Natrol Cognium

Natrol Cognium Review

Natrol Cognium is marketed as one simple and effective way to keep your memory strong and your mind sharp. While you can find many other nootropic supplements in the market, Natrol Cognium claims to be different in that it contains a silk protein hydrolysate. It certainly sounds impressive to take a supplement that contains a somewhat unique ingredient, but unfortunately, the research regarding the benefits of this ingredient is still inconclusive. Also, it is not possible to find the links to those studies on the official website.

Natrol Cognium relies on a single ingredient only, which is CERA-Q Powder.

• Cera-Q is a protein hydrolysate extracted from fibroin, the major protein in silkworm cocoons. Traditional Korean medicine has prescribed silkworm fibroin for centuries to improve health and longevity. This protein’s high glycine and alanine content (~75% of the total amino acid composition), paired with a unique molecular structure, offers the unique advantage of binding to and preventing the buildup of amyloid plaque in the human brain.

It is important to point out that many studies that have found some positive results from silk protein hydrolysate used larger doses of this ingredient.

• To fight aging and cognitive decline the manufacturers of Cera-Q recommend a dosage of 200mg to 400mg per day divided across two to three servings. One study found minor benefit with a dosage as low as 10mg per day, but most research uses a daily 200mg to 400mg dosage. The dosage varies slightly based on the desired application of Cera-Q, characteristics of the end user, and other ingredients that may be included in supplement containing Cera-Q.

A study on 99 healthy adults showed an improvement in memory and brain function, after taking 400mg of this ingredient for 3 weeks. The problem is that even if you take two tablets of Natrol Cognium, you will still be getting only 200mg of silk protein hydrolysate. This could very well be the reason why you cannot find many positive reviews for Natrol Cognium.

Another common problem is that most studies conducted on the effects of silk protein are animal based. For instance:

• Researchers injected beta-amyloid protein in the hippocampal region of rat brains, and then provided 5 to 10mg per kilogram of bodyweight oral doses of Cera-Q to rats for two continuous weeks. The beta-amyloid protein reduced acetylcholine levels in the brain by 45%. Just 5 to 10mg of Cera-Q per kilogram of bodyweight restored acetylcholine levels to between 78 and 80% of the levels found in the control population.

Now, it seems encouraging, but it is not always possible to replicate the results of animal studies in human, so there is always a degree of uncertainty with Natrol Cognium.

Some studies have shown positive results, but the effects are not significant. For instance:

• In 2004, 53 healthy Korean females and 13 healthy Korean males with an average age of 42 consumed either 0mg, 200mg, or 400mg of Cera-Q daily for three weeks. These individuals then completed Digit Symbol Test portion the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The Digit Symbol Test is variation of number memorization used to measure brain damage, dementia, age, and depression. Individuals consuming placebo did not show improvement over baseline, but those consuming 200mg and 400mg of Cera-Q increased their scores by 11.3% and 22.2%, respectively.

Again, it may sound interesting to have 22.2% improvement in memory, but that is possible when you take up to 400mg a day.

It is worth mentioning that the process of getting CERA-Q from silkworm cocoon is quite complex. It is also quite tricky to turn it into a tablet form. We do not know much about how Natrol Cognium achieves all this, and that is another reason why there will always be questions regarding its efficacy. Here is how the CERA-Q is isolated:

• Researchers place the silkworm cocoon in a mixture containing water and proprietary enzymes to isolate the fibroin protein found in to a combination of short chains of amino acids called peptides. After isolating the protein in hydrolysate form, the mixture is dried to eliminate the water so that only the protein remains.

Another consideration is that most studies have found that you are going to see results when you use CERA-Q powder with 65% protein and less than 10% moisture. Now, you only get 60% silk protein hydrolysate from each serving of Natrol Cognium, which means you are not going to get enough.

