Prevagen
Top Pick Brain Product
In our third spot is a well-known and popular product, Prevagen. There are a few different strengths and pill types offered by the manufacturer, with the primary ingredient being Apoaequorin.
Editor's Rating: Average
Supplement FactsServings Size: 1 CapsuleServings Per Container: 30 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Amount Per Serving | %DV | |
| Vitamin D | 50mcg | 250% |
| Apoaequorin | 10mg | * |
| * Daily Value (DV) not established | ||
| Other Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable capsule (cellulose, water), sugar, contains 2% or less of: acacia (gum arabic), casein peptones, corn starch, lactose, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), medium chain triglycerides (vegetable oil), salt, soy peptones, DL-a-tocopherol (preservative), tricalcium phosphate, water. |
Introduction
Prevagen is a well-known supplement with claims of supporting cognitive health and improving memory. Produced by the manufacturer Quincy Bioscience in 2007, it is formulated with a single ingredient, Apoaequorin, a protein derived from jellyfish. However, this product has been under fire on numerous occasions and faced multiple lawsuits for both false advertising and safety concerns, as well as by the FDA stating that this product does not meet the definition of a dietary supplement. Continue reading this review to learn more about Prevagen and if these red flags hold any weight.
Ingredients
Prevagen comes in different strengths and as both pills or chewable tablets. Each product contains the single ingredient, Apoaequorin. This ingredient is a calcium-binding protein found in jellyfish. It is believed to help slow down mental decline and improve cognition by regulating the calcium in the brain. However, studies are limited on both the effectiveness and safety of this ingredient in humans. The only human studies available for this ingredient are what the manufacturer mentions on its website, though it is important to note that these are not validated tests. There are other ingredients out there with more evidence supporting them for being beneficial for brain health in humans. Another huge drawback for this product is that it contains a long list of inactive ingredients. These are the ingredients which don’t provide any health benefits, and too many can hinder the effects of the active ingredients. Think of it as the long list of colorings and preservatives you find on food labels.
Dosage
There are different strengths of Prevagen available. The option is to choose between the regular strength of 10mg or extra strength of 20mg, and there is the option to choose tablets or chewables. The dosage is 1 capsule a day. It is not clear who should be taking which strength of pills.
Price
Pricing starts at $39.95 for a month’s supply of the regular strength pills. The extra strength pills cost $59.95 for a month’s supply. The chewable tablets are the same price as the pills. There is the option to buy a 2-month supply for $74.95 for the regular strength, and $109.95 for the extra strength. So not a huge discount, but at least it’s something.
Guarantee
A guarantee is usually what indicated that a product is top-quality. If the manufacturer stands behind their product, they will provide a guarantee. Prevagen comes backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee. This should sound great, but the manufacturer states that the product should be used for at least 90 days to see its full effects. This makes us wonder why they didn’t provide a 90-day guarantee?
Conclusion
Prevagen is a supplement which has been around for many years and is well-known by many. However, it doesn’t seem to contain any ingredients with actual scientific evidence supporting its benefits. In 2012 it came under fire by the FDA which stated that it does not meet the definition of a dietary supplement as it doesn’t actually contain any dietary ingredients. The warning letter mentioned that as it contains synthetic Apoaequorin, it cannot be considered a dietary supplement. There were also concerns raised about the manufacturer’s unsupported claims. In both 2017 and 2020, two separate lawsuits were brought against the manufacturer for false claims and advertising. These lawsuits paired with the guarantee which doesn’t even cover the period of time the manufacturer recommends using Prevagen for best results, makes us highly suspicious of the benefits of this product.