Focus Factor Review: Good Brain Nutrition Supplement?

I’m quickly learning in my journey of discovery around the world of nootropics that more ingredients do not necessarily equal more value (or better quality), although many makers will claim precisely this.

I thought I’d take a look at some products that go for the more-is-more approach and break it down into a helpful overview.

The angle that is so compelling for those consumers who are interested in nootropics is achieving that elusive focus and concentration. In our hectic lives there is barely a professional or recreational task that doesn’t involve some element of focus, and many of us find that as we get older we are less able to reach the levels of focus and concentration that we once had.

In my research I came across Focus Factor and with claims of being America's number one brain health supplement I couldn't ignore checking this out in a full in-depth review. So, let's jump straight in.

Focus Factor First Impressions

Focus Factor is a product that says it is ‘America’s Number 1’ brain health supplement. They say they have the science to prove that it works (more on this later) and so I am intrigued to find out more about what the manufacturers say sets it apart from the competition.

This is a growing field and has been seen by supplement manufacturers as a veritable gold mine of consumers all looking for that elusive key to the focus they are lacking.

The range of products on the Focus Factor site sounds like a shopping list from a futuristic drug-store: ‘ThinkFuel Nootropics’ which are aimed at ‘The Athlete’, ‘The Student’, ‘The Gamer’, ‘The Hero Women’, ‘The Professional’, are complemented buy a Kids’ range – chewable tablets which offer ‘Neuro Nutrients’ to help increase kids’ attention and support brain function.

The Original Focus Factor also comes in Extra Strength and a Brain and Vision variety. I am checking out the original Focus Factor Extra Strength version in my review.

Background on Synergy CHC Corp

I’m interested in the product Focus Factor (which has no doubt reached popularity purely on its name and marketing alone) but I also want to find out a little more about the makers. Is this a brand I could rely on and that I would want my money to support?

Although I couldn’t find all the information I needed from their product shop website https://www.focusfactor.com, a little Googling led me to another site for the umbrella company.

Synergy CHC Corp say they are;

a category-leading and a value-enhancing group of brands on a mission to find powerful & proven products in the health space & build a portfolio of companies who make lives brighter & better

I wanted to look outside the corporate and marketing speak and do a bit more digging around to find out some more about the brands.

Focus Factor used to be manufactured by a company called Factor Nutrition Labs LLC. It was also previously made by Vital Basics, Inc. Unfortunately my digging uncovered some disappointing results.

The FTC settled a case with the marketers of Focus Factor in 2004 (then called ‘Vital Basics Inc’) and they were made to pay $1million for their numerous unsubstantiated advertising claims. Included in the claims were ‘improving the focus, memory, and concentration of healthy adults’.

The respondents were told (in a consent agreement) not to make any further claims about products unless they ‘possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence substantiating that representation’. Unfortunately, it looks as though the makers have just renamed and regrouped and continue to make products with such claims.

With products as valuable as Focus Factor (again, think about the power of the brand name), this must happen a lot, and it is a sad factor in our consumer choices that we need to find out a bit more and do our research more when shopping for products these days.

What Ingredients inside Focus Factor?

Focus Factor claims to be a;

‘Synergistic blend of proprietary ingredients’

When I’m looking at the Focus Factor ingredients list I automatically find the use of proprietary blends disappointing as I think it’s dishonest to consumers and devalues a brand. Further digging reveals that there is actually a pretty low dosage in each tablet (you need to take 4 tablets per day?!).

So how can the manufacturers claim that it can be effective with these ingredients in such low dosage?

So, what’s inside the Focus Factor formula?

The list of ingredients in this formula is huge.

Somewhere around 40 ingredients are included in a single tablet. The list is below. I couldn’t type out the list in a column as it would take up too much space!!

The tablets also contain vitamins and minerals, the likes of which would be found in a standard broad-spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement.

I normally look on Examine for science-backed information on supplements ingredients, so take for example Choline. The recommended dose on Examine.com is 250mg to 500mg ‘for general health purposes’ once daily.

The recommended dose of gingko biloba is 120-420mg daily and the recommended doses of bacopa (in leaf form) range from 750-1500mg (it also is fat soluble so should be consumed with a meal) – Gingko source, Bacopa source).

