VapoCept Ingredients Explained: All Six, With Amounts

A Supplement Facts panel is only useful if you know how to read it. This guide goes through all six VapoCept ingredients, explains the ratios and percentages on the label, and sums up what research says about each one.

First, how to read the ratios

You'll see two kinds of numbers after the botanical extracts.

• A ratio such as 4:1 or 30:1 tells you how concentrated the extract is. A 4:1 ginkgo extract means about 4 mg of dried leaf went into each 1 mg of extract. A higher ratio means a more concentrated extract, though it doesn't say which compounds were concentrated.
• A percentage, such as "std. to 5% lutein" is a standardization. It guarantees a minimum amount of a specific compound. That's usually the more useful number, because you can calculate exactly how much of the active compound you're getting.

1. D-Glucosamine sulfate potassium chloride, 250 mg

Glucosamine is a building block of cartilage and is mostly sold for joint comfort. It's the largest ingredient in VapoCept by weight, but it isn't a classic cognitive ingredient, and research on glucosamine for focus or memory is limited. Two safety points: it's commonly produced from shellfish shells, and it has been reported to increase the effect of warfarin.

2. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (4:1), 100 mg

Ginkgo is the most recognizable brain-health herb in the world. Researchers have studied it for attention, memory, circulation and age-related cognitive change. Results in healthy adults are mixed, and a large US trial found it didn't prevent dementia in older adults. Most trials used a specific extract standardized to flavone glycosides and terpene lactones, at 120 to 240 mg daily, so VapoCept's 4:1 extract isn't directly comparable. More in our ginkgo research guide.

3. Turmeric root extract (30:1), 50 mg

Turmeric's key compound is curcumin, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. A handful of small trials have looked at curcumin and memory or attention in older adults, with some encouraging results using specially formulated, better-absorbed curcumin. Regular curcumin is poorly absorbed, which researchers are still working around. More in our turmeric article.

4. Marigold flower extract (5% lutein), 25 mg

At 5% standardization, this gives you about 1.25 mg of lutein. Lutein is a yellow carotenoid that concentrates in the macula of the eye and in brain tissue. Observational research links higher lutein levels with better performance on some cognitive tests in older adults, and a few supplement trials used around 10 mg a day. More in our lutein article.

5. Green tea leaf extract (98% polyphenols, 50% EGCG), 15 mg

This is a tiny amount of a very pure extract, delivering about 7.5 mg of EGCG. For comparison, a cup of brewed green tea often contains several times that. Because the extract is 98% polyphenols, there's almost no room for caffeine, so this ingredient won't feel like a stimulant. More in our green tea article.

6. Bamboo leaf extract (30:1, 70% silica), 5 mg

This supplies about 3.5 mg of silica. Silicon is a trace mineral associated with connective tissue, hair, skin and nails. There isn't meaningful research on bamboo silica for brain health.

Other ingredients

The capsule is bovine gelatin, with magnesium stearate and microcrystalline cellulose as processing aids. These are standard in supplement manufacturing.

How this compares with MemoCept

MemoCept contained none of these ingredients. It used L-arginine, L-citrulline, beta-alanine, niacin and calcium. See the full MemoCept vs VapoCept comparison for the details.