NeuroQ is a supplement manufactured by a company called LifeSeasons, that's used to improve cognitive function. The brand’s website claims that the supplement can “improve memory,” “clear toxins” and “stimulate brain function.”
But does the supplement contain ingredients shown in research studies to enhance cognitive function? Does NeuroQ contain any unhealthy ingredients? Has the brand funded any clinical trials showing the supplement to be effective? And does NeuroQ cause side effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in NeuroQ to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective for enhancing cognitive function, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll share our concerns about the brand's clinical research, discuss the risk of side effects, and feature real customer reviews.
Key takeaways:
- Contains effectively-dosed active ingredients to support cognition
- Questionable health & clinical claims on brand's website
- We do not currently recommend NeuroQ
Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredients in NeuroQ are shown below:
Gotu kola extract is a popular supplement, but not one we consider effective for cognitive enhancement.
A clinical trial published in the Scientific Reports journal analyzed data from five clinical trials on this ingredient and cognition, and concluded the following:
“there is not strong evidence to support the use of [gotu kola] for cognitive function improvement in each cognitive domain.”
Turmeric extract is typically used for anti-inflammatory effects rather than cognition.
A 2018 medical review found that this ingredient may be effective for preventing cognitive decline, but the dose used in every clinical trial was higher than that in NeuroQ.
Ginkgo leaf extract is an effective and well-studied nootropic (cognitive-enhancer), although most of the clinical studies we've reviewed on ginkgo used a minimum 180 mg dose, as we documented in our Mind Lab Pro reviews article.
Phosphatidylserine is another research-backed nootropic ingredient, and was shown in a 2010 medical review to improve memory at the same dose as exists in NeuroQ.
Coffee bean extract may support cognition.
A clinical trial published in the Antioxidants journal found that coffee fruit extract caused “measurable, acute physiological changes in brain connectivity,” but this is a different part of the plant than that used in NeuroQ.
Bee propolis may be effective for improving memory and cognitive function, however we cannot identify any medical studies showing so at the dose in NeuroQ.
The inactive ingredients in NeuroQ, shown below, should be safe and non-toxic:
Overall, we consider NeuroQ likely to enhance cognition, and it's free of unhealthy ingredients.
Questionable Clinical Research
Notice: at the time of updating this article, NeuroQ appears to have removed this information from their website. We still believe it's valuable to prospective consumers.
Upon initially publishing this article, NeuroQ’s website published the graphic below which suggested the effectiveness of the supplement:
source: neuroq.com
The clinical trial from which these data points were derived was conducted by a research firm called KGK Science Inc., and was funded by NeuroQ. The study does not appear to have been published in any peer-reviewed medical or scientific journals.
While a company-funded clinical trial is potentially better than no trial at all, we recommend that consumers be extremely wary of claims of clinical efficacy based on manufacturer-funded research that is not published in peer-reviewed journals.
There is simply too much potential bias in the process for the results to be valuable in our opinion.
NeuroQ appears to have removed this section since we called out this information.
At the time of updating this article, there is a new graph on the brand's website:
source: neuroq.com
In fine print, the brand describes this as a "simulated representation," and it is not based on any real-world data. We consider this to be unscientific and entirely misleading to prospective consumers.
Does NeuroQ Cause Side Effects?
Since NeuroQ doesn't appear to have published the full clinical trial that they conducted, it's more challenging to assess the potential risk of side effects, because clinical trials typically report on side effects.
We urge NeuroQ to clearly publish (or link to) the full clinical trial on their supplement so that consumers can access this critical safety information.
Based on the fact that its active ingredients are all well-studied and should be non-toxic, and that NeuroQ is free of questionable inactive ingredients, we do not believe it’s likely that healthy consumers will experience side effects from this supplement.
This doesn’t mean that side effects are impossible; any individual consumer can react negatively to any supplement (or food).
It just means that we cannot identify any ingredients in NeuroQ that we consider likely to cause side effects in the average consumer. It’s a relatively safe supplement in our opinion.
There is no mention of side effects on the product page of NeuroQ's website at the time of updating this article.
Customers Rate NeuroQ
Amazon is a better resource for unbiased customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion.
NeuroQ has been reviewed over 1,300 times on Amazon at the time of updating this article, with an average customer review rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Kristen McConnell” who gives the product a 5/5 star rating, and claims it helped with brain fog:
“After suffering with brain fog for a number of months, I feel as though the fog has lifted. I’m soooo thankful for this product, it’s a game changer!!!”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Sea reader” who gives the product a 1/5 star rating, and claims it was ineffective:
“I was hoping this product would help brain function. I don't know which of the ingredients causes the irritability but that was a deal breaker for me. I've found regular coffee gives a better brain boost. Also, as an alternative, Piracetam works better.”
NeuroQ has an average review rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Facebook currently.
NeuroQ has an average review rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google currently.
Our Clean Nootropic Picks
Illuminate Labs Ginkgo Biloba Extract is our top herbal nootropic pick.
A medical review published in the Psychopharmacology journal found that ginkgo biloba supplementation improved attention and cognitive performance in healthy, young adults.
Mind Lab Pro by Performance Lab is our top multi-ingredient nootropic pick.
This is the first Illuminate Labs Certified supplement, and has been shown to be effective for short-term cognitive improvements in two clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals.
Both of the products recommended in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Where to Get the Best Price
NeuroQ is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here's a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of updating this article:
iHerb: $50.96 (free shipping, link)
Brand website: $49.95 (free shipping, link)
Amazon: $42.44 (free shipping, third-party seller, link)
NeuroQ is currently 15% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand's website, but the Amazon listing is from a third-party seller, so it may be safer to purchase directly from the brand.
NeuroQ Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of NeuroQ in our opinion:
Pros:
- Contains multiple research-backed ingredients
- May support memory
- May support cognition
- Was tested in a clinical trial
- No unhealthy inactive ingredients
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- Better-than-average nootropic supplement
- Free shipping on brand's website
- Company improved website and clinical claims since our first review of this brand
Cons:
- Company fails to clearly publish full clinical trial results including side effect data