In this way, we can see that it is unlikely Focus Factor has an adequate dosage in one, four, or even 8 tablets daily (and let’s be honest, why would you go to the trouble of taking handfuls of huge pills without any assurance they will really do anything for you?).

Are There Any Side Effects to Focus Factor?

There may be side effects to consumers sensitive to fish oils. It is always advisable to check the ingredients list before taking any supplement as you are otherwise unlikely to know (for example here there are allergenic ingredients included).

Does Focus Factor Actually Work?

For my research, I need to know whether the claims being made here are overstated.

As I said above, while the claims for all nootropics are compelling, take caution. Anyone who tells you ‘just give this a try [for a few months, at a cost of hundreds of dollars] you will be amazed by your improved focus’ sounds like they have the key to something incredible, right?

But you need to understand the WHY and the HOW.

Focus Factor claims to be ‘The only double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinically tested & patented brain health supplement on the market’. You would need to look at the science yourself to see whether this is just more marketing speak or if there is a legitimate evidence base for these claims.

For the purposes of my review, it is easy enough.

Just do the maths.

The ingredients simply can’t be potent enough.

At 692mg, although a large tablet, this will include ingredients in a very small dose. We are told by the manufacturers, however, that we can take up to 8 tablets a day!!

Many of the ingredients such as the vitamins and minerals are the same you find in a proprietary multivitamin for as little as $1 a month, so why would you pay upwards of $15 per month for a product which doesn’t disclose the exact amounts, or potentially won’t be any more potent than a $1 product?

It should be reiterated for the avoidance of any doubt that the ‘science’ backing up many of the claims for these ingredients points to studies (many of which are on patients with severely compromised cognitive functioning such as Dementia) that are as yet inconclusive.

The science on Gingko and Bacopa is possibly the strongest, however, experts believe you need more than the dosage available in these tablets to have a significant effect in otherwise healthy adults.

Focus Factor Customer Reviews

The reviews of the products on the Focus Factor site are, of course, largely positive. So I’ve taken a few examples from Amazon.

Of 85 customer reviews, 75% are positive.

This stuff really works!5-star review

Not a ADHD replacement3-stars

Product not effective2-stars

It doesn’t work1-star

How to Take Focus Factor

A serving size is 4 tablets with food, however, we are told that;

To accommodate body weight, activity level, stress level, and / or inadequate diet, take additional tablets up to a maximum of 8 tablets per day.

I note that some reviewers’ complaints are regarding the size of the tablets (being too large to swallow comfortably). This is worth noting if you have trouble swallowing larger tablets or capsules.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

I couldn’t find any information on the website about getting your money back.

Where to Buy Focus Factor

You can buy Focus Factor online at their online shop and also from Amazon.com.

What’s the Cost of Focus Factor?

A bottle of 60 tablets from the Focus Factor online store costs $14.99. It should be reiterated that a serving size is 4 tablets so this is not a month’s supply.

This is one of the cheaper products on the market and the bundle (6-pack) sets you back about the same cost as many of the upper-end products (at $125.99) – that’s only $0.12 per tablet!

BUT (and it’s a really big but, which is why I’ve typed it in bold) I know I don’t have to tell you that cheap really doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for consumers.

My Verdict: Focus Factor

As with any consumer choice you are strongly minded to do your research, this is no less important when shopping for supplements, which is why I’m doing some of the hard work for you.

I would be very wary of taking a product which doesn’t disclose all ingredients and amounts on the label (which is why we like brands like Mind Lab Pro and SuperGreen TONIK), especially if the recommended dose is to take upwards of four tablets daily. I’m also very wary of claiming a product is backed up with ‘science’ when, after a little of my own evidence-gathering, it would seem the ‘results’ are from a very narrowly-tested claim.

If you want to feel as though you’re giving your brain some extra nutrition but you don’t really want to pay the big bucks charged by the more slick brands then this could be a product you are happy with.

There is little doubt, for me, that I would likely only choose a Nootropic which had solid evidence to back up every single ingredient used, and I just don’t see the point in taking cheap imitation products that use proprietary blends.

For me, Focus Factor just doesn’t have the x-factor.

Whenever a new craze or fad hits the healthfoods, ‘superfoods’ or supplements market, I always find there is a dictionary-full of new buzzwords that goes with it. The marketing behind such products seems to require the formation of a brand new vocabulary for would-be customers, which will all help in the illusion that it is set apart from what has gone before.

