Thinking clearly takes energy. Core Protocol brings together three caffeine-free ingredients, informed by human research into cellular energy, mental fatigue and stress.
Nicotinamide riboside
300 mg per daily serving
A precursor your body uses to make NAD+, a coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism.
2019 · Randomised controlled trial
+51% blood NAD+ at day 14
Mean increase from baseline with 300 mg NR daily in overweight, otherwise healthy adults.
Conze et al. · Scientific Reports
Safety and Metabolism of Long-term Administration of NIAGEN (Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride) in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Healthy Overweight Adults.
140 adults across the study · 8 weeks · Highlighted result: 300 mg/day, day 14. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46120-z.
2024 · Randomised pilot trial
NAD+ availability in older adults
NR raised blood NAD+ in adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Orr et al. · GeroScience
A randomized placebo-controlled trial of nicotinamide riboside in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
20 participants · 10 weeks · Dose escalation to 1,000 mg/day. Cognition remained unchanged. DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00999-9.
2022 · Phase I trial
Investigating NAD+ in the brain
NADPARK reported a variable increase in brain NAD after NR supplementation in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Brakedal et al. · Cell Metabolism
The NADPARK study: A randomized phase I trial of nicotinamide riboside supplementation in Parkinson’s disease.
30 participants · 30 days · 1,000 mg/day. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.02.001.
Acetyl-L-carnitine
500 mg per daily serving
Selected for its role in energy metabolism and research into mental fatigue.
2004 · Randomised open-label study
Improved reported mental fatigue
The ALCAR group reported a significant improvement during 24 weeks in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Vermeulen & Scholte · Psychosomatic Medicine
Exploratory open label, randomized study of acetyl- and propionylcarnitine in chronic fatigue syndrome.
90 participants across three groups · ALCAR, 2,000 mg/day · Mental fatigue p = 0.015. DOI: 10.1097/01.psy.0000116249.60477.e9.
2018 · Randomised controlled trial
Cognitive assessment scores improved
ALCAR improved MoCA-K scores versus placebo in patients with dementia associated with cerebrovascular disease.
Yang et al. · Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial for Efficacy of Acetyl-L-carnitine in Patients with Dementia Associated with Cerebrovascular Disease.
A combination of ALCAR, vinpocetine and huperzine A improved a composite memory score in a 28-day placebo-controlled study.
Wesnes & Reynolds · Int. Journal of Neurology and Neurotherapy
The Effects on the Cognitive Function of Healthy Volunteers of a Combination of Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Vinpocetine and Huperzine A Administered Over 28 Days.
Combination: 1,500 mg ALCAR, 15 mg vinpocetine and 150 µg huperzine A daily. DOI: 10.23937/2378-3001/1410089.
Rhodiola rosea
500 mg per daily serving
An adaptogen studied for fatigue and focus under stress.
2009 · Randomised controlled trial
Attention, fatigue and waking cortisol
SHR-5 improved selected attention measures and burnout-related fatigue, with a lower waking cortisol response after 28 days.
Olsson et al. · Planta Medica
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract SHR-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue.
60 adults · 576 mg/day. Mean attention-test omissions: 6.29 to 2.41 with SHR-5; 4.70 to 4.29 with placebo. Cortisol analysis: 46 participants.
SHR-5 names the specific standardised root extract. The HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) system regulates the stress response, including cortisol release. DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1088346.
2000 · Double-blind crossover trial
Mental performance during night duty
A trial in 56 healthy physicians reported improved combined mental performance during the first two-week treatment period.
Darbinyan et al. · Phytomedicine
Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue: a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty.
PMID: 11081987.
2023 · Clinical overview
Research into stress-induced conditions
A clinical overview discussing Rhodiola’s use in stress-induced conditions.
Ross · Holistic Nursing Practice
The Clinical Efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L. in Managing Stress-Induced Conditions.
37(4):233–235. DOI: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000597.
Selected ingredient research. Study populations, preparations and doses are identified with each reference.
