MAN Sports Brain Bridge: Powdered Brain Power!

MAN Brain Bridge

Brain Bridge is powerful nootropic supplement from MAN Sports to enhance cognition, focus, and productivity.

We love our nootropics here at PricePlow. Can you blame us?!

We use our brains all day long reading, writing, and researching, so anything that can enhance our brain function, we’re all for! Well, today we focus on one of the latest nootropic formulas to hit the market courtesy of MAN Sports.

BrainBridge is a powerful, multi-faceted nootropic supplement intended for thinkers, workers, students, and even gamers to enhance alertness, wakefulness, energy, and focus.

All the details on Brain Bridge are ahead, but first, take a moment to check the best deal and sign up for alerts on PricePlow:

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Brain Bridge Ingredients

BrainBridge has a little bit of a “kitchen sink” feel to it, as it includes a plethora of brain-boosting ingredients matched by few competitors. Overall, the blend looks rather formidable and should do loads to improve focus, motivation, and productivity.

What you should note first is that there’s 122.5mg caffeine per scoop.

  • LTP Mental Domination

    • Sceletium Tortuosum (80mg)

      MAN BrainBridge Ingredients

      Brain Bridge contains some extremely well dosed ingredients, especially the 600mg Alpha GPC!

      Also known as Kanna, Sceletium Tortuosum is an herb used historically as an anti-anxiety and anti-stress compound. Kanna functions as a selective PDE-4 inhibitor (which increases cAMP),[2] leading to increased energy. But there’s more, Sceletium also enhances cognitive flexibility and executive function as well, making this one mighty powerful herb.[3]

    • Coleus Forskohlii 95% (7mg)

      Remember how we said Kanna inhibits PDE-4, which frees up the normal amount of cAMP in the body? Well, Forskolin can actually increase cAMP levels in the body.[4,5] This further enhances focus, memory, and learning.[6,7] On top of that, Forskolin also inhibits acetylcholinesterase[30], the enzyme which degrades acetylcholine, “the learning neurotransmitter.” This inhibition ultimately indirectly boosts acetylcholine levels in the body, leading to greater focus and enhanced mind-muscle connection.

      However, we have to question the dose here, as it’s definitely on the low end for nootropic benefits, and WAY too low to take advantage of Forskolin’s fat loss properties.

  • BrainBridge Formula

    • Acetyl L-Carnitine (750mg)

      MAN Brain Bridge Benefits

      BrainBridge enhances focus, memory, and attention without the jitters or crash of energy drinks.

      L-Carnitine is a compound used by the body to aid the conversion of fats into energy.

      Acetyl L-Carnitine is an acetylated form of the amino acid that boasts the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and enhance focus and cognition (via increasing acetylcholine production) and act as a neuroprotectant.[8,9]

      There are many forms of L-Carnitine, but when it comes to focus, this is the one to get thanks to its BBB-crossing abilities!

      The dose here is pretty good, but we usually start feeling it more in the range of 1-2g to really notice its effects for focus.

    • AlphaSize Alpha GPC (600mg)

      Yowser!

      Usually, we’re happy to get 300mg of Alpha GPC in a nootropics formula, but BrainBridge contains TWICE that amount, which serves to not only increase acetylcholine production in the body, but also confers strength gains to individuals as well.[10,11]

      The dose here is fantastic, and this is our favorite choline form due to its superior bioavailability in the body. Interestingly (but many of you may not care), Brain Bridge could double up as a pre workout supplement since 600mg alpha GPC induced strength increases on leg day!

      Note: The Alpha-GPC here is at 50% ‘strength’ (it’s often bound to silica so that it makes a nice powder). It’s not disclosed if this ingredient is 600mg of actual Alpha GPC, or 600mg of 50% Alpha GPC (thus making it 150mg). Confirm with the manufacturer if concerned, and we will update this post if there is clarification.

    • L-Phenylalanine (500mg)

      Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid used by the brain to synthesize Tyrosine[12], which is subsequently converted into other more powerful neurotransmitters which we’ll address in our next ingredient.

