Brainz Power vs Thrivous Clarity

Brainz Power is a nootropic dietary supplement that competes with Thrivous Clarity. Nootropics support brain function and enhance mental performance – improve memory, cognition, and focus. This is a review of how the Brainz and Clarity products compare, based on third-party assessments of nootropic ingredient evidence and effect. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Please consult a physician before and during use of these and other nootropics.

Of course you'd expect us, at Thrivous, to think our product is better. But I think you'll agree with us after looking at this comparison. Here's an outline:

1. Ingredient List – List all ingredients and dosages in each product.
2. Ingredient Evidence – Score each ingredient based on its level of scientific evidence, and score each product based on the average of its ingredient evidence scores.
3. Ingredient Effect – Score each ingredient based on its magnitude of nootropic effect weighted by its ingredient evidence score, and score each product based on the average of its ingredient effect scores.
4. Formula Effect – Score each ingredient based on its dosage weighted by its ingredient effect score, and score each product based on the sum of its dosage scores.
5. Product Value – Calculate the relative value of each product by dividing its formula effect score by its price.

The end result of the comparison is two scores – one score for each product. Together, the scores show the relative nootropic effect you may reasonably expect per dollar spent. And you'll see that Thrivous is clearly the better value.

Ingredient List

Here are the ingredients in Thrivous Clarity and Brainz Power:

Clarity (30 days for $30)		Brainz (60 days for $29.99)
This information is updated from Thrivous and Brainz websites on 22 February 2017.
Bacopa Monnieri extract (25% bacoside)	600 mg	Bacopa Monnieri extract (20% bacoside)	100 mg
		DMAE Bitartrate	50 mg
		Ginkgo Biloba extract (24%)	50 mg
		Huperzine-A	10 mcg
		L-Glutamine	150 mg
		Lecithin (4% phosphatidylserine)	125 mg
		N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCI	50 mg
Rhodiola Rosea extract (2% salidroside)	300 mg
		St John's Wort (3%)	250 mg
		Vinpocetine	2 mg
Vitamin B Complex	51 mg
Zinc (from Zinc Sulfate)	11 mg

Ingredient Evidence

Let’s look at the level of scientific evidence for nootropic effects from ingredients in these products. Some ingredients may have multiple nootropic effects. In those cases, we'll take into consideration only the effect with the strongest supporting evidence.

To score the ingredients, we’ll use evidence ratings from Examine.com, an independent and unbiased encyclopedia on supplementation and nutrition that is not affiliated in any way with any supplement company. In cases when Examine.com does not provide an evidence rating, I'll flag the ingredient and estimate the rating.

In the table below, for each ingredient, the “evidence” column indicates the level of evidence on a scale of 0 to 4 for the nootropic effect with the strongest supporting evidence. For example, Bacopa is rated 3 because multiple peer-reviewed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies support its effect on memory.

Ingredient	Evidence	Clarity	Brainz
This information is updated from Examine.com, Thrivous, and Brainz websites on 22 February 2017. *My estimate of the rating for Huperzine corresponds to the Examine.com rating for ingredients with a single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies. **My estimates of the ratings for St John's Wort and Vitamin B Complex correspond to the Examine.com rating for ingredients with multiple peer-reviewed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.
Bacopa	3	X	X
Carnitine	3		X
DMAE	2		X
Ginkgo	4		X
Glutamine	2		X
Huperzine*	2		X
Phosphatidylserine	3		X
Rhodiola	4	X
St John's Wort**	3		X
Vinpocetine	2		X
Vitamin B Complex**	3	X
Zinc	3	X

Clarity Ingredient Evidence: 3.3

Brainz Ingredient Evidence: 2.7

In this comparison of ingredient evidence, Clarity beats Brainz. The product ingredient evidence scores are averages of individual ingredient evidence scores. They reflect the Examine.com evidence scale of 0 to 4, where 0 is practically no evidence, and 4 is strong evidence.

Clarity includes only ingredients that provide nootropic effects according to multiple peer-reviewed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Don't just take my word for it! Please look at the studies yourself, and ask your physician to look at them with you.

Brainz also includes several well-researched ingredients. One of its ingredients, Bacopa, matches an ingredient in Clarity. Carnitine, Ginkgo, Phosphatidylserine, and St John's Wort also have good support in scientific studies. A few of its ingredients, DMAE, Glutamine, Huperzine, and Vinpocetine, appear not to have as much support, but they do have some support.

Ingredient Effect

Now, let’s look at the magnitude of nootropic effect from ingredients in these products. Some ingredients may have multiple nootropic effects. In those cases, as above, we'll take into consideration only the effect with the strongest supporting evidence. To score the effects, we’ll use effect ratings from Examine.com. In cases when Examine.com does not provide an effect rating, I'll flag the ingredient and estimate the rating.

In the table below, for each ingredient, the “effect” column indicates the magnitude of nootropic effect on a scale of 0 to 3 for the effect with the strongest supporting evidence. For example, Bacopa is rated 2 because it may provide a notable increase to memory.