I speak, specifically in this case of the word ‘Stacks’. I bet you didn’t know that in terms of nootropic supplements this phrase has taken on a new meaning. It now means the ‘layering’ of two or more supplements so that the effect of both (or all) is greater than that of taking just one.

This phrasing is important as it implies both that more than one ingredient is better and also that just one is not quite enough in order to have the desired effects on mental performance (what nootropics claim to improve).

To illustrate this, and more because this is one of the first supplements I have come across which fully embraces the word ‘Stacks’ in its branding, I’m looking at CILTEP, a nootropic supplement from the company Natural Stacks.

Background on Natural Stacks

Natural Stacks are a company that produces supplements focused on customers achieving the mental edge. Products, like CILTEP claim to assist in

obtaining laser-like focus for hours and creating long lasting memories.

They have a list of fans, including athletes, scientists, and World Poker winners.

Although they are by no means alone in promising that their products will boost brain performance, Natural Stacks stand out as being very true to their values in terms of sourcing and ensuring the quality of their ingredients.

The founder, Roy Krebs, based his company ethos on full transparency. So I like the brand already! There’s not a huge story on their website about how they formed the company and their personal ‘Team’ page isn’t huge on the details, but I do gather from a little research that they formed with the intention of being the ‘world’s first open-sourced supplement company’.

The company produces a number of supplements in various ranges, from ‘Essentials’ to brain brands. These include Dopamine Brain Food, Smart Caffeine, and BrainBiotic. In fact, looking at the blog and the pop-up brain tests that plague their site (hint: it’s very annoying!!) much of their marketing suggests that they are your go-to brand for productivity and improved cognitive function.

Their branding is a cross between the natural form of a bee honeycomb and a scientific illustration of molecular structure. It’s kind of cool and definitely portrays what they are about.

What Ingredients inside CILTEP?

After I’ve waded through all the sales pitches and marketing speak, this, for me, is the interesting part. I’m already very happy to see that Natural Stacks are not hiding their ingredients behind a proprietary blend and have disclosed the amounts of each ingredient on the label.

So, what’s inside the CILTEP formula?

The ingredients listed are as follows:

Artichoke extract (900mg), Forskolin (20mg), Acetyl-L-Carnitine (750mg), L-Phenylalanine (500mg), Vitamin B6 (5mg)

I want to look at a few of these ingredients, specifically the ones I’ve never heard of, because I’d like to know what the thinking is behind using these ingredients and whether they really would have any effect on my memory and brain function.

I’ve looked at Examine.com which is a source I frequently use for science-based information on supplements. What I discover about artichoke extract is that there is a little (but more research needed) evidence to suggest that it may have an effect on the blood glucose levels of diabetics, and may have a lowering effect on cholesterol. Other claims seem to be unsubstantiated, although it has been used traditionally for centuries for its supposed liver-protecting properties. There doesn’t appear to be evidence that the main ingredient stated on the CILTEP site has any effect on brain function.

There is a lot of science talk on the CILTEP website about the ingredients and their effects on (specifically brain neuron transmission and the effects of enzymes on them) but I’m mainly interested in whether these ingredients have been recognized in scientific trials, specifically measuring the outcome they claim to have. So this is a chin-scratcher for me. On to the next one.

Forskolin derives from the plant Coleus Forskohlii and has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies have been done on its effect on cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) which is thought to have an effect on fat loss. It is still being researched. Although further research is needed it is thought that two 250mg supplements (so 500mg total) which contain 10% forskolin would be an effective dose. (Examine source)

Acetyl L-Carnitine is an altered version of the amino acid L-Carnitine which is used (mostly in bodybuilding supplements) due to its effect on cell mitochondria. While the evidence doesn’t support the use in a fat-loss function, researchers have been looking at a daily dosage of ALCAR of around 630-2500mg for cognitive performance (as outlined by Examine).

L-Phenylalanine is an amino acid that the manufacturers claim is a building block for dopamine. I’m going to have to put it out there that there is not much research on this having any effect on mood or cognition.

Are There Any CILTEP Side Effects?

Because there is no caffeine present there is unlikely to be a ‘rush’ or jittery effect to taking this supplement which some people experience when caffeine or other stimulants are present, but it’s recommended that you take the minimum dose initially and increase gradually.

Does CILTEP Actually Work?

