Ingredient profile
Bacopa in Neuro Recall: What the Trials Used and What the Label Allows
Bacopa is the fourth line of Neuro Recall's 635 mg blend, with no amount printed. By label order it can weigh 159 mg at most per serving. Trials used 300-450 mg a day for 12 weeks or more and found modest gains on some attention tests (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri)(Kongkeaw 2014 - Bacopa meta-analysis). It can upset the stomach and may affect thyroid treatment.
Written by the Neuro Recall label deskUpdated
The basics
What is bacopa?
Bacopa monnieri is a small creeping plant that grows in wet ground across India and Southeast Asia. Ayurvedic practice has used it for centuries as a herb for learning and calm.
Modern products use a dried extract of the plant. Makers usually measure its strength by bacosides, a group of natural compounds found in the leaves and stems (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri). Neuro Recall lists "Bacopa monnieri (whole plant) Extract" with a strength of not less than 20% bacosides.
| Label name | Bacopa monnieri (whole plant) Extract (NLT 20% Bacosides) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Bacopa monnieri |
| Position on the label | Line 4 of 10 in the 635 mg blend (listed by weight) |
| Per 2-capsule serving | Not printed. Blend line 4 of 10, so at most 159 mg |
| Amount used in research | 300-450 mg a day for 12+ weeks |
| Strength of evidence | Modest attention gains in trials |
| Marketed use | Traditional Ayurvedic memory herb |
| Main caution | Stomach upset; can interact with thyroid pills. |
On the label
How much bacopa is in Neuro Recall?
The label does not say. Bacopa sits inside the WMG-NVT Exclusive Blend, and a proprietary blend only has to show its total weight of 635 mg (21 CFR 101.36 - proprietary blends).
The order of the lines still tells you something. Blend lines must appear from heaviest to lightest. Cinnamon, ginkgo and bilberry come first, so each of them weighs at least as much as bacopa. Four lines sharing 635 mg means bacopa can be no more than about 159 mg. That figure is our own arithmetic, not a number from the maker.
| Measure | Per 2-capsule serving |
|---|---|
| Whole blend (10 lines) | 635 mg |
| Even share per blend line | about 64 mg |
| Most bacopa possible (line 4 of 10) | 159 mg |
| Daily amount in most trials | 300-450 mg of extract (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri) |
| Trial length | 12 weeks or longer (Kongkeaw 2014 - Bacopa meta-analysis) |
Even at its ceiling, bacopa would reach about half of the lowest common trial dose. The full Neuro Recall ingredient table shows the same math for every line.
The dose gap
How does the bacopa ceiling compare with other blend herbs?
Several ingredients known from research sit below their studied amounts, even at the most generous reading of the label. The bars below put each ceiling next to the dose used in studies.
The evidence
What did bacopa trials actually find?
They found small gains on some timed attention tests, not broad changes in memory. A 2014 review pooled 9 placebo-controlled trials with 518 people who took standardized extracts for at least 12 weeks (Kongkeaw 2014 - Bacopa meta-analysis).
The clearest signal came from tests of speed of attention. People taking bacopa did a bit better on some of these measures. The authors still said larger, well-designed trials are needed for firm answers.
Dose
Trials used about 300-450 mg of extract a day (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri). Neuro Recall can hold, at most, about half of the low end.
Strength
Study extracts were usually standardized to 24-55% bacosides (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri). Neuro Recall promises at least 20%, which is at the low edge.
Product
Nobody has tested Neuro Recall itself. Results from a single-herb extract do not transfer to a 10-herb blend at a smaller dose.
The FTC makes the same point for advertisers. Ingredient studies may not support a product claim when the dose or formula differs (FTC - Health Products Compliance Guidance).
Reading the label
What does "NLT 20% bacosides" mean?
NLT stands for "not less than." It is a promise that at least one fifth of the bacopa extract, by weight, is bacosides.