The fact of the matter is that Natrol Cognium claims to help reduce the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain to prevent degenerative brain diseases, but there is inconclusive results regarding the benefits of supplementing with the active ingredient found in this supplement. The truth is that you will be better off trying a nootropic supplement that contains a type of stimulant if you want to see an immediate improvement in your concentration and focus. Supplements with caffeine usually work great in this regard.

It is even better to pay attention to your diet instead and include foods rich in antioxidants in your diet. This way, you will be able to prevent oxidative damage to cells in the body, and be in a position to enjoy good memory in the later stages of your life. Supplements like Natrol Cognium makes big promise but fail to deliver. You will end up wasting your money, especially considering the fact that Natrol Cognium costs a lot as compared to many other nootropic supplements that are more likely to work.

What Does Natrol Cognium Claim To Do?

Natrol Cognium provides you with an important ingredient obtained from silkworm cocoon, and it is supposed to help you in many ways. Here are some of its claimed benefits:

• Improve cognition
• Keeps your memory sharp
• Improves overall brain function
• Prevents oxidative damage to brain cells
• Improves focus and concentration

Does Natrol Cognium Work?

Natrol Cognium is designed to improve your memory and prevent degenerative brain diseases. It claims to help you in so many other ways just because it includes silk protein hydrolysate, which is supposedly backed by many scientific studies. First, you cannot find a direct link to those studies. Secondly, most of those are animal studies with doses much larger than what you get from each serving of Natrol Cognium. Some customer reviews suggest that the supplement may produce some results in three weeks, but those effects are not significant or permanent.

Overall, you will be better off putting your money on a nootropic supplement with scientifically proven ingredients and may be a bit of stimulant, like caffeine to help increase concentration. Natrol Cognium is not going to work!

What Are The Ingredients of Natrol Cognium?

There are actually a number of ingredients in Natrol Cognium, but they have not offered much detail about how much of those ingredients are there in the blend. You only know that it contains 100mg of CERA-Q Powder. This powder contains protein or amino acids derived from the cocoons of silkworms and is supposed to prevent the buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain. There is some evidence available to support these claims, but more research is required to draw a conclusion about the efficacy of silk amino acids.

Here is a bit about other ingredients found in Natrol Cognium:

• Dicalcium Phosphate: Pharmaceutical excipient used to dilute substances, make them stable, and able to be swallowed.
• Microcrystalline Cellulose: Depolymerized cellulose used as pharmaceutical excipient. Used to bind and fill formulations. High-quality wood pulp that has been hydrolyzed, purified, and dried.
• Maltodextrin: Usedto dilute substances, works as a coating agent, increases* calorie levels in oral supplements, and increases* viscosity in certain products.
• Stearic Acid: Emollient and emulsifier. Prevents water loss.
• Magnesium Stearate: Lubricates tablets to keep contents from sticking to machinery during processing.
• Glycerin: Used to improve* athletic performance and prevent water loss.

Does Natrol Cognium Have Any Side Effects?

Natrol Cognium is supposed to improve your memory and brain function, but one big issue is that there is little research conducted on how safe the ingredient is. Some customer reviews suggest that it may lead to some gastrointestinal problems, but there is nothing much available in terms of side effects. The manufacturer has mentioned that you should avoid it when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, which means that there may be something asking for more research to confirm its safety. If you have any safety concerns or you are allergic to certain compounds, etc., you will be better off staying away from Natrol Cognium.

Are There Any Customer Reviews For Natrol Cognium?

Natrol Cognium certainly looks different from other nootropic supplements, but it does not lead to any significant improvement in memory or brain function. Here is what customers say:

I have been taking this supplement for more than three weeks but I have not experienced any change in my energy levels, brain fatigue, or memory.

I do not think this supplement is better than other nootropic supplements. In fact, my old nootropic supplement was better at improving concentration than Natrol Cognium. I am going to return to that.

Does Natrol Cognium Offer a Money-Back Guarantee?

Depending on where you go to place your order, you may or may not get any money back guarantee.

Where Can I Buy Natrol Cognium?

You can get it from the official website, but you can also order it through retailers, such as Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart, Vitamin Shoppe, and more.