Neuro-Peak Review Summary
Zhou Nutrition updated the Neuro-Peak formula some time ago, making it a significantly more focused, potent, and ultimately more effective supplement. The increased Bacopa monnieri dosage, the extra Ginkgo biloba, and the removal of redundant ‘filler’ ingredients have had a big impact on Neuro Peak’s ability to deliver real, palpable cognitive enhancements. The use of DMAE is a let-down though, given its unreliability and propensity to cause side effects.
While there are ways it could be better, we think that this is far from a bad choice for most users. It should be able to deliver improvements in mental performance in just a few weeks. It is not the best stack on the market in our opinion, but it is a solid supplement nonetheless.
Where To Buy Neuro-Peak
Zhou Nutrition have a good online store system. They are very reputable suppliers. If you do wish to try Neuro Peak, we strongly advise you to buy directly from them!
Full Neuro-Peak Review
Since its launch, Neuro Peak has become one of the most searched for nootropic stacks on the market. The popularity of this supplement only grew after the reformulation in 2017. It is one of a small group of nootropics to have survived since the real beginning of the consumer market.
Neuro Peak is made by Zhou Nutrition, who produce a wide range of natural supplements; from mood boosters to hair growth stacks! They are based in the US, and they pride themselves on manufacturing “safe, natural, high-performing supplements to boost your physical and mental performance”. The overriding “philosophy” of Zhou is apparently: “ancient wisdom meets modern research”.
So what about Neuro Peak?
What is this popular nootropic supposed to do, exactly?
The bottle tells us right away that this is a natural supplement – we expect to see none of the synthetic brain drugs we sometimes find in other “nootropics”.
The website tells us what key benefits the average user of Neuro Peak can expect:
- Better memory function
- Improved mental clarity
- Enhanced focus
- Decrease anxiety
- Mood support
But does Neuro Peak really do any of this?
After all, lots of manufacturers make these claims. But only a handful actually deliver.
Can it improve memory, focus and clarity while also improving your mood?
What about possible side effects? Is this product as safe as the manufacturer makes out?
How does it stand in the market today? Can it compete with the current leading nootropics?
Let’s take a closer look at this natural nootropic stack and see if it really is capable of delivering on its promises. We’ll begin, as always, with a detailed analysis of the formula. We’ll see if the ingredients and the doses used corroborate with the latest scientific literature. In the end, we;ll tell you if we’d use this stack ourselves, or if there is something better out there for your needs.
Skip To...
Neuro-Peak Formula
A few months after our first Zhou Nutrition Neuro Peak review was published, Zhou updated the formula.
So that you can see how they changed the formula, and what that means for how the product works, we’ll show you both formula lists.
Here is the old, original label:
This is how the ingredient list now appears on the new bottles:
Like their previous iteration, and like all good nootropic supplements, Neuro Peak’s new ingredients are clearly listed on the bottle. Exact serving sizes are given, which is absolutely vital.
Without detailed knowledge of what is in a natural brain boosting supplement, we can’t make an informed buying decision. Natural nootropic substances are typically very dose sensitive; they work wonderfully in certain amounts, but not at all in smaller quantities. Some are perfectly safe at one dose, but side effect prone at a larger dose.
We therefore really need to have a good idea of what is in each pill before we part with our hard-earned money!
That’s a test that Zhou Nutrition pass with flying colours.
Here’s a quick overview of the new ingredients and how each of them work:
Bacopa monnieri 20% bacosides (300mg)
It’s no secret to our regular readers that we love Bacopa monnieri. The amount of reliable, robust scientific evidence supporting the notion that this stuff helps improve memory function is overwhelming. We have actually written an entire ingredient guide on Bacopa monnieri and how it works. Here you will find plenty of studies attesting to its ability to boost memory function.
While there is still a lot of disagreement and speculation over how Bacopa actually works, one study we found suggests that it leads to a “significant increase in the dendritic intersections”. Interestingly, this effect wasn’t observed after 2 weeks of supplementation, but it was observed to a significant degree after 6 weeks supplementation.