That helps a little. It shows the extract is standardized, so it is not just ground plant. But a percentage of an unknown weight is still unknown. If bacopa were at its 159 mg ceiling, 20% would mean roughly 32 mg of bacosides. A 300 mg trial extract at 24-55% would carry about 72 to 165 mg. Again, that is our arithmetic, and the real bacopa amount is probably lower than the ceiling.
Neuro Recall: 5 bottles for $59.952 capsules a day · about $11.99 a bottle · free standard shipping · seller does not accept returns
View listingSafety
What side effects can bacopa cause?
Bacopa is generally well tolerated. The most common complaints involve the gut: more frequent stools, nausea and stomach cramps (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri).
Neuro Recall also contains 250 mg of magnesium oxide, which can loosen stools on its own (NIH ODS - Magnesium). Taking the capsules after a meal, as the eBay listing suggests, is a sensible start.
If a side effect does not settle within a few days, stop and talk with a pharmacist. The Neuro Recall side effects guide covers the whole formula.
Medicines
Is bacopa safe with thyroid medicine or other drugs?
Ask first. Animal research suggests bacopa may affect thyroid hormone, so caution is advised for people with thyroid conditions or on thyroid hormone (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri).
Neuro Recall adds a second thyroid point. Its chromium reduced levothyroxine absorption in a small study (NIH ODS - Chromium).
Bacopa may slow liver enzymes called CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19 and 3A4 (StatPearls - Bacopa monnieri). These enzymes clear many common medicines. If you take several prescriptions, bring the bottle to your pharmacist before your first dose.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life, or numbness and tingling, deserves a medical check. Low thyroid hormone and low B12 are two common causes that a simple blood test can find (MedlinePlus - Memory loss).
Our take
Is the bacopa in Neuro Recall worth paying for?
It is a reasonable herb to include, but probably not at a dose that matches the research. Treat it as a small part of a broad blend, not as a bacopa supplement.
In its favor
- One of the better-studied herbs for attention
- Standardized to a stated bacoside level
- Usually mild side effects
Against it
- At most 159 mg, below the 300 mg trial floor
- 20% bacosides is at the low end of study extracts
- Thyroid and drug-processing cautions
If bacopa is the reason you are interested, ask your doctor about a single-herb product with a printed dose. To compare it with the blend's first brain herb, read about ginkgo in Neuro Recall, or move on to berberine.
FAQ
Bacopa in Neuro Recall: common questions
How much bacopa is in Neuro Recall?
Neuro Recall does not print a bacopa amount, because it sits inside a 635 mg proprietary blend. It is the fourth of ten blend lines, and lines go from heaviest to lightest. That caps bacopa at about 159 mg per 2-capsule serving. The true amount is not disclosed and is probably lower.
What is the right daily dose of bacopa?
Most studies used 300-450 mg of a standardized bacopa extract a day, taken for at least 12 weeks. Extracts were usually standardized to 24-55% bacosides. Ask a pharmacist before starting if you take thyroid medicine or several prescriptions.
How long does bacopa take to work?
In trials, bacopa was taken for at least 12 weeks before small changes showed up on attention tests. For Neuro Recall itself there is no timeline at all, because the product has not been tested in a trial.
Does bacopa make you sleepy?
Drowsiness is not one of its main reported effects. The most common bacopa complaints are stomach-related: loose stools, nausea and cramps. If you feel drowsy, avoid driving until you know how it affects you. Neuro Recall also contains L-theanine, which may add to drowsiness when taken with sedative medicines.
Can bacopa affect the thyroid?
Possibly. Animal research suggests bacopa may influence thyroid hormone, so experts advise caution for people with thyroid disease or on thyroid medicine. Neuro Recall also contains chromium, which lowered levothyroxine absorption in a small study. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
Is bacopa the same as brahmi?
Yes, in most products brahmi refers to Bacopa monnieri, its Ayurvedic name. One other herb, gotu kola, is sometimes also called brahmi, which causes confusion. Neuro Recall's label uses the Latin name Bacopa monnieri, so there is no doubt about which plant it means.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle label, the sales listing and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer. This site is paid a commission when you order through its links.
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