{"id":604767420722,"title":"Vitaae Review: Memory Booster or Scam?","created_at":"2023-02-13T15:27:38-05:00","body_html":"\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\/\/ \u003c![CDATA[\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"Vitaae Review: Memory Booster or Scam?\",\n \"keywords\": \"vitaae, vitaae review, vitaae reviews, vitaae ingredients, vitaae side effects, sane vitaae, vitaae for throat phlegm reviews, vitaae throat phelgm, vitaae customer reviews, vitaae supplement reviews\",\n \"description\": \"Our research team reviews the ingredients in Vitaae based on medical studies to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to improve cognitive function or if it's a waste of money. We highlight some highly questionable health and media claims made by the brand.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/vitaae-review\",\n\"author\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Calloway Cook\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/calloway-cook\",\n \"sameAs\": \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/calloway-cook\/\",\n \"jobTitle\": \"President\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"entrepreneurship, dietary supplements, herbal supplements, eCommerce, medical research\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": \"S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University\"\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"editor\": {\n \"@type\": \"Person\",\n \"name\": \"Taylor Graber\",\n \"honorificSuffix\": \"M.D.\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/taylor-graber\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/taylor-j-graber-md-81351642\/\",\n \"https:\/\/www.asapivs.com\/\"\n ],\n \"jobTitle\": \"Content Partner\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"medicine, health, anesthesiology, iv therapy, science, drugs, pharmaceutical, medical research, scientific research, medical journals, entrepreneurship, healthcare, orthopedic surgery, biomedical engineering\",\n \"alumniOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"EducationalOrganization\",\n \"name\": [\n \"University of California San Diego\",\n \"Arizona University\",\n \"University of Arizona College of Medicine\"\n ]\n },\n \"memberOf\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n }\n},\n\"image\": {\n\"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Thumbnail_Optimized.png?v=1676320461\",\n\"width\": \"2500\",\n\"height\": \"2500\"\n},\n\"citation\": [\n\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jn\/article\/151\/8\/2153\/6274469\", \n\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/focus-factor-review\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6464592\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8543180\/\",\n\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/175139\/nutrients\",\n\"https:\/\/www.scirp.org\/journal\/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=19921\",\n\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/food\/food-labeling-nutrition\/structurefunction-claims\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3912882\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/wa\/bellevue\/profile\/health-and-wellness\/sanesolution-llc-1296-90001942\",\n\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11026748\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3575939\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9213591\/\",\n\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8919247\/\"\n],\n\"mentions\": [{\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"SANE Laboratories\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"vitamin D\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"citicoline\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Thing\",\n \"name\": \"Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"USDA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"FDA\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"Inc 500\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"TIME\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Brand\",\n \"name\": \"The Wall Street Journal\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Amazon\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"BBB\"\n }\n],\n\"datePublished\": \"2023-02-13\",\n\"copyrightHolder\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\"\n},\n\"publisher\": {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Illuminate Labs\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/\",\n \"description\": \"Illuminate Labs is the most transparent supplement company in the U.S., and is a leading publisher of research-based health information.\",\n \"knowsAbout\": \"supplements, science, nutrition, exercise, health, medication, pharmaceutical, wellness, diet, weight loss, medical research\",\n \"publishingPrinciples\": \"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/pages\/editorial-guidelines\",\n \"memberOf\": [\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"U.S. Chamber of Commerce\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Certified B Corp\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.bcorporation.net\/en-us\/\"\n },\n {\n \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n \"name\": \"Natural Products Association\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.npanational.org\/\"\n }\n ], \n \"logo\": {\n \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n \"url\": \"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Illuminate_Labs_Favicon_48x48_7595c3cc-e27b-47b8-a4fe-edcc7ed9b29a.png?v=1666502785\", \n \"width\": 48,\n \"height\": 48\n},\n \"foundingDate\": \"2019-01-30\",\n \"sameAs\": [\n \"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/illuminatelabs\",\n \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/illuminate-labs-supplements\",\n \"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpgSJAsIPb-fZ25djtTxBEA\"\n ]\n }\n}\n\/\/ ]]\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Review_Article_Header_Image_Optimized.png?v=1676319550\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"dc\"\u003eV\u003c\/span\u003eitaae is a nootropic supplement sold by a brand called SANE Laboratories. The brand describes their supplement as a “clinically research brain-boosting age-defying formulation” that can “improve your mental clarity.