Phosphatidylserine 20% (100mg)
Phosphatidylserine is structurally very similar to fat. It is absolutely ubiquitous in neural tissue. This means that it is a vital part of any nootropic stack that aims to maximise brain function in the long-term.
Numerous studies have found that it can potentially help improve memory in older people. Several other studies have found that it helps improve cognitive function in children with ADHD, and help support cognitive function during exercise. Evidence suggests it can help support healthy cognitive function in all people when used correctly. The 100mg of 20% extract in Neuro Peak should be plenty to deliver good benefits in the long-term.
Ginkgo Biloba (24% extract – 100mg)
Gingko helps improve blood flow to the brain, thereby improving oxygen and nutrient delivery, leading to better mental performance overall. A simple but effective nootropic ingredient.
This stack used to contain just 50mg of Ginkgo biloba, but the new and improved formula provides 100mg. This is enough to deliver significant improvements without putting users at an increased risk of serious side effects. Since the most robust and most reputable trials of Ginkgo biloba have involved doses as high as 180mg daily, the 100mg in Neuro Peak is definitely an improvement on the previous 50mg dosage.
Rhodiola Rosea Extract (50mg)
Rhodiola is a staple ingredient in many natural nootropic stacks, although its popularity does seem to be declining. This doesn’t necessarily mean that better ingredients have been found; it more likely means that other ingredients are currently ‘in fashion’.
Over the years the benefits people have attributed to Rhodiola rosea supplementation have changed dramatically. As more research is done, it seems that it is in fact capable of improving everything from mental performance while under stress, subjective feelings of well being, and cognitive performance more generally.
As you will no doubt see from these studies, Rhodiola rosea seems to be particularly useful when trying to maintain cognitive performance during times of stress. This makes it a good stack addition for anyone with a mentally taxing, stressful job.
DMAE (50mg)
Every professional, high-spec nootropic stack designed for genuine cognitive enhancement needs to contain some kind of cholinergic. That’s exactly what DMAE is; it helps boost choline availability, thereby boosting the availability of acetylcholine in the brain.
Ensuring that you have sufficient amounts of acetylcholine is thereofre vital if you want to ensure that your brain can function to its full potential. However, DMAE is far from the most effective cholinergic, and 50mg is unlikely to deliver the same benefits as the 100mg+ of more potent cholinergics that you will see in comparable products.
-How Effective Is Ginkgo Biloba?-
Formula Analysis – Better Or Worse?
There is absolutely no doubt that the changes made to the Zhou Nutrition Neuro peak formula represent significant improvements on the original iteration.
Our first review took issue with the presence of redundant, ‘filler’ ingredients such as Glutamine and Carnitine.
It also pointed out the other major flaw with neuro Peak’s formulation: under-dosing.
The new and improved formula has addressed both of these problems.
Main Positives
There are some really great things about this formula. On the whole, we think consistent users will get significiant benefits from this nootropic. The main benefits are undoubtedly:
- Excellent dose of Bacopa monnieri
- Great dose of Ginkgo biloba
- Removal of Huperzine A
The original Neuro-Peak formula contained just 100mg of Bacopa monnieri. This falls far short of the 150mg we usually recommend as the minimum effective dose for Bacopa monnieri.
While we think that 300mg is a little excessive, it is certainly better than not having enough!
Many clinical trials have been conducted using 300mg of Bacopa daily, so it is clearly safe for the vast majority of people. The only side effects that people seem to encounter at this dosage is intestinal discomfort, and this is rare.
At this new higher dosage, it should be able to deliver genuine, palpable improvements in memory function in as little as 6 weeks.
The removal of Huperzine A is also an improvement.
Huperzine A is not a fundamentally bad ingredient.
However, it does require cycling.
Huperzine A works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, which means that every few weeks, you need to stop using it so your acetylcholine levels can return to “normal”.
