Product Image

SharpMind

Solaray
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(293 ratings)
Ginkgo
Huperzine 10 mcg
Product Image
Score 65.0

Solaray SharpMind is a blend targeting cognitive and cardiovascular health, featuring Ginkgo but with notably low doses of Huperzine A and Phosphatidylserine, potentially limiting its overall efficacy for comprehensive brain support.

Quantity: 60 VegCap(s)Servings size: 1 VegCap(s) (60 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Brain Health
Cognitive Support
Cardiovascular Support
Mental Focus

Score 65.0

Solaray SharpMind is a blend targeting cognitive and cardiovascular health, featuring Ginkgo but with notably low doses of Huperzine A and Phosphatidylserine, potentially limiting its overall efficacy for comprehensive brain support.

Analysis

Solaray SharpMind is a multi-ingredient supplement aiming to support brain health, cognition, and cardiovascular function with a blend of herbs and nootropics. While it includes well-regarded ingredients like Ginkgo biloba, its effectiveness is significantly hampered by the remarkably low dosages of key cognitive compounds like Huperzine A and Phosphatidylserine. This product attempts to be comprehensive but sacrifices potency for a broad ingredient list, limiting its potential impact compared to more targeted or adequately dosed alternatives.

Pros
  • Includes a broad spectrum of ingredients targeting both cognitive and cardiovascular health.
  • Contains a well-dosed and standardized Ginkgo biloba extract, known for improving cerebral blood flow.
  • Offers a relatively affordable price per serving for a multi-ingredient formula.
Cons
  • The dosage of Huperzine A (10mcg) is significantly below the typically effective range (50-200mcg) for cognitive enhancement.
  • The Phosphatidylserine dosage (10mg) is substantially lower than clinically studied doses (100-300mg) for memory and brain function.
  • Some ingredients like Cat's Claw and Horse Chestnut are less directly linked to primary cognitive enhancement compared to other nootropics.
Warnings
  • Contains soy-derived Phosphatidylserine, which is a common allergen.
  • Ginkgo and Horse Chestnut may have blood-thinning effects, posing a risk for individuals on anticoagulant medications.
$22.02($0.36 per serving)
Vitacost
$ 23.39
Amazon
$ 22.02
iHerb
$ 23.39
Ingredients
IngredientAmount per serving
Cat's Claw 350 mg
Horse Chestnut seed extract (Aescin) 140 mg
Ginkgo leaf extract (Terpene Lactones, Ginkgo Flavoglycosides) 60 mg
DopaBean bean extract (L-Dopa, Catecholamines) 20 mg
Phosphatidylserine concentrate (Soy, Phosphatidylserine, Lecithin) 10 mg
Huperzine A (Chinese Moss) 10 mcg
Adults 18–50 Women
Categories
Ginkgo 75.0
The product provides a robust dose of Ginkgo leaf extract, supplying 60mg each of Terpene Lactones and Ginkgo Flavoglycosides, totaling 120mg of standardized extract. This aligns with many research-backed dosages for cognitive and circulatory benefits, making Ginkgo a well-represented ingredient in this supplement.
Huperzine 30.0
Despite being listed in the Huperzine collection, the product contains only 10mcg of Huperzine A. This dosage is significantly lower than the commonly studied and recommended therapeutic range (typically 50-200mcg) for supporting memory and cognitive function. Therefore, its presence in this collection is nominal rather than functionally significant, making it an underdosed component for anyone specifically seeking Huperzine's benefits.
Goals
Cardiovascular Support 70.0
The product notably includes Ginkgo biloba and Horse Chestnut seed extract, both traditionally and scientifically recognized for their benefits in supporting healthy circulation. Ginkgo is known to enhance microcirculation, while Horse Chestnut (via Aescin) aids venous tone and capillary integrity, making this aspect of the formula comparatively well-supported. These ingredients work synergistically to promote overall vascular health, contributing positively to cardiovascular well-being.
Brain Health 60.0
The product incorporates Ginkgo biloba, a well-regarded herb for improving cerebral circulation, which is foundational for brain health. However, the inclusion of Huperzine A and Phosphatidylserine at extremely low doses (10mcg and 10mg respectively) significantly limits their expected impact on overall brain health, as these dosages are far below what is typically studied or recommended by nutritionists for noticeable effects. While the blend attempts a comprehensive approach, the sub-optimal dosing of key nootropic compounds makes it less effective for robust brain health support compared to alternatives.
Cognitive Support 60.0
For cognitive support, the product relies on Ginkgo for enhanced blood flow, which can indirectly aid cognitive functions like memory and processing speed. Nevertheless, the minimal amounts of Huperzine A and Phosphatidylserine, crucial for direct neurochemical and structural support, render their contribution to cognitive improvement questionable at these levels. Consumers seeking substantial cognitive benefits might find this product underperforms compared to other supplements offering higher, more therapeutically relevant dosages of these specific nootropics.
80 Value

