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Product Review: Memory Enhancers: Ginkgo, Huperzine A, Phosphatidylserine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine |
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Initial Posting: 11/30/05
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SOME SUPPLEMENTS MAY HELP WITH MEMORY. BUT LEAD CONTAMINATION AND LACK OF INGREDIENTS ARE PROBLEMS TO BE AVOIDED. FIND OUT MORE NOW!
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Alphabetical list of brands for the 32 products tested.
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AARP Formula 842 |
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Life Enhancements |
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PharmAssure |
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Canadian Sun |
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Maxi Ginkgo Biloba |
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Puritan's Pride |
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Ginkgoba |
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MRM |
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Solaray |
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Good 'N Natural |
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Nature's Bounty |
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TruNature |
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Herbal Supplement |
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Nature's Plus |
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Vitamin World |
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Irwin Naturals |
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Nutravite |
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Wildoats |
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Jarrow FORMULAS |
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Nutrilite |
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Karuna |
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Olympian Labs Incorporated |
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Make sure the supplement you take passed our test and is right for you! Isn't your health worth it?
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ConsumerLab.com tested supplements used to improve memory and cognitive function made with ginkgo, huperzine A, phosphatidylserine, and/or acetyl-L-carnitine.
But CL found significant amounts of lead in supplements made with a form of ginkgo, while those made with another form did not. Several ginkgo supplements were also low in key compounds. And there was no active ingredient in a huperzine A product. Other products successfully passed the testing.
The report includes results for popular supplements such as Ginkgoba and Ginkgo-Go as well as those from AARP, Canadian Sun, Good 'N Natural, Irwin Naturals, Jarrow, Life Enhancements, Maxi-Health, Nature's Bounty, Nature's Plus, Olympian Labs, PharmAssure, Puritan's Pride, Solaray, TruNature, Vitamin World, and Wildoats.
You must subscribe to get the full test results and ConsumerLab recommendations. In this comprehensive report, you'll discover:
- Which products failed or passed our tests and why.
- The evidence for and against supplements for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive and memory impairment.
- What to consider when buying and using these types of supplements.
- Concerns and cautions.
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Sample Test Results of Approved Products:
Listed alphabetically below are examples of products that passed. These "Approved" products met their label claim and ConsumerLab.com's standards
To receive the names and test results of all 26 ginkgo and huperzine supplements, along with our recommendations, you must SUBSCRIBE or LOG IN now.
EXAMPLES OF RESULTS FOR GINKGO AND HUPERZINE A PRODUCTS
Click on  for additional information on the product
Click on  beneath a product name to find a vendor that sells it.
To find retailers that sell some of the listed products click here.
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| Ginkgo |
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Name of Product and Labeled Amount of Ingredient per Unit
(Click on "Ingredients" for Full Listing)
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Manufacturer or Distributor
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Daily Amount of Ginkgo Extract (GBE) AND/OR Leaf (mg) (Per Label)
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Test Results
(Based on Product's Suggested Daily Serving)
(See How Products Were Evaluated)
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OVERALL RESULTS: APPROVED (Passed) or NOT APPROVED (Failed) |
Ginkgo Flavonols and Terpene Lactones** |
Lead Contamination |
Breaks Apart Properly |
Nature's Bounty Ginkgo Biloba 120 mg, 120 mg GBE/capsule, 1 per day*
(Full Ingredients)
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Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc.
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120 mg extract
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APPROVED
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N/A
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Nutrilite® Ginkgo Biloba and DHA, 53.3 mg GBE/softgel, 3 per day*
(Full Ingredients) |
Dist. by Access Business Group International LLC
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160 mg extract
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APPROVED
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N/A
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Puritan's Pride® Ginkgo Biloba 60 mg Standardized Extract, 60 mg GBE/softgel, 2 per day*
(Full Ingredients)
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Dist. by Puritan's Pride®, Inc.
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120 mg extract
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APPROVED
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N/A
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Vitamin World® Focus Complex, 60 mg GBE/softgel, 2 per day*
(Full Ingredients)
Also APPROVED for Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Huperzine A
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Dist. by Vitamin World, Inc.