Ingredient	Effect	Clarity	Brainz
This information is updated from Examine.com, Thrivous, and Brainz websites on 22 February 2017. *My estimates of the ratings for Huperzine, St John's Wort, and Vitamin B Complex correspond to the Examine.com rating for ingredients with subtle effect.
Bacopa	2	X	X
Carnitine	1		X
DMAE	0		X
Ginkgo	2		X
Glutamine	0		X
Huperzine*	1		X
Phosphatidylserine	1		X
Rhodiola	2	X
St John's Wort*	1		X
Vinpocetine	1		X
Vitamin B Complex*	1	X
Zinc	2	X

Clarity Ingredient Effect: 1.4

Brainz Ingredient Effect: 0.8

In this comparison of ingredient effect, Clarity beats Brainz. The product ingredient effect scores are averages of individual ingredient effect scores, weighted by individual ingredient evidence scores (from the “Ingredient Evidence” section above). They reflect the Examine.com effect scale of 0 to 3, where 0 is practically no effect beyond placebo, and 3 is strong effect.

Clarity includes ingredients that may provide notable improvement to focus, memory, and mood. Multiple peer-reviewed, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies support these effects.

Brainz includes ingredients that may provide notable improvement to memory and focus. It also contains ingredients that may provide less dependable improvements to energy and mood. Judging from the individual ingredient effect scores, the most reliable nootropic ingredients in Brainz are probably Bacopa and Ginkgo.

Brainz contains Huperzine, which may not be appropriate for daily supplementation without cycling. Huperzine may have a half-life of greater than 24 hours. So it may accumulate to excess in your body if you do not take regular breaks from supplementation.

Formula Effect

Next, let’s look at the effective dosages of ingredients in the formulas for these products. To measure them, we’ll compare each ingredient dosage against a recommended dosage. And we'll approximate the recommended dosage from the middle of the recommended range of dosage per serving for nootropic effect from Examine.com, taking into account both concentration and amount. In cases when Examine.com does not provide a recommended dosage, I'll flag the ingredient and estimate the recommended dosage.

Keep in mind that this is a simplified comparison, which does not account for factors like possible benefits from more servings per day, complementary interactions between ingredients, nonlinear relations between dose and effect within recommended ranges, and of course under-studied ingredients.

In the table below, for each ingredient, the "dosage" column indicates the recommended dosage. And the product columns indicate the percentage (capped at 100%) of the recommended dosage provided by their respective formulas.

Ingredient	Dosage	Clarity	Brainz
This information is updated from Examine.com, Thrivous, and Brainz websites on 22 February 2017. *My estimate of the dosage for Vitamin B Complex is double the summed RDIs for B Vitamins.
Bacopa	300 mg (55% bacoside)	91%	12%
Carnitine	1250 mg		4%
DMAE	0		N/A
Ginkgo	180 mg (24% flavone glycoside, 6% terpene lactone)		28%
Glutamine	0		N/A
Huperzine	125 mcg		8%
Phosphatidylserine	150 mg		3%
Rhodiola	450 mg (1% salidroside)	100%
St John's Wort	600 mg		42%
Vinpocetine	38 mg		5%
Vitamin B Complex*	51 mg	100%
Zinc	7.5 mg	100%

Clarity Formula Effect: 5.6

Brainz Formula Effect: 1.2

In this comparison of formula effect, Clarity beats Brainz by a wide margin. The product formula effect scores are sums of individual ingredient effect scores (from the “Ingredient Evidence” section above), weighted by individual ingredient evidence scores (from the “Ingredient Effect” section above) and product ingredient dosages.

Clarity has an open formula that clearly indicates ingredient concentrations and amounts. Together they show that Clarity provides approximately full dosages of Bacopa, Rhodiola, Vitamin B Complex, and Zinc.

Brainz has an open formula that indicates ingredient concentrations and amounts. They show that Brainz provides an approximately half dosage of St John's Wort, an approximately quarter dosage of Ginkgo, and very small dosages of its remaining effective nootropic ingredients.

Product Value

Finally, let’s look at the value of these products. One bottle of Clarity (30-day supply) sells for $30 ($40 without a subscription). And one bottle of Brainz (60-day supply) sells for $29.99, which means a 30-day supply of Brainz costs $15. These prices are updated from Thrivous and Brainz websites on 22 February 2017.

Clarity Value: 187

Brainz Value: 80

Thrivous Clarity is more than 2 times more valuable than Brainz Power, judging from the combined metrics of this comparison. The product value scores are product formula effect scores (from the “Formula Effect” section above) divided by product prices and multiplied by 1000 (just to make them easier to read). Basically, they show the relative nootropic effect you may reasonably expect per dollar spent on these products.

As mentioned at the beginning of this product comparison, I'm confident that, after reading this review, you agree with me that Clarity is the better product. If you’re currently using Brainz Power, please talk to your physician about all the good reasons to switch to Thrivous Clarity.