A study in Frontiers in nutrition in 2024 evaluated in 37 healthy adults the acute effect of a small energy shot with caffeine, ginseng, B vitamins and taurine. It was a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial in which a single intake improved speed and accuracy in cognitively demanding tasks and reduced feelings of mental fatigue for almost two hours.
For everyday life, these results point to something concrete. Certain combinations of nutrients can support sustained attention, working memory and mood in a targeted way when mental workload is high. It’s not about changing intelligence, but about better managing the brain’s resources in times of intense demand.
A clinical trial measured the acute effect on attention, memory and mental fatigue.
The study used a crossover design. Each participant tasted the functional “shot” and a placebo identical in taste but without active ingredients on two visits, separated by one week. Thus, each person was his or her own control, reducing individual variations.
After ingesting the product, the volunteers completed a battery of tasks known as the Cognitive Demand Battery for about 60 minutes. It included sustained attention, serial mental arithmetic and working memory exercises, as well as mood and fatigue scales. Effects were measured from 30 minutes after intake and followed for about two hours.
The results showed clear improvements over placebo in an overall index of performance, in task accuracy and speed, and in the speed of an additional working memory test. In addition, those who took the shot felt less mentally fatigued and more alert and vigorous. These are acute effects, useful at times of high cognitive demand.
How ginseng, taurine, vitamins and caffeine modulate mental energy
The energy shot combined four groups of ingredients with complementary functions in the nervous system. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which reduces signals of tiredness and increases the activation of various neurotransmitters. This results in increased alertness and improved reaction time.
Ginseng from the Panax genus provides ginsenosides, molecules that interact with hormone receptors, especially those related to the stress response. This interaction can modulate the release of nitric oxide and adjust the activity of neurotransmitters such as GABA, serotonin, glutamate and acetylcholine. In simple terms, it helps the brain to better manage prolonged exertion without falling into fatigue as quickly.
B vitamins and vitamin C act as cofactors in reactions that produce cellular energy and synthesise neurotransmitters. The brain is one of the most energy-demanding organs, so having these micronutrients in adequate quantities makes it easier for neurons to maintain their rhythm during long tasks.
Taurine, a non-protein amino acid, is involved in the regulation of cellular balance and metabolic processes related to physical and mental performance. Although its role in cognition is still being studied, meta-analyses suggest that, in combination with caffeine, it contributes to the ergogenic effect, i.e. sustaining performance under exertion.
Overall, the combination used in the clinical trial showed a measurable acute effect on attention, working memory and mood during cognitively demanding tasks. The finding reinforces the idea that certain synergies between plant compounds, amino acids and micronutrients can support brain function when fast and accurate responses are needed.
Daily habits that support mental energy along with the right nutrients
The study focused on an acute, one-time effect under very controlled conditions. For day-to-day life, the first pillar remains basic brain hygiene. Getting enough sleep, moving around daily and regulating screen exposure are factors that are as important, if not more important, for mental performance than any supplement.
In terms of diet, a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains and sources of healthy fatty acids promotes energy stability and provides a steady supply of B vitamins, vitamin C and other key micronutrients. Reducing sugar spikes and excess ultra-processed foods helps to avoid sudden peaks and troughs in energy and concentration.
It is also important to manage cognitive loads. Taking short breaks every 60 to 90 minutes, alternating tasks that require a lot of concentration with more mechanical ones, and reserving uninterrupted space improves the use of mental resources. In this context, timely nutritional support makes more sense, because it adds to an already well-tended field.
How Nutribiolite’s Onit, a mental performance supplement, aligns with this evidence
The clinical trial shows that an acute combination of Panax ginseng and L taurine, accompanied by other nutrients, can improve cognitive performance and reduce mental fatigue in healthy young adults. These same two ingredients, ginseng and taurine, form part of the functional core of Onit, Nutribiolite’s supplement for mental performance and cognitive energy.
In Onit, ginseng is integrated into a formula based on plant extracts and amino acids, designed to support processes such as sustained attention, mental clarity and resistance to mental fatigue. Taurine provides additional metabolic support, related to the energetic stability of neurons and the ability to maintain cognitive effort without falling so quickly into a sense of exhaustion.
The study reinforces the relevance of this pair of ingredients when combined strategically. In the trial, the effect was acute, with a single intake before a block of demanding tasks. Onit picks up on this same logic of timely support for cognitive function, encapsulating ginseng and taurine together with other components such as choline and phosphatidylserine, known to play a role in neuron-to-neuron communication and the integrity of brain cell membranes.
Onit is thus presented as a supplement designed for adults who already take care of their diet, rest and physical activity, and who are looking for additional physiological support at times of high mental workload, intensive studies or demanding workdays. It does not replace basic habits, but encapsulates the body’s own natural pathways to help the brain respond better when extra effort is required.
Nutribiolite’s Onit combines plant extracts, amino acids, choline and phosphatidylserine to support mental clarity and resistance to cognitive fatigue.
Balancing mental effort, nutrients and realistic expectations
Work published in 2024 offers yet another piece in the map of nutrition and cognitive function. It shows that certain combinations of ingredients can acutely modulate the feeling of mental energy and performance under stress, always in healthy adults and under controlled conditions.
In practice, the basis remains a lifestyle that respects the rhythms of the brain. From there, products like Onit fit in as additional tools, useful when cognitive demands increase and support aligned with physiology is sought. Integrating rest, movement, varied nutrition and intelligent use of supplementation is the most consistent way to care for long-term brain health.
This content is informational and is not a substitute for the advice of a healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean that the energy shot effect is acute in the study?
It means that the researchers measured the impact of a single intake, over a period of about two hours. No long-term effects were assessed, only the immediate response during cognitively demanding tasks.
What role do ginseng and taurine play in mental energy according to the evidence?
Ginseng has been associated with better performance in attention tasks and less mental fatigue. Taurine is involved in metabolic processes and, in combination with caffeine and other nutrients, is associated with better maintenance of physical and cognitive effort.
What kind of situations might a supplement like Onit make sense for?
Onit is designed for healthy adults with a high mental workload, such as periods of intense study, complex projects or long working hours. It provides additional physiological support for attention, mental clarity and resistance to mental fatigue within a healthy routine.
Does Onit replace rest or good nutrition?
No. Onit is conceived as a nutritional support in addition to habits that are already taken care of. Sufficient sleep, regular physical activity and a varied diet remain the basis for a well-performing brain.
How does the study relate to the Onit formulation?
The study showed cognitive and mood benefits with a combination that included ginseng and taurine, two ingredients present in Onit. This coincidence supports the approach of using synergies between plant compounds and amino acids to support mental energy in healthy adults.
