Popular Supplements for Improving Brain Function

From pregnant health nutrition that supports fetal brain development to memory empowering nutrition for Baby Boomers and the elderly, the brain boosting supplement industry is a high potential growth market, which is still virtually untapped by supplement manufacturers.

Although this field of research needs further development, research done so far strongly suggests several nutrients and herbs play a helpful role in supporting and boosting brain functions. Fueled with this basic knowledge, consumers are seeking proactive nutritional means to boost or retain optimal brain capabilities.

Brain Nutrients Receiving Scientific Support

Scientific research continues to delve further into brain nutrients. The new frontier in brain research includes the study of strategic nutrients and botanicals for supporting healthy brain functions through nutritional supplementation. Such studies lend high credence to brain health supplements.

• Vitamin B12 especially is noted for its role in helping to prevent brain shrinkage - an age-related physiological change of the brain related to weak brain functions.
• Vinpocetine and blueberry extract help to improve blood flow to the brain and cell-to-cell communication, thus helping to improve cognitive and memory skills.
• Citicoline (a form of B vitamin) and CoQ10 help promote energy production at the brain cellular level. Citocoline has also been linked with greater intelligence. Cognizin, branded citicoline, has been extremely well researched.
• Extensive research on omega 3s show their positive role in neo-natal and children's brain development. Recent studies show it may also help to ward off dementia in aging adults.
• Vitamin D has also been linked with improved mental alertness especially in age-related brain deficient functions.
• Other research reveals the role of probiotics in boosting cognitive health benefits. Scientists have known for a long time that there is an inter-relationship between the guts and the brain and new research is clearly establishing this connection.
• Curcumin, quercetin, huperzine A, antioxidants and B vitamins are being studied and show a positive or inhibitive influence on Alzheimer's disease.

More in depth studies will continue to reveal and substantiate the role of brain nutrients in supporting optimized brain functions. The growth of the brain health supplement industry, to a large extent, will depend on supplement manufacturers being able to empower the public with knowledge and awareness about these nutrients. Supplement companies must be then able to provide consumers with a wide variety of strategic and targeted brain health supplement options to choose from.

Popular Brain Nutrients in the Market

There is a good deal of scientific support on herbs and nutrients that play a role in improving brain functions. The most popular brain nutrients and botanicals include:

• Acetyl-L-carnitine
• Citicholine
• Vinpocetine
• Vitamin B12
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Gotu kola
• Phosphatidylserine
• Huperzine A
• Blueberry Extract
• Coenzyme Q10
• Omega 3 fatty acids

Positive research on Phosphatidylserine led the Food and Drug Administration to allow two qualified health claims for this nutrient. Dietary supplement labels can state that:

1. "Phosphatidylserine (PS) may reduce the risk of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly"
2. "Phosphatidylserine (PS) may reduce the risk of dementia in the elderly."

High Potential Growth for Brain Health Supplements

The aging population of America is driving brain health supplement industry to greater growth potential. According to the Administration of Aging by the year 2030, twenty percent of the America's population will be over the age of 62. As the aging population burgeons, a greater demand is expected.

Opportunities also exist in the children's nutritional supplement segment as credible population studies show cognitive and behavioral improvements by supplementing children's diets with brain nutrients.

Neo-natal brain nutrition is also receiving much recognition.

An upcoming market exists for pet brain health supplements that target age-related decline of memory. These could target the dog population in America, 50 percent of which is over six years of age.

Frost & Sullivan report that nutritional supplements are leading the way in the cognitive health market! An experienced supplement manufacturer can help you manufacture brain health supplements that target this ready-to-boom consumer market.