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut does Vitaae contain ingredients proven in medical research to improve cognition or are these just marketing claims? Does it contain any unhealthy additive ingredients? Will the supplement cause side effects? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Vitaae?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Vitaae based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective for improving mental concentration and clarity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe’ll also highlight some questionable health claims on the Vitaae website and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the supplement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIngredient Analysis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Ingredients_Optimized.png?v=1676319579\" alt=\"Vitaae ingredients\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe ingredients above are from the Supplement Facts label published on the Vitaae brand website. There is a different Supplement Facts label (with slightly different ingredients and doses) on the product’s Amazon listing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is unacceptable, is the sign of a low-quality brand, and we urge the brand to immediately resolve this by publishing the updated ingredient lists on all sales channels. It’s a consumer safety issue to have inaccurate ingredient or dosage information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVitamin D\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is the first active ingredient at a dose of 125 micrograms (mcg). This is 625% of the Daily Value (DV). Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it bioaccumulates. It may be unsafe to take such a high daily dose of vitamin D without a vitamin D deficiency, and SANE Lab does not cite any medical studies proving that vitamin D supplementation has a nootropic effect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMagnafolate C\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is a patented form of the B vitamin folic acid.  We can’t identify any clinical trials proving this ingredient increases cognition nor are any cited by the manufacturer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCiticoline\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e has been shown in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jn\/article\/151\/8\/2153\/6274469\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Journal of Nutrition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e to improve memory in older adults, however the dose used was 500 milligrams (mg) per day, or 5x the amount in Vitaae. We can’t find any studies proving it effective at the dose in Vitaae.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCoenzyme Q-10\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e has been clinically shown to slow age-related cognitive decline at a daily dose of 200 mg, as we documented in our review of another nootropic supplement called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/blogs\/health\/focus-factor-review\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFocus Factor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. However, the dose in Vitaae is only 50 mg.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe remaining active ingredients are included in a proprietary blend called “VitaalMind Proprietary Blend.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcetyl l-carnitine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was studied in a 2017 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6464592\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e. The study authors analyzed whether the compound could cause cognitive enhancement in people without cognitive impairment, and concluded that there was not enough evidence to suggest so.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eL-carnitine tartrate\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e is typically used for athletic endurance. We can’t identify any medical research suggesting it’s effective for improving brain function.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGymnema sylvestre\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e leaf extract\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e was shown to improve blood vessel health in the brain of diabetic rats in a 2021 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8543180\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, however this doesn’t necessarily mean the same effects apply to humans.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOmega 3 fatty acids\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e can improve brain health, but the 450 mg average ingredient dose in this blend is relatively low. One single can of sardines provides drastically more EPA than this supplement \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/175139\/nutrients\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eaccording to\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e the USDA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOverall we consider Vitaae unlikely to have a nootropic effect because we’re unable to identify any active ingredients that we consider effectively dosed based on a review of clinical research. The supplement does contain some effective ingredients, but those ingredients may be underdosed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe good news is that the inactive ingredients in this formulation are safe and non-toxic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQuestionable Health Claims on Vitaae Website\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of highly questionable health claims on the Vitaae website that we disagree with.