Evidence matrix
34 compounds, 6 outcomes, one grade per pair. Filter by goal or grade, then open a cell to see why it earned its grade.
Matrix v1, rubric v1. How we grade.
Tap a cell to read its rationale below.
| Compound | Focus and attention | Memory and learning | Mental energy and fatigue | Mood and stress | Sleep | Physical and athletic performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-HTPSafety flagAmino acid derivative (serotonin precursor) | Not graded | |||||
| Alpha-GPCSafety flagCholinergic (choline-containing phospholipid metabolite) | Not graded | Not graded | ||||
| ApigeninSafety flagFlavonoid (flavone) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Artichoke extractSafety flagBotanical extract (leaf); contains caffeic acid derivatives and the flavonoids luteolin and apigenin | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| AshwagandhaSafety flagHerbal adaptogen (Withania somnifera root or root/leaf extract) | Not graded | Not graded | ||||
| Bacopa monnieriHerbal extract (Ayurvedic herb) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| Beetroot (dietary nitrate)Safety flagDietary inorganic nitrate source (vegetable juice, concentrate or powder) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |
| Beta-alanineNonessential amino acid (carnosine precursor) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |
| B vitamins (vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate)Safety flagVitamins (B group) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Celastrus paniculatusBotanical (seed and seed oil of a climbing shrub, family Celastraceae) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| CiticolineSafety flagCholine-containing nucleotide (precursor of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Cocoa flavanolsSafety flagFlavanols (a subclass of flavonoids) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Coenzyme Q10Safety flagEndogenous quinone; mitochondrial electron carrier and antioxidant (nutritional supplement) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| CreatineNaturally occurring nutrient | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| GABASafety flagAmino acid and inhibitory neurotransmitter (natural or fermentation-produced isolate) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| Ginkgo bilobaSafety flagBotanical (leaf extract containing flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Gotu kolaSafety flagHerb (Apiaceae family); triterpene-containing botanical | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| Holy basilSafety flagHerb (Lamiaceae leaf and aerial parts); described in Health Canada's monograph as an adaptogen in herbal medicine | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| Huperzine ASafety flagCholinergic (reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; plant alkaloid isolate) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Lemon balmBotanical (leaf of Melissa officinalis; traditional herbal medicine and food flavoring) | Not graded | Not graded | ||||
| Lion's mane mushroomEdible and medicinal mushroom (fungus) | Not graded | Not graded | ||||
| L-theanineNon-protein amino acid | Not graded | Not graded | ||||
| MelatoninSafety flagHormone (pineal hormone) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |
| Mucuna pruriensSafety flagLegume seed containing levodopa (L-dopa) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| NAD+ precursors (nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide)Vitamin B3 forms; NAD+ precursors | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| Omega-3 (DHA and EPA)Safety flagLong-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |
| Panax ginsengSafety flagHerbal root (adaptogen in traditional use) | Not graded | Not graded | ||||
| PhosphatidylserinePhospholipid (membrane lipid) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone)Safety flagRedox cofactor (quinone compound); sold mainly as PQQ disodium salt | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| Rhodiola roseaSafety flagHerbal extract (root and rhizome), studied as an adaptogen | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| SaffronSafety flagSpice and botanical extract (dried stigma of Crocus sativus) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | |||
| SchisandraSafety flagHerbal extract (berry; lignan-containing; described as an adaptogen) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| TaurineAmino acid (sulfur-containing) | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded | ||
| Vitamin DSafety flagFat-soluble vitamin | Not graded | Not graded | Not graded |
A strongB moderateC limitedD preliminaryN no benefit shownSafety flagDot: not graded
Citing the matrix? Use “NootropicsWork Evidence Matrix v1” with the year, and link to this page. Read how we grade.
The matrix data is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt it, with credit to NootropicsWork and a link to this page.