Substances like Bacopa monnieri and phosphatidylserine work best when taken continuously. Many users also prefer a set routine, not having to worry about keeping track of cycles. As such, Zhou Nutrition’s ditching of Huperzine A can be seen as a major positive.
Main Negatives
There are, in our opinion, two main ways that Zhou Nutrition Neuro-Peak could be improved upon:
- Using a better cholinergic at a higher dose
- Including some long-term adaptation support
Number 1 is obviously referring to the use of DMAE as the stacks only cholinergic.
We expect to see a serious cholinergic component in any serious, professional, high-spec natural nootropic.
A cholinergic is a substance that increases choline availability in the brain. This elevated choline availability in turn elevates acetylcholine availability.
Acetylcholine is an incredibly important neurotransmitter, involved in everything from muscle contraction to memory acquisition.
Ensuring that you have plenty of acetylcholine is a good way to ensure that your brain can operate at full potential during times of peak demand.
So, we expect the best all-round nootropic stacks to take care of this.
The 50mg of DMAE in Neuro Peak does not come close to satisfying that expectation.
For starters, there are significantly more effective cholinergics available.
The likes of Alpha GPC and CDP-Choline are much better at boosting acetylcholine availability than DMAE. Even Choline bitrartrate is preferable as a cholinergic, and this is typically found in cheaper, beginner stacks.
The likes of Alpha GPC and CDP-Choline also offer peripheral benefits that DMAE does not. You can learn more about these from our detailed article on the two best cholinergics.
While substances such as Alpha GPC, CDP-Choline and choline bitartrate have been scientifically proven to be able to boost acetylcholine availability, we are yet to see similar evidence for DMAE. Until we do, we will remain skeptical about its efficacy as a cholinergic.
Number 2 refers to the lack of any substance which promotes physical adaptations in the brain.
Some natural substances are able to encourage the secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF), which in turn encourages the growth of neural dendrites.
Put simply, by using the likes of Lion’s Mane Mushroom, you may be able to encourage the brain to make physical adaptations to the greater strain it is being placed under. By doing that, you may be able to turn the enhancements you get from using nootropics into long-term, lasting improvements in cognitive function.
The lack of any such substance is not, by any means, a flaw in a supplement. A stack does not need to promote long-term changes to be a valuable, effective brain booster.
It is simply one way in which Neuro-Peak could be improved.
-NeuroIgnite vs Neuro-Peak: A Head-To-Head Comparison-
Side Effects – Is Neuro-Peak Safe?
In general, this stack seems to represent little risk to the vast majority of users.
The ingredients with the largest serving sizes are Bacopa Monnieri, Phosphatidylserine, and Ginkgo Biloba.
These have all been thoroughly studied for long periods of time and are thought to be generally very safe.
They are all well-tolerated.
Side effects are rare.
The ingredients are also, at the end of the day, completely natural substances. They are all widely used in nootropic supplements today – there’s nothing really unusual or striking about this formula.
The only real side effect worry is the DMAE content.
DMAE is largely safe when used properly. Lots of people use it – you can find plenty of positive user experiences on LongeCity, Reddit, and other nootropics forums.
But it is also easy to find lots of serious negative user reports on these forums.
It is known to cause a range of side effects, including, but not limited to:
- Hyperactivity
- Loss of focus
- Loss of motivation
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Nausea
The dose used here is by no means unusually large, but side effects have been observed at this dosage before.
Perhaps the most serious thing to bear in mid with regards to DMAE is the fact that it is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Studies have found that it causes birth defects in rats when given to their mothers during pregnancy. In theory, the same mechanism (lack of choline uptake) would cause similar problems in humans.
The removal of Huperzine A could also potentially be seen as having made this stack safer, or at least less prone to causing side effects.
Huperzine A is generally safe to take when used properly. But if taken for long periods without interruption, or in very large quantities, then it can produce quite serious side effects. The fact that Zhou Nutrition dumped this ingredient is much to their credit, as the stack really doesn’t need it.
