Nootropic supplements are becoming a booming business in a day and age where we are all looking to gain an “edge”. Whether it be in business, gaming or athletics, we are looking to get ahead of the competition. Unfortunately, most pre-made nootropic stacks are comprised of different proprietary blends. While most ingredients used are effective in their own right, no one really knows how much of one key ingredient they are sacrificing for another less effective one. Yet, several companies boast some pretty bold claims about the cognitive benefits you will receive by taking their product. And for the most part, they’re not lying to you. If you take a supplement made to effect brain chemistry and you “feel it” it must be working, right? Not so fast. Developing an elite and effective nootropic supplement comes in the subtlety of its formulation. For instance, an ingredient used to boost dopamine (like L-tyrosine) may deplete you of other key neurotransmitters (like serotonin) needed for things like cognitive efficiency, memory, learning, a sense of well-being, and sexual health. As such, not only is it necessary for appropriate ingredients to be paired together, they must also be accompanied by appropriate doses to promote effective synergy. This is where Main Frame stands out as a unique product and real contender in the nootropic game.

Elite Energy and Focus Complex

Theacrine (as TeacrineTM) is structurally similar to caffeine. One study demonstrated that people supplementing with 200mg of Theacrine for 7 days had more energy, without an increase in heart rate or blood pressure (Habowski et al. 2014). With all of the benefits of caffeine and none of the dependency issues or unwanted side effects, Main Frame boasts 100mg of pure Theacrine.

Huperzine A (1%) prevents the breakdown of Acetylcholine (see Alpha-GPC) (Raves et al. 1997). It does so by slowing down the enzyme responsible for degrading choline in the brain. Main Frame contains an efficacious 100mcg of Huperzine A (1%).

L-Theanine was first extracted from green tea in 1949. 200mg of L-Theanine (dose in Main Frame) raises Dopamine and Gaba (along with other neurotransmitters) levels in the brain to provide a calm relaxation (Juneja et al. 1999). It works best when combined with other stimulatory nootropics or caffeine to produce a calm energetic focus without jitters or nervousness.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) is highly bioavailable and crosses the blood brain barrier (Kido et al. 2001). Once it reaches the brain, ALCAR binds with choline to form Acetylcholine. It works best when combined with choline supplements like Alpha-GPC, which Main Frame also contains.

L-Tyrosine is the precursor to Dopamine (Scally et al. 1997). Dopamine is not only essential for cognitive arousal, it is necessary for memory, motivation, concentration, feelings of happiness, and well-being. Main Frame contains an efficacious dose of 500mg of L-Tyrosine.

Premium Nootropic Complex

ActeolinTM (Osmanthus Fragrans) is a neuroprotectant. It protects the brain by scavenging free radicals and plaques that over time can lead to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s (Lee, Lin & Yang. 2007).

Lion’s Mane Extract (Hericium Erinaceous) is a medicinal Chinese mushroom with potent nootropic properties. Lion’s Mane increases levels of Nerve Growth Factor in the brain (Lai et al. 2013). This special brain protein can repair previously damaged brain cells, or grow previously existing or new brain cells. It is easy to see how Lion’s Mane contributes to a number of nootropic stacks.

Alpha-GPC is a highly bioavailable precursor to Acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is one of the primary chemicals that the brain and body use to relay messages between brain cells and muscle cells (Lopez et al. 1991). Necessary for memory and concentration, higher levels of Acetylcholine translate to faster and more efficient signals being sent to, through and from the brain.

Sulbutiamine is a man-made version of B1 (Thiamine). Discovered by researchers in Japan in the 1950’s to prevent Thiamine deficiencies, Sulbutiamine is more powerful version to its counterpart as it crosses the blood brain barrier more easily (Bizot et al. 2005). The 300mg per serving of Sulbutiamine found in Main Frame is enough to prevent cognitive fatigue for up to 12 hours at a time.

Bacopa Monnieri Extract (50% Bacosides) Found in Main Frame is one of the more versatile nootropics that we know of. Not only does Bacopa enhance learning and memory formation in the brain, it also balances levels of serotonin and dopamine to allow for optimal cognitive performance (Aguiar & Borowski. 2013). The 300mg of Bacopa found in Main Frame, like L-Theanine works best with other stimulatory nootropics to promote a calm focus

Absorption Enhancement

Bioperine (Black Pepper Extract) increases the biovailability of supplements passing through the gut. More interestingly, black pepper may also prevent “brain fog”; and slows down an enzyme that breaks down Serotonin, a brain chemical associated with reduced anxiety and our sleep/wake cycles (Chonpathompikunlert, Wattanathorn & Muchimapura. 2010).

- William Wallace PhD(c)

Co-Founder of CreoDigm

References

Aguiar, S., & Borowski, T. (2013). Neuropharmacological review of the nootropic herb Bacopa monnieri. Rejuvenation research, 16(4), 313-326.

Bizot, J. C., Herpin, A., Pothion, S., Pirot, S., Trovero, F., & Ollat, H. (2005). Chronic treatment with sulbutiamine improves memory in an object recognition task and reduces some amnesic effects of dizocilpine in a spatial delayed-non-match-to-sample task. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 29(6), 928-935.

Habowski, S. M., Sandrock, J. E., Kedia, A. W., & Ziegenfuss, T. N. (2014). The effects of Teacrine TM, a nature-identical purine alkaloid, on subjective measures of cognitive function, psychometric and hemodynamic indices in healthy humans: a randomized, double-blinded crossover pilot trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 11(S1), P49.

Juneja, L. R., Chu, D. C., Okubo, T., Nagato, Y., & Yokogoshi, H. (1999). L-theanine—a unique amino acid of green tea and its relaxation effect in humans. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 10(6-7), 199-204.

Kido, Y., Tamai, I., Ohnari, A., Sai, Y., Kagami, T., Nezu, J. I., ... & Tsuji, A. (2001). Functional relevance of carnitine transporter OCTN2 to brain distribution of l‐carnitine and acetyl‐l‐carnitine across the blood–brain barrier. Journal of neurochemistry, 79(5), 959-969.

Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., ... & 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).

Lee, H. H., Lin, C. T., & Yang, L. L. (2007). Neuroprotection and free radical scavenging effects of Osmanthus fragrans. Journal of biomedical science, 14(6), 819-827.

Lopez, C. M., Govoni, S., Battaini, F., Bergamaschi, S., Longoni, A., Giaroni, C., & Trabucchi, M. (1991). Effect of a new cognition enhancer, alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine, on scopolamine-induced amnesia and brain acetylcholine. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 39(4), 835-840.

Raves, M. L., Harel, M., Pang, Y. P., Silman, I., Kozikowski, A. P., & Sussman, J. L. (1997). Structure of acetylcholinesterase complexed with the nootropic alkaloid,(–)-huperzine A. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 4(1), 57.

Scally, M. C., Ulus, I., & Wurtman, R. J. (1977). Brain tyrosine level controls striatal dopamine synthesis in haloperidol-treated rats. Journal of neural transmission, 41(1), 1-6