The idea is that you take 1-3 capsules a day, in the morning and about 20 minutes before you eat. They also recommend that you have one or two days off per week (strangely they suggest this is on the weekend? Clearly they don’t know what my weekends are like!!).

So three capsules would give me LOADs of artichoke (not much evidence to support), 60mg Forskolin (recommended dose is around 50mg daily), and 2250mg ALCAR (almost the maximum daily dose recommended).

The idea behind this product is that if you take it you will ‘think faster, remember more’, which is indeed hugely appealing to a customer. However even looking through the scientific formulas to the amounts of each ingredient on the label, I can only see a couple that might have proven cognitive effects in trials.

The makers state on their website that they are testing the product through ‘multiple placebo-controlled, double-blind University studies on its effectiveness’ although of course, we have no idea when this statement was made, nor whether it is currently correct.

CILTEP Customer Reviews

The reviews on Natural Stacks own website are all glowing. So I’ll take a cross section from Amazon. Of 355 reviews 56% are 5-star and 18% are 1-star.

One of the best nootropics available5-star review

smooth flow nootropic – noticeable when not taken5 stars review

groggy and depressed1 star review

Gloomy brain fog1 star review

How to Take CILTEP

The makers recommend that you take 1-3 capsules per day immediately upon waking on an empty stomach.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

The manufacturers offer a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee on unopened products.

Where to Buy CILTEP

You can buy CILTEP at their online store or from Amazon merchants.

What’s the Cost of CILTEP?

A jar of 60 capsules (20 doses of 3 capsules per day) costs $36.51, a two-pack is $72.03 (delivered every month), 3 packs are $99 and a six-pack is $183.60.

With a daily cost of $2.40 (as you would need to buy two jars – only 20 daily doses in one) it’s the equivalent of a smoothie or a daily coffee (or daily super greens supplement), which some might think is OK value.

My Verdict: CILTEP Nootropic

There are definitely some positive elements to this product. Knowing what goes into any supplement is an absolute basic first step, so here’s a big thumbs-up to Natural Stacks for putting on their label the exact ingredient amounts.

The manufacturers have also made a small step towards recognizing that some of their customers would like to see more actual evidence to support the claims behind the whole stack of supplements, so it's good to see that they are undertaking some research. I’ll have my eyes open for the results.

It’s not the most expensive nootropic supplement on the market, so that’s also a bonus.

However, despite many companies now using this model of taking traditional herbs and plant-based ingredients (from Ayurveda, for example) and putting them together – with a huge amount of marketing – and coming up with a ‘new’ solution to age-old problems such as brain fog, fatigue, and cognitive stress, no-one has yet come up with the science that proves the desired outcome for us everyday folk. Despite big efforts to make us believe in them, I would have to see that it is more than just a placebo working its stealthy magic.

I remain skeptical with CILTEP as a whole mostly around some of the ingredients in this stack, so I think I’ll continue my search for that gold-standard nootropic to take daily.

The new wave of nootropic products is promising these benefits and much, much more, so I’m here to guide you through my take on some of the newest and most interesting products in this area.

I’m going to be taking a look at a product called OptiMind, which I stumbled across while researching some other supplements.

I thought it looked interesting and certainly sounds like it should do something phenomenal to your mind if it can ‘unleash’ it and make it ‘optimal’ as promised!

What is OptiMind?

The first thing I noticed when looking at OptiMind and specifically the website is the banner that states “Enhance your Focus’. Ironically I was feeling particularly foggy-of-brain when I came across this so – no surprise here – it really piqued my interest!!

The branding is clear and gives the impression – along with the name – of targeting your mind and precision focus. There is a sort of cross-hairs motif which brings to mind the focus of a sniper or an archer, with the overall effect of an eye if you sort of squint at it. Further down the home page is in fact a picture of a huge human eye.

There’s an endorsement from a marketing specialist and mentions of write-ups in magazines such as Vice and Elite Daily. Further down there is a statement that ‘nootropics increase energy’ (more on claims like this later) and we read that attention, focus and awareness are ‘self-perceived’ states which can be altered with just the right blend of ingredients.

This intrigues me, and I want to learn more.

Background on AlternaScript

OptiMind is formulated and produced by AlternaScript LLC, based in Austin, TX. Their purpose is to;

I’ll just state here and for the record that Adderall contains amphetamines (hence why it is a controlled substance) and OptiMind (previously Alleradd) does not.