It is imperative that you do your own research and consult with a qualified health professional before using a supplement like this. If you are experiencing severe cognitive impairment or rapid decline, then you MUST seek proper medical attention.Remember
-Learn More About Huperzine A Uses & Risks-
How Long Does Neuro Peak Last?
Many people seem to be asking this question online, so we’ll try to give you as good an answer as we can.
If you’re talking about effects from a single dose, then the answer is, “not long”.
As we said above, there’s no real cholinergic content here. DMAE is extremely unreliable. There’s therefore not going to be a significant, palpable increase in focus or learning capacity from the off.
The Ginkgo biloba will get to work right away. This stuff does produce some tangible results quite quickly. It has a half-life in the blood of about 4.5 hours.
As this study shows, however, taking Ginkgo biloba on regular basis extends the active half-life dramatically.
Rhodiola rosea also has some immediate effects. This stuff seems to last for about 5-6 hours, judging by our experience.
Like with Ginkgo biloba though, the effects of Rhodiola rosea are heightened and its active life extended through regular, consistent use.
The ingredients in Neuro-Peak are therefore best taken on a consistent, regular basis. We think they are all going to produce better results when taken once daily – ideally at the same time each day.
If you do this, then the effects should last pretty much 24/7.
If you’re just taking a single dose, however, then you’re looking at something more like 4-6 hours.
Neuro-Peak Cost – Is It Good Value For Money?
At $21.04 dollars, Neuro-Peak represents fairly good value for money.
With 30 servings a bottle, we get a cost per serving of $0.70.
That is cheaper than most natural nootropics on the market today…most of the good ones at least!
While it is nowhere near as effective, reliable, or safe as some of our top rated stacks, it is still going to deliver good results for some users, and it is significantly cheaper than today’s leading, premium nootropics.
The $21.04 bottle is a one-time purchase price. If you buy a subscription, you get the price down by a pathetic 5% – to $19.99. It hardly seems worth committing to the subscription in that case!
As always though, we can’t tell you what is objectively good value for money. That depends on how much you value things like potency, safety, and end results.
Nootropics are not protein powders – they are not all broadly similar. You get what you pay for. If you want premium results, you need to pay premium prices! Beware anyone telling you otherwise!
Conclusion – Is Zhou Neuro-Peak Right For You?
Our original Zhou Nutrition Neuro Peak review pointed out several major flaws with the supplement’s formula.
Since that review was published, Zhou Nutrition have made significant changes to the product, ditching some ingredients and increasing the dosage of others.
These changes have unquestionably made it a stronger, more valuable supplement.
The higher doses of both Bacopa monnieri and Ginkgo biloba will no doubt translate into better user experiences. The removal of Huperzine A from the formula altogether will help make the larger Bacopa monnieri dose even more effective by removing the need for cycling.
There remains one big problem with the product: DMAE is a terrible cholinergic.
There is also no long-term adaptation support. This is not a requirement for a good natural nootropic, but it would undoubtedly make the stack better.
Overall, this is now a much better stack than it once was.
While we think there are better, more effective and better value nootropic stacks on the market, we think Zhou Nutrition have done a good job with the reformulation.
Users looking for genuine cognitive enhancements could do a lot worse than Neuro Peak. At just under $20, it represents good value for money. It could be better, but it is significantly better than most stacks reviewed on this site to date.
We have reviewed hundreds of nootropics and this supplement is still the most impressive. Our review team used this product for months and all experienced:
- Heightened focus
- Enhanced memory function
- More mental energy
- Better mental performance under stress
Read our full review to find out if this is the nootropic you have been looking for.
Haydee Santana says
Would like to order 4 of the neuro-peak at $19.95 but it’s. Giving me a super hard time to put in card to purchase.
author says
We can’t give you any help with purchasing any of the products listed on this site I’m afraid!