Extra Strength Ginkgo 120 mg

Doctor's Best
4.7
★★★★★
(70975 ratings)
Provides a robust 120mg dose of standardized Ginkgo, a primary ingredient in SharpMind, at an exceptionally low price per serving ($0.08 vs $0.34), offering excellent value for effective Ginkgo supplementation.
85 Value

Huperzine-A 200 mcg

Nutricost
4.6
★★★★★
(330 ratings)
Delivers a strong and effective 200mcg dose of Huperzine A, significantly higher than SharpMind's 20mcg, for a remarkable price per serving ($0.08 vs $0.34), providing far better value for this specific nootropic.
70 Value

Brain Elevate

NOW
4.6
★★★★★
(5910 ratings)
Offers a multi-ingredient blend similar to SharpMind, including Ginkgo, Huperzine A (albeit still low, but slightly higher at 25mcg), Phosphatidylserine, and Choline, at a lower price per serving ($0.19 vs $0.34), making it a more cost-effective option for a comparable overall formulation.
90 Performance

Brain Cell Support

Metabolic Maintenance
4.7
★★★★★
(233 ratings)
This product features higher, more clinically relevant doses of Phosphatidylserine (100mg vs 40mg), Cognizin, and Acetyl L-Carnitine, alongside a well-dosed Ginkgo, offering a more comprehensive and effectively dosed cognitive support formula.
92 Performance

Memoractiv

Thorne
4.6
★★★★★
(395 ratings)
Utilizes a specialized, potentially more bioavailable Ginkgo Phytosome (240mg) and includes well-regarded ingredients like Bacopa, KSM-66 Ashwagandha, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine at effective doses, providing a more advanced and synergistic blend for cognitive enhancement.
95 Performance

Brain Charge

Source Naturals
4.5
★★★★★
(336 ratings)
Offers a powerful and well-rounded nootropic profile with significantly higher doses of Huperzine A (150mcg vs 20mcg) and Phosphatidylserine (90mg vs 40mg), combined with Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Ginkgo, Vinpocetine, and other brain-supportive nutrients, making it a superior choice for overall cognitive function.
75 Budget

Ginkgo Biloba 120 mg

Nature's Bounty
4.6
★★★★★
(19361 ratings)
Offers a clinically relevant 120mg dose of standardized Ginkgo at a significantly lower total price and price per serving, providing a strong core component of SharpMind more affordably.
80 Budget

Huperzine A 200 mcg

Life Extension
4.6
★★★★★
(456 ratings)
Provides a robust and effective 200mcg dose of Huperzine A, which is notably underdosed in SharpMind, at a lower total product cost, making it a better choice for targeted Huperzine A benefits.
72 Budget

Ginkgo with Vinpocetine

Swanson Superior Herbs
4.7
★★★★★
(303 ratings)
Delivers 80mg of Ginkgo alongside Vinpocetine, another ingredient known for cognitive support, for a much lower total price, offering a multi-ingredient approach similar to SharpMind at a fraction of the cost.
80 Value

Extra Strength Ginkgo 120 mg

Doctor's Best
4.7
★★★★★
(70975 ratings)
Provides a robust 120mg dose of standardized Ginkgo, a primary ingredient in SharpMind, at an exceptionally low price per serving ($0.08 vs $0.34), offering excellent value for effective Ginkgo supplementation.
85 Value

Huperzine-A 200 mcg

Nutricost
4.6
★★★★★
(330 ratings)
Delivers a strong and effective 200mcg dose of Huperzine A, significantly higher than SharpMind's 20mcg, for a remarkable price per serving ($0.08 vs $0.34), providing far better value for this specific nootropic.
70 Value

Brain Elevate

NOW
4.6
★★★★★
(5910 ratings)
Offers a multi-ingredient blend similar to SharpMind, including Ginkgo, Huperzine A (albeit still low, but slightly higher at 25mcg), Phosphatidylserine, and Choline, at a lower price per serving ($0.19 vs $0.34), making it a more cost-effective option for a comparable overall formulation.
90 Performance

Brain Cell Support

Metabolic Maintenance
4.7
★★★★★
(233 ratings)
This product features higher, more clinically relevant doses of Phosphatidylserine (100mg vs 40mg), Cognizin, and Acetyl L-Carnitine, alongside a well-dosed Ginkgo, offering a more comprehensive and effectively dosed cognitive support formula.
92 Performance

Memoractiv

Thorne
4.6
★★★★★
(395 ratings)
Utilizes a specialized, potentially more bioavailable Ginkgo Phytosome (240mg) and includes well-regarded ingredients like Bacopa, KSM-66 Ashwagandha, and Acetyl-L-Carnitine at effective doses, providing a more advanced and synergistic blend for cognitive enhancement.
95 Performance

Brain Charge

Source Naturals
4.5
★★★★★
(336 ratings)
Offers a powerful and well-rounded nootropic profile with significantly higher doses of Huperzine A (150mcg vs 20mcg) and Phosphatidylserine (90mg vs 40mg), combined with Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Ginkgo, Vinpocetine, and other brain-supportive nutrients, making it a superior choice for overall cognitive function.