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Questionable_Health_Claim_1_Optimized.png?v=1676319618\" alt=\"Vitaae questionable health claim 1\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe brand features a graphic, shown above, suggesting “brain-boosting ‘fountain of youth’ results.” This graphic is misleading because it makes it seem as though the results are from a clinical trial on Vitaae, when they actually derive from a clinical trial on one of its ingredients, citicoline.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.scirp.org\/journal\/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=19921\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e cited by the brand to back this claim used doses far higher than that in Vitaae: 250 mg or 500 mg of daily citicoline supplementation. The dose in Vitaae is only 100 mg.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Questionable_Health_Claim_2_Optimized_52016b84-7928-498a-b53d-7bf8ce9a88b9.png?v=1676319741\" alt=\"Vitaae questionable health claim 2\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe brand claims that their product is “clinically proven,” but we can't find any clinical trials on the Vitaae supplement.\u003c\/strong\u003e The citation for this claim is to the same clinical trial linked above that tested citicoline at a higher dose than exists in Vitaae.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Questionable_Health_Claim_3_Optimized.png?v=1676319719\" alt=\"Vitaae questionable health claim 3\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSANE Labs claims that one of their ingredients “helps reverse neurological inflammation.” There is no citation for this claim, we cannot find any evidence of it, and this is a specific disease claim that is in violation of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/food\/food-labeling-nutrition\/structurefunction-claims\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFDA guidelines\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQuestionable Media Claims on Vitaae Website\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Questionable_Media_Claim_1_Optimized.png?v=1676319768\" alt=\"Vitaae questionable media claim 1\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSANE Labs claims to be one of the Inc 500 fastest-growing companies. \u003cstrong\u003eWe found no mention of their brand on Inc’s website or in their fastest-growing companies list.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Vitaae_Questionable_Media_Claim_2_Optimized.png?v=1676319798\" alt=\"Vitaae questionable media claim 2\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAt the top of the Vitaae website, there’s a claim that the brand is “seen on” major media publishers like TIME and The Wall Street Journal. We searched all five websites and found no references to Vitaae on any of them, as shown below.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePerhaps the brand was referencing television apperances, but we recommend that consumers exercise caution with brands that make media claims without providing proof.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWill Vitaae Cause Side Effects?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVitaae does not appear to have been studied in any clinical trials to it’s impossible to say for certain whether or not the supplement will cause side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAll of the active ingredients in Vitaae are safe and well-studied at their included doses, so \u003cstrong\u003ewe do not believe that the supplement is likely to cause side effects to the average consumer.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3912882\/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBioMed Research International\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e journal found that high doses of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eGymnema sylvestre\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e may cause side effects such as hypoglycemia, weakness and excessive sweating. We do not consider Vitaae’s dose to be likely high, but the brand fails to publish the individual ingredient dose. This is why we consider prop blends (where only the total dose is listed) to be bad for consumers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere is no mention of side effects on the Vitaae brand website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReal, Unsponsored Customer Reviews of Vitaae\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVitaae is sold on Amazon which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. The supplement has been reviewed over 1,000 times with an unimpressive average review rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Mary Bouldin” who claims the product reduced phlegm and caused weight loss: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Phlegm is SO much less. The side effects are A-OK as well. Lost 10 pounds in 8 days, and now have twice the energy as well. I know not everything works for everyone, but for me, it's really been a game-changer.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Randy Rawls” who complains that the capsule size is uncomfortable to swallow:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“First, the delivery took an extended time, making me wonder where it is manufactured. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eSecond, I was shocked to find a capsule ONE INCH long. If I could swallow something that big, I wouldn't have the phlegm problem.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Since it's not returnable, I'm out the cost of the first bottle. Order at your own risk.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSANE Labs has an average review rating of 3.61 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/us\/wa\/bellevue\/profile\/health-and-wellness\/sanesolution-llc-1296-90001942\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ewebsite\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e which is a relatively positive mark for that site.