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.12002
18. McGlade, E., Locatelli, A., Hardy, J., Kamiya, T., Morita, M., Morishita, K., Sugimura, Y., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2012). Improved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult Women. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 3, 769-773. https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2012.36103
19. Sarris, J., Murphy, J., Mischoulon, D., Papakostas, G. I., Fava, M., Berk, M., & Ng, C. H. (2020). Adjunctive Nutraceuticals for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(8), 448-460. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010020
20. Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(4), 353-356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957450
21. Kennedy, D. O., Wightman, E. L., Reay, J. L., Lietz, G., Okello, E. J., Wilde, A., & Haskell, C. F. (2010). Effects of resveratrol on cerebral blood flow variables and cognitive performance in humans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover investigation. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91(6), 1590-1597. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2009.28641
22. Aggarwal, B. B., & Harikumar, K. B. (2009). Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 41(1), 40-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2008.06.010
23. Mori, K., Obara, Y., Hirota, M., Azumi, Y., Kinugasa, S., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2008). Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 31(9), 1727-1732. https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.31.1727
24. Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(4), 353-356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957450
25. Stough, C., Lloyd, J., Clarke, J., Downey, L. A., Hutchison, C. W., Rodgers, T., & Nathan, P. J. (2001). The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology, 156(4), 481-484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130100815
26. Alvarez, X. A., Laredo, M., Corzo, D., Fernández-Novoa, L., Mouzo, R., Perea, J. E., Daniele, D., & Cacabelos, R. (1997). Citicoline improves memory performance in elderly subjects. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, 19(3), 201-210. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9203170/
27. Giesbrecht, T., Rycroft, J. A., Rowson, M. J., & De Bruin, E. A. (2010). The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutritional Neuroscience, 13(6), 283-290. https://doi.org/10.1179/147683010X12611460764840
28. Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2008). The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biological Psychology, 77(2), 113-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.008
29. Kennedy, D. O., Wake, G., Savelev, S., Tildesley, N. T. J., Perry, E. K., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2003). Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties. Neuropsychopharmacology, 28(10), 1871-1881. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300230
30. Childs, E., & de Wit, H. (2006). Subjective, behavioral, and physiological effects of acute caffeine in light, nondependent caffeine users. Psychopharmacology, 185(4), 514-523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0341-3
31. Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., Malvi, H., & Kodgule, R. (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Medicine, 98(37): e17186. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000017186
32. Kulkarni, S. K., & Dhir, A. (2008). On the mechanism of antidepressant-like action of Bacopa monniera extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 117(3), 528-534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.02.003
33. Friedman, M. (2015). Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds.
34. Stough, C., Lloyd, J., Clarke, J., Downey, L. A., Hutchison, C. W., Rodgers, T., & Nathan, P. J. (2001). The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology, 156(4), 481-484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002130100815
35. McCormack, D., & McFadden, D. (2013). Pterostilbene and cancer: Current review. Journal of Surgical Research, 173(2), e53-e61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2012.09.053
36. Jang, H. S., Jung, J. Y., Jang, I. S., Jang, K. H., Kim, S. H., Ha, J. H., Suk, K., & Lee, M. G. (2012). L-Theanine partially counteracts caffeine-induced sleep disturbances in rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 101(2), 217-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2012.01.011