    • N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (250mg)

      MAN BrainBridge Drinks

      Stop paying for overpriced energy drinks and expensive coffees that do little to enhance your brain function.

      Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid used by the body to produce L-Dopa, which is subsequently turned into dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT) is a more water-soluble form of Tyrosine that easily crosses the BBB due to its acetylated structure.

      However, for the purposes of increasing brain Tyrosine concentrations, NALT is inferior compared to regular L-Tyrosine. We’ve covered this extensively in our mega-post L-Tyrosine vs. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine: A Tale of Two Tyrosines,so check that out if you want the full story!

    • Bacopa Monnieri 10:1 (150mg)

      Used for thousands of years in various ancient medicines, bacopa monnieri is an herb frequently supplemented for its stress and anxiety relieving properties. The herb stimulates the 5HT (serotonin) receptors in the brain which support a healthy mood, but also are crucial for optimal cognitive function.[13]

      In addition to aiding cognition, bacopa also increases speed of attention and supports brain health by inhibiting the release of inflammatory cytokines from microglial cells.[14]

      We’re seeing this one come up more and more, such as in the popular Performax Labs Nootropimax capsules as well (who actually use the branded Bacognize form instead).

    • SerinAid (100mg)

      MAN Brain Bridge Games

      BrainBridge isn’t just for office workers, it’s for gamers, athletes, and anyone else looking to step up their brain game!

      SerinAid is a trademarked form of Phosphatidylserine (PS) that MAN Sports has included in Brain Bridge. PS is a fat-soluble amino acid found predominantly in the brain which supports cognitive function. Numerous clinical trials have shown it can treat symptoms associated with declining mental function and depression in the elderly.[15,16]

      Additional research indicates it exerts some anti-anxiety and stress-reducing properties, and may even lower cortisol levels when dosed high enough.[17,18]

    • AstraGin (50mg)

      AstraGin is a proprietary blend of panax ginseng and Astragalus membranaceus included to enhance the absorption and uptake of nutrient in the body. The patented blend was developed by NuLiv Science and has been shown to be effective for a wide variety of compounds including Citrulline, Beta Alanine, and Creatine, among others.[19]

    • Huperzine A (200mcg)

      The final component to the “BrainBridge Formula” portion of the product is Huperzine A, a powerful acetylcholine “sustainer.” Huperzine prolongs acetylcholine’s effects in the body by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that degrades acetylcholine.[20] In other words, Huperzine is an indirect acetylcholine elevator as opposed to Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline which directly increases acetylcholine production.

      There’s more though, Huperzine also acts as a neuroprotectant and encourages neurogeneration.[21,22]

  • Natural Caffeine Blend

    • Green Coffee Beans (125mg)

      MAN BrainBridge Highlights

      Here’s just a few of the key ingredients in MAN Brain Bridge

      MAN Sports has opted to include a natural form of caffeine extracted from Green Coffee Beans, that’s standardized for 98% natural caffeine — yielding 122.5mg caffeine per scoop. This provides enough mental stimulus to wake your brain up and improve focus, attention, and alertness.

    • L-Theanine (200mg)

      Theanine is an amino acid prevalent in tea leaves that’s commonly used in pre workouts to provide a “blunting” effect on stimulants. By “blunting”, we mean taking the harsh kick away from higher doses of stimulants.[23]

      Aside from that, theanine also enhances the cognitive effects from caffeine, serving to enhance focus and cognition.[24]

    • TeaCrine (100mg)

      TeaCrine is one of the hottest ingredients on the market right now, especially in pre workouts and nootropic formulas. The reason is that theacrine provides long-lasting energy, but doesn’t come with the unfortunate tolerance build up of caffeine.[25]

      Theacrine also reduces oxidative stress when used for seven consecutive days, and increases dopamine levels, similar to the manner in which caffeine works in the brain.[26,27]

  • 20 / 20 Vision Support

    MAN Brain Bridge Stack

    BrainBridge is stacked with ingredient to heighten cognitive function from all directions

    Now this is a section we can really support. Mike (PricePlow’s founder) takes these two supplements already for vision support — and we think it’s a brilliant idea to put them into a focus enhancer since most focus enhancement requires your eyes (except for some of you musicians out there).

