Mind Lab Pro vs. truBrain

Two of the biggest names in the nootropic market–Mind Lab Pro & truBrain–are separated under several dichotomies:

• Pills vs Liquids
• Clean vs Caffeinated
• Drug-Free vs Synthetic

This last point in particular emphasizes the most significant difference between MLP & truBrain: Whereas MLP delivers a lab-concocted mix of natural compounds, truBrain notches in a few synthetic drugs (i.e. racetams) in its tech-flavored design. While I wouldn’t go so far as to label MLP as “organic” (it’s technically not), it is relatively much cleaner than its counterpart in this review.

Does this give MLP an inherent disadvantage?

Or does a “healthier” formula entail healthier results?

Let’s find out:

Formula Design

The obvious difference between these supplements is how they’re delivered:

• Mind Lab Pro – Plantcaps® capsules
• truBrain – Flavored “Think Drinks”

The benefit of liquid supplements is the potential of increased delivery (thus: quicker effects). The downside is the increased number of junk additives & unnecessary flavors. None of which are found in Mind Lab Pro’s clean, branded capsules.

But who cares about all that, right? As the Nootropic Geek I’m more concerned with the actual nootropics in these nootropic formulas. So let’s get down to it, starting with:

Mind Lab Pro: Eleven, Six, 100

That’s: 11 nootropics covering 6 brain bio-pathways for 100% brainpower.

Or at least that’s how Mind Lab Pro markets their formula. Typically, I’m suspicious of manufactured stacks that claim “100% brainpower”–which is to say: I’m suspicious of all manufactured stacks. Yet, MLP makes a strong case for itself by the ingredients it chooses (they’re all well-researched nootropics) and the quality of those ingredients (they’re all *mwah* como un beso: very good). Based on the individual bio-actions of each ingredient, MLP can be said to improve: Brain Energy, Brain Chemicals, Bloodflow, Brainwaves, Brain Protection, & Brain Regeneration.

Frankly, I can’t think of much else you need in a nootropic supplement. Read my in-depth review on Mind Lab Pro.

truBrain: Tasty, Synthetic Think Drinks

truBrain is identifiably unique for its “Think Drinks” format, delivering its flavored nootropics in 3 different color-coded varieties:

• Original. The standard truBrain formula with caffeine.
• Boost. Swaps piracetam for Noopept, replaces CDP-Choline.
• Caffeine Free. The standard truBrain formula with caffeine.

Of the 3, Boost is obviously the most powerful, replacing the mild piracetam with the much more potent “racetam-like” Noopept. Although, while Boost replaces CDP-Choline (or Citicoline) with uridine & centrophenoxine, I’d prefer they kept citicoline (which is two-parts choline & cytidine, a precursor to uridine) as its choline complements the cholinergic action of Noopept & oxiracetam very well.

Plus citicoline is just a damn good nootropic. Either way, each variation of the truBrain formula possesses significant cognitive value in a unique, novel “Think Drink” container. (Just drink sparingly to avoid tolerance buildup to the drugs.) Read my in-depth review on truBrain.

Unique Features

There are a few shared ingredients between these formulas (Citicoline, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine), however it’s the differences in these ingredients as well as the ingredients unique to each formula that makes all the difference between Mind Lab Pro & truBrain.

Those unique differences being:

Mind Lab Pro

• Citicoline (as Cognizin®) – truBrain & Mind Lab Pro have citicoline, but MLP sides with the premium Cognizin brand.
• Bacopa Extract (45% bacosides) – The Ayurvedic adaptogen bacopa, memory booster & cognitive enhancer, supplied in a potent 45% standardized extract.
• Lion’s Mane Mushroom – Lion’s Mane looks funky, but is pretty funkin’ cool, potentially regenerating brain cells by enhancing nerve growth factor (NGF) activity.
• Phosphatidylserine (as Sharp-PS®) – Multipurpose nootropic phospholipid & detox agent in sunflower-derived Sharp-PS form, rather than the cheaper soy-derived stuff.
• L-Theanine (as Suntheanine®) – truBrain also supplies L-theanine, but MLP sides with the premium Suntheanine brand.
• Rhodiola Rosea Extract (3% rosavins, 1% salidroside) – Standalone Rhodiola Rosea powder is great for physical & mental performance. MLP supplies the adaptogen in a spicy 3%, 1% standardized extract.
• B Vitamins – Mind Lab Pro has two B vitamins: Vitamin B6 (as “active” P-5-P) and Vitamin B12 (as the cyanide-free methylcobalamin).

truBrain

• Noopept or Piracetam – Original truBrain supplies piracetam, “Boost” carries Noopept, which is essentially a faster-acting, powerful version of piracetam.
• Oxiracetam – Cool to see truBrain round out the racetam experience with oxiracetam, a nootropic drug anecdotally associated with enhanced logical thinking & reasoning.
• Citicoline or Uridine & Centrophenoxine – Original truBrain supplies citicoline, whereas “Boost” replaces it with uridine & centrophenoxine.
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine – ALCAR is the right carnitine form for energized brain activity due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
• Magnesium Glycinate – The /r/Nootropics redditors mention magnesium quite frequently for its purported benefits on learning & memory.
• Caffeine or Caffeine-Free – Mind Lab Pro just is caffeine-free. truBrain gives you options (although, there is no non-caffeinated version of the Boost drink).

Potency & Quality

In terms of potency & quality (even quantity), neither supplement demonstrated any glaring issues. Matter of fact, both Mind Lab Pro & truBrain excel in this department, notable examples being: NALT form of Tyrosine, ALCAR form of Carnitine, Citicoline as the choline source, herbs in standardized extracts.

Yet, Mind Lab Pro has a slight edge over truBrain w/r/t their shared ingredients:

• Citicoline – branded as Cognizin (MLP)
• L-Theanine – branded as Suntheanine

Additionally, MLP supplies a branded form of Phosphatidylserine (as Sharp-PS), altogether wrapped in branded capsules (Plantcaps), demonstrating to me significant awareness of quality control.

truBrain also impresses with its potent roster of ingredients, yet its overall design comes across as just a little unpolished relative to MLP’s extreme squeaky cleanness.

Value: Mind Lab Pro vs. truBrain
	Price	Servings	Price Per Serving
Mind Lab Pro	$65.00	30	$2.17
truBrain	$65.00	30	$2.17

 

Mind Lab Pro or truBrain: Which is better?

Mind Lab Pro enhances brainpower for the long run.

Mind Lab Pro accurately qualifies itself as the “Universal Nootropic”–an earned moniker for its diverse, near comprehensive range of all-nootropic ingredients. If MLP doesn’t solve your cognitive problems, odds are your problems are too serious or you don’t have any problems that need solving. And even in both categories, MLP still feels good, and only gets better over time.

truBrain is delivers quick cognitive boosts NOW.

Not that racetams, or even Noopept, are big-time, brain-pounding boosters (racetams are notoriously backed by subjectively-varied customer reviews), but it seems truBrain sold a significant chunk of its soul on these drugs. Namely because they’re likely to lose their edge over time (with exception to piracetam, which requires long-term supplementation). Noopept & caffeine in particular are great for quick cognitive boosts NOW, but tolerance buildup seems to be an issue with them, forcing truBrain users to use truBrain sparingly.

My Recommendation