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120 mg extract
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APPROVED
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N/A
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Vitamin World® Ginkgo Biloba 120 mg, 120 mg GBE/capsule, 1 per day*
(Full Ingredients)
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Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc.
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120 mg extract
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APPROVED
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N/A
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| Huperzine A |
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Name of Product and Labeled Amount of Ingredient per Unit
(Click on "Ingredients" for Full Listing)
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Manufacturer or Distributor
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Daily Amount of Huperzine A (- isomer) (mcg) (Per Label)
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Test Results
(Based on Product's Suggested Daily Serving)
(See How Products Were Evaluated)
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OVERALL RESULTS: APPROVED (Passed) or NOT APPROVED (Failed) |
Huperzine A |
Lead Contamination |
Breaks Apart Properly |
Vitamin World® Focus Complex*, 60 mg GBE/softgel, 2 per day
(Full Ingredients)
Also approved for Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Ginkgo biloba
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Dist. by Vitamin World, Inc.
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120 mcg
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APPROVED
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N/A
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*Tested through CL's Voluntary Certification Program prior to, at time of, or after the posting of this Product Review.
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**Total and specific terpene lactones (bilobalide and ginkgolides) and flavonol glycosides (quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin). See Passing Score for more information. Explanation gives primary reason for not achieving Passing Score.
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Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested.
The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytical testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information provided to it by third parties. Liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this report is hereby disclaimed.
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Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2005. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC.
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EXAMPLES OF RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF ACETYL-L-CARNITINE AND PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE SUPPLEMENTS
Click on for additional information on the product
Click on beneath a product name to find a vendor that sells it.
To find retailers that sell some of the listed products click here.
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| Acetyl-L-Carnitine: |
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Product Name, Labeled Amount of Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Recommended Daily Dose
(Click on "Ingredients" for Full Listing)
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Manufacturer or Distributor
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Daily Expected Amount of Acetyl-L-Carnitine (mg) (Per Label)
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Test Results
(Based on Product's Suggested Daily Serving)
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OVERALL RESULTS: APPROVED (Passed) or NOT APPROVED (Failed) |
Contained Labeled Amount of Acetyl-L-carnitine |
Nature's Bounty Acetyl L-Carnitine 250 mg per capsule, 4 per day*
Ingredients |
Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc.
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1,000 mg1
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APPROVED
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Vitamin World® Focus Complex, 25 mg per capsule, 2 per day*
Ingredients
Also Approved for Ginkgo and Huperzine A
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Dist. by Vitamin World, Inc.
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50 mg2
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APPROVED
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Vitamin World® Naturally Inspired™ Acetyl-L-Carnitine, 1,000 mg per capsule, 1 per day*
Ingredients
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Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc.
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1,000 mg1
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APPROVED
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| Phosphatidylserine: |
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Product Name, Labeled Amount of Phosphatidylserine per Unit and Recommended Daily Amount
(Click on "Ingredients" for Full Listing)
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Manufacturer or Distributor
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Daily Expected Amount of Phosphatidyl -serine (mg) (Per Label)
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Test Results
(Based on Product's Suggested Daily Serving)
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OVERALL RESULTS: APPROVED (Passed) or NOT APPROVED (Failed) |
Contained Labeled Amount of Phosphatidyl serine |
Puritan's Pride Neuro-PS® Phosphatidylserine 100 mg, 100 mg per softgel, 3 per day*
Ingredients |
Dist. by Puritan's Pride®, Inc.
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300 mg
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APPROVED
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Vitamin World Neuro-PS Phosphatidylserine 100 mg, 100 mg per softgel, 3 per day*
Ingredients
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Dist. by Vitamin World, Inc.
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300 mg
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APPROVED
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*Tested through CL's Voluntary Certification Program prior to, at time of, or after the posting of this Product Review.
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Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested.
The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytical testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information provided to it by third parties. Liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this report is hereby disclaimed.
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Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2005. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC.
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