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eA BBB reviewer named “T.S.” claims that the product is effective but dislikes the company’s business practices:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e“Love the product, business practice is deceptive. The advertise one thing and do another. Don't fall for the bogus promotions.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhere to Buy Vitaae for the Best Price\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe want to make clear that we do not recommend Vitaae. Here is a price comparison for one bottle of the supplement:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBrand website: $46.95 (plus shipping, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaae.net\/\"\u003elink\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmazon: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e$39.94\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e (free shipping depending on plan – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3K2SVfK\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003elink to official Amazon listing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVitaae is currently 15% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s official website even before shipping. These appears to be the only online retailers of the supplement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur Clean Nootropic Picks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0047\/1524\/9737\/files\/Nootropic_Supplement_Image_Optimized_98ecd2a4-24b2-47f6-ad1c-2ea95c379c74.png?v=1685832074\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are compounds which have been shown in medical studies to be effective for cognitive enhancement and memory support.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMCT oil\u003c\/strong\u003e is a food supplement derived from coconut oil that \u003cstrong\u003eimproved memory recall by 20% in adults\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein a 2022\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9588230\/\"\u003emeta-study\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"sponsored\" href=\"https:\/\/bulletproof.fdf2.net\/4eNQ4M\"\u003eBulletproof MCT Oil\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our top MCT oil pick, because its only ingredient is MCT oil derived from coconuts and it has zero additives. It currently retails for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eunder $16\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGinkgo biloba extract\u003c\/strong\u003e is arguably the most well-studied nootropic supplement apart from caffeine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11026748\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emedical review\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePsychopharmacology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e journal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003efound that ginkgo biloba supplementation improved attention and cognitive performance in healthy, young adults.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/ginkgo-biloba-extract\"\u003eIlluminate Labs Ginkgo Biloba Extract\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our supplement which is third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy, and retails for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $15\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat a subscription price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ePanax ginseng extract\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is another well-studied nootropic supplement. A 2013 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3575939\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclinical trial\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e found that \u003cstrong\u003eginseng extract caused \"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eoverwhelmingly positive effects on neurocognitive function across different cognitive domains.\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/illuminatelabs.org\/products\/panax-ginseng-extract\"\u003eIlluminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis our supplement which is third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy, and retails for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eonly $15\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eat a subscription price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusion\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWe do not recommend Vitaae and we do not consider the supplement likely to be effective. We analyzed every ingredient based on clinical studies and were unable to identify any ingredients proven to enhance cognition at their stated dose in Vitaae.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere is differing ingredient information on the brand website and on Amazon, and we hope that SANE Labs immediately rectifies this because this is a consumer safety issue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere are a number of questionable health and media claims on the Vitaae website, included a totally uncited claim that one of the ingreidents “helps reverse neurological inflammation.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOnline customer reviews of Vitaae are impressive, but we don’t believe the supplement is likely to cause side effects based on its formulation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFor consumers intent on purchasing Vitaae, we recommend doing so on Amazon where it’s currently cheaper than on the brand’s website.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","blog_id":49281925193,"author":"Calloway Cook","user_id":26601750601,"published_at":"2023-02-13T15:41:49-05:00","updated_at":"2023-11-20T01:07:04-05:00","summary_html":"We review the ingredients in Vitaae based on medical studies to give our take on whether the supplement is likely to improve cognitive function or if it's a waste of money. We highlight some highly questionable health and media claims made by the brand.","template_suffix":"","handle":"vitaae-review","tags":"_related:nootropics"}