If you’re having trouble paying I’m sure it would be worth getting in touch with the company directly and letting them know. That way they can probably help you process your order and prevent the same thing happening again in the future.
Heather says
What supplement would you recommend in place of neuropeak?
Thank you,
Heather
author says
Any of the top 3 supplements recommended on this site would be a good replacement for Neuropeak, should you wish to try something different.
Sam says
Zhou Nutrition appears to have revised their formula. It might be worth taking another look to see if anything significant has changed.
author says
Thanks for the heads-up Sam. Can be difficult to keep on top of all the supplements, especially now that manufacturers are so quick to respond to changes ion the market. We’ll take a look and update the review accordingly.
Dede Hall says
I would like to purchase Neuro Peak by Zhon Nutrition Please provide to me the information / data how I can purchase this product Also, can tgis product be shipped to My Post Office Box ???
Thank You
author says
Hi Dede.
We don’t have anything to do with the actual purchases of the products reviewed here. Your best bet would be to visit the manufacturer’s website. I’m sure some supplement stores will carry it as well.
Rob says
Where did you get this formula? I have a bottle and it doesn’t have St John’s Wort or Huperzine. I just verified the available bottles on Amazon as well.
author says
Another reader also noticed that our review was out of date. We have now updated our review. We have also kept the original formula in the review so people can see how Zhou Nutrition have improved on Neuro Peak with their changes.
Adam says
I had ordered Neuro Peak about 3 weeks before reading this review (which led me to cancel my Amazon subscription) Before tossing the bottle, however, I noticed that the ingredients were dramatically different from what you’ve listed here. Perhaps the formula was updated? The product that I have excludes the St. John’s Wort as well as increases the Bacopa Monnieri to 300mg! In total the ingredients listed on the bottle are B-12 (500 mcg), Bacopa Monnieri (300mg), Phosphatidyiserine (100mg), GInko Biloba (100mg), Rhodiola Rosea Extract (50mg), and DMAE (50mg). I would love to hear your thoughts on the new formula, as this is one of the more humbly priced nootropics on the market (especially with subscribe and save). Thanks!
author says
Hey Adam,
Thanks for the update. We’ll take another look at the product and see if they’ve updated the formula. If they have, we’ll post an updated review immediately.
Michelle Sedlak says
I bought a bottle a couple of weeks ago, and after one week of really noticeably better recall and cognition, with the unlooked-for benefit of much better, calmer focus, I bought a second bottle.
I’m blown away by how immediate the uptick was in all these critical categories of my unfortunately aging mental faculties. I’m only 67 yrs old, and I was sure I wouldn’t be hit by aging brain-fog since I’m a bike rider, very involved with friends, my job, etc. Nevertheless, it hit me hard the past couple of years. This is WONDERFUL STUFF, plus I can afford it.
author says
Hi Michelle, thanks for commenting.
That’s great to hear! It is no doubt the larger doses of Bacopa monnieri and Ginkgo that are making the difference.
That said, if you do actually experience some of the significant signs of cognitive decline coming on over a short period of time, you really should go and talk to your doctor about them. Natural supplements can’t combat or reverse genuine physical conditions, and any benefits you feel after just one week of taking something could easily be a placebo effect. Please do consider talking to a health professional in the near future.
Andrew Dubrule says
Absolutely awesome review! I have been looking Neuro-Peak for a while and after your review I am going to give it a try. I also have been taking Swanson Lion’s Mane capsules, do you think it’s ok to continue to take them with Neuro-Peak? I also would like to know if you have any reviews or recommendations on Lion’s mane in capsule form, the best formula or is tea the best way to go. Thanks
Adam says
What is the maximum dosage that can be taken at once (like just before an exam) ?
Review Team says
Hi Adam,
We wouldn’t recommend taking any more than the manufacturer-recommended dose stated on the back of the bottle. Those things are there for a reason! What is safe at one dose might be very problematic at another.