Vitaae Review: Memory Booster or Scam?

Vitaae Review: Memory Booster or Scam?


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Vitaae is a nootropic supplement sold by a brand called SANE Laboratories. The brand describes their supplement as a “clinically research brain-boosting age-defying formulation” that can “improve your mental clarity.” 

But does Vitaae contain ingredients proven in medical research to improve cognition or are these just marketing claims? Does it contain any unhealthy additive ingredients? Will the supplement cause side effects? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Vitaae?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review the ingredients in Vitaae based on medical studies to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective for improving mental concentration and clarity.

We’ll also highlight some questionable health claims on the Vitaae website and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the supplement.

Ingredient Analysis

Vitaae ingredients

The ingredients above are from the Supplement Facts label published on the Vitaae brand website. There is a different Supplement Facts label (with slightly different ingredients and doses) on the product’s Amazon listing.

This is unacceptable, is the sign of a low-quality brand, and we urge the brand to immediately resolve this by publishing the updated ingredient lists on all sales channels. It’s a consumer safety issue to have inaccurate ingredient or dosage information.

Vitamin D is the first active ingredient at a dose of 125 micrograms (mcg). This is 625% of the Daily Value (DV). Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it bioaccumulates. It may be unsafe to take such a high daily dose of vitamin D without a vitamin D deficiency, and SANE Lab does not cite any medical studies proving that vitamin D supplementation has a nootropic effect.

Magnafolate C is a patented form of the B vitamin folic acid.  We can’t identify any clinical trials proving this ingredient increases cognition nor are any cited by the manufacturer.

Citicoline has been shown in a clinical trial published in The Journal of Nutrition to improve memory in older adults, however the dose used was 500 milligrams (mg) per day, or 5x the amount in Vitaae. We can’t find any studies proving it effective at the dose in Vitaae.

Coenzyme Q-10 has been clinically shown to slow age-related cognitive decline at a daily dose of 200 mg, as we documented in our review of another nootropic supplement called Focus Factor. However, the dose in Vitaae is only 50 mg.

The remaining active ingredients are included in a proprietary blend called “VitaalMind Proprietary Blend.”

Acetyl l-carnitine was studied in a 2017 medical review. The study authors analyzed whether the compound could cause cognitive enhancement in people without cognitive impairment, and concluded that there was not enough evidence to suggest so.

L-carnitine tartrate is typically used for athletic endurance. We can’t identify any medical research suggesting it’s effective for improving brain function.

Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract was shown to improve blood vessel health in the brain of diabetic rats in a 2021 clinical trial, however this doesn’t necessarily mean the same effects apply to humans.

Omega 3 fatty acids can improve brain health, but the 450 mg average ingredient dose in this blend is relatively low. One single can of sardines provides drastically more EPA than this supplement according to the USDA.

Overall we consider Vitaae unlikely to have a nootropic effect because we’re unable to identify any active ingredients that we consider effectively dosed based on a review of clinical research. The supplement does contain some effective ingredients, but those ingredients may be underdosed.

The good news is that the inactive ingredients in this formulation are safe and non-toxic.

Questionable Health Claims on Vitaae Website

There are a number of highly questionable health claims on the Vitaae website that we disagree with.

Vitaae questionable health claim 1

The brand features a graphic, shown above, suggesting “brain-boosting ‘fountain of youth’ results.” This graphic is misleading because it makes it seem as though the results are from a clinical trial on Vitaae, when they actually derive from a clinical trial on one of its ingredients, citicoline.

The clinical trial cited by the brand to back this claim used doses far higher than that in Vitaae: 250 mg or 500 mg of daily citicoline supplementation. The dose in Vitaae is only 100 mg.

Vitaae questionable health claim 2

The brand claims that their product is “clinically proven,” but we can't find any clinical trials on the Vitaae supplement. The citation for this claim is to the same clinical trial linked above that tested citicoline at a higher dose than exists in Vitaae.

Vitaae questionable health claim 3

SANE Labs claims that one of their ingredients “helps reverse neurological inflammation.” There is no citation for this claim, we cannot find any evidence of it, and this is a specific disease claim that is in violation of FDA guidelines.

Questionable Media Claims on Vitaae Website

Vitaae questionable media claim 1

SANE Labs claims to be one of the Inc 500 fastest-growing companies. We found no mention of their brand on Inc’s website or in their fastest-growing companies list.

Vitaae questionable media claim 2

At the top of the Vitaae website, there’s a claim that the brand is “seen on” major media publishers like TIME and The Wall Street Journal. We searched all five websites and found no references to Vitaae on any of them, as shown below.

Perhaps the brand was referencing television apperances, but we recommend that consumers exercise caution with brands that make media claims without providing proof.

Will Vitaae Cause Side Effects?

Vitaae does not appear to have been studied in any clinical trials to it’s impossible to say for certain whether or not the supplement will cause side effects. However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.

All of the active ingredients in Vitaae are safe and well-studied at their included doses, so we do not believe that the supplement is likely to cause side effects to the average consumer.

A medical review published in the BioMed Research International journal found that high doses of Gymnema sylvestre may cause side effects such as hypoglycemia, weakness and excessive sweating. We do not consider Vitaae’s dose to be likely high, but the brand fails to publish the individual ingredient dose. This is why we consider prop blends (where only the total dose is listed) to be bad for consumers.

There is no mention of side effects on the Vitaae brand website.

Real, Unsponsored Customer Reviews of Vitaae

Vitaae is sold on Amazon which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion. The supplement has been reviewed over 1,000 times with an unimpressive average review rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars.

The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Mary Bouldin” who claims the product reduced phlegm and caused weight loss: 

“Phlegm is SO much less. The side effects are A-OK as well. Lost 10 pounds in 8 days, and now have twice the energy as well. I know not everything works for everyone, but for me, it's really been a game-changer.”

The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Randy Rawls” who complains that the capsule size is uncomfortable to swallow:

“First, the delivery took an extended time, making me wonder where it is manufactured. Second, I was shocked to find a capsule ONE INCH long. If I could swallow something that big, I wouldn't have the phlegm problem. Since it's not returnable, I'm out the cost of the first bottle. Order at your own risk.”

SANE Labs has an average review rating of 3.61 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website which is a relatively positive mark for that site.

A BBB reviewer named “T.S.” claims that the product is effective but dislikes the company’s business practices:

“Love the product, business practice is deceptive. The advertise one thing and do another. Don't fall for the bogus promotions.”

Where to Buy Vitaae for the Best Price

We want to make clear that we do not recommend Vitaae. Here is a price comparison for one bottle of the supplement:

Brand website: $46.95 (plus shipping, link)

Amazon: $39.94 (free shipping depending on plan – link to official Amazon listing)

Vitaae is currently 15% cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s official website even before shipping. These appears to be the only online retailers of the supplement.

Our Clean Nootropic Picks

There are compounds which have been shown in medical studies to be effective for cognitive enhancement and memory support.

MCT oil is a food supplement derived from coconut oil that improved memory recall by 20% in adults in a 2022 meta-study.

Bulletproof MCT Oil is our top MCT oil pick, because its only ingredient is MCT oil derived from coconuts and it has zero additives. It currently retails for under $16.

Ginkgo biloba extract is arguably the most well-studied nootropic supplement apart from caffeine.

medical review published in the Psychopharmacology journal found that ginkgo biloba supplementation improved attention and cognitive performance in healthy, young adults.

Illuminate Labs Ginkgo Biloba Extract is our supplement which is third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy, and retails for only $15 at a subscription price.

Panax ginseng extract is another well-studied nootropic supplement. A 2013 clinical trial found that ginseng extract caused "overwhelmingly positive effects on neurocognitive function across different cognitive domains."

Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract is our supplement which is third-party tested to ensure purity and label accuracy, and retails for only $15 at a subscription price.

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Conclusion

We do not recommend Vitaae and we do not consider the supplement likely to be effective. We analyzed every ingredient based on clinical studies and were unable to identify any ingredients proven to enhance cognition at their stated dose in Vitaae.

There is differing ingredient information on the brand website and on Amazon, and we hope that SANE Labs immediately rectifies this because this is a consumer safety issue.

There are a number of questionable health and media claims on the Vitaae website, included a totally uncited claim that one of the ingreidents “helps reverse neurological inflammation.”

Online customer reviews of Vitaae are impressive, but we don’t believe the supplement is likely to cause side effects based on its formulation.

For consumers intent on purchasing Vitaae, we recommend doing so on Amazon where it’s currently cheaper than on the brand’s website.