    • Lutein (20mg)

      Lutein, as well as our next ingredient, is well known for its role in promoting eye health, similar to beta-carotene. But, it’s also effective against age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).[28,29]

    • Zeaxanthin (2mg)

      Similar to lutein, zeaxanthin has also been researched for its role in promoting eye health via combatting the degenerative effects of ARMD.

      This vision support blend is what really separates BrainBridge from any other nootropic supplement on the market and serves to add a little something extra to the supplement which may entice more people to pick it up off the store shelf.

Flavors Available

MAN Brain Bridge Hand

Brain Bridge in hand, it’s time to get to work!

MAN Sports is known for creative, candy-inspired flavors, and their bringing that same flavoring technology to BrainBridge. At launch, MAN is only going with one flavor for Brain Bridge, the Warheads-inspired flavor of Sour Nukes.

Takeaway

MAN Sports has done mostly right in this product, save a few ingredients that are underdosed in our opinion. If you’re looking for a comprehensive nootropic formula that packs just about every brain boosting compound in use today, BrainBridge is definitely worth checking out.

MAN Brain Bridge – Deals and Price Drop Alerts

Get Price Alerts

No spam, no scams.

Disclosure: PricePlow relies on pricing from stores with which we have a business relationship. We work hard to keep pricing current, but you may find a better offer.

Posts are sponsored in part by the retailers and/or brands listed on this page.

About the Author: Mike Roberto

Mike Roberto

Mike Roberto is a research scientist and water sports athlete who founded PricePlow. He is an n=1 diet experimenter with extensive experience in supplementation and dietary modification, whose personal expertise stems from several experiments done on himself while sharing lab tests.

Mike's goal is to bridge the gap between nutritional research scientists and non-academics who seek to better their health in a system that has catastrophically failed the public.

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References

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  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4217361/
  3. Smith C1; The effects of Sceletium tortuosum in an in vivo model of psychological stress . J Ethnopharmacol. (2011)
  4. Bristow, M. R., R. Ginsburg, W. M. Strosberg & W. (1984) Minobe: Pharmacology and inotropic potential of forskolin in the human heart. J. Clin. Invest., 74, 212-223. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC425203/
  5. Alasbahi, R. H., & Melzig, M. F. (2012). Forskolin and derivatives as tools for studying the role of cAMP. Die Pharmazie-An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 67(1), 5-13. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22393824
  6. PW, L. Masking of forskolin-induced long-term potentiation by adenosine accumulation in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus. Neuroscience. 1999 Jan;88(1):69-78.
  7. Otmakhov, N. (2004). Forskolin-Induced LTP in the CA1 Hippocampal Region Is NMDA Receptor Dependent. Journal Of Neurophysiology, 91(5), 1955-1962. doi:10.1152/jn.00941.2003
  8. Ferreira GC, McKenna MC. L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-carnitine Roles and Neuroprotection in Developing Brain. Neurochem Res. 2017;42(6):1661-1675. doi:10.1007/s11064-017-2288-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28508995
  9. Genazzani AD, Despini G, Czyzyk A, Podfigurna A, Simoncini T, Meczekalski B. Modulatory effects of l-carnitine plus l-acetyl-carnitine on neuroendocrine control of hypothalamic functions in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). Gynecol Endocrinol. June 2017:1-5. doi:10.1080/09513590.2017.1332587. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28573875
  10. Bellar D, LeBlanc NR, Campbell B; “The effect of 6 days of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on isometric strength”; J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015; 12(1):42; Retrieved from https://www.jissn.com/content/12/1/42
  11. Ziegenfuss T, Landis J, Hofheins J. Acute supplementation with alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine augments growth hormone response to, and peak force production during, resistance exercise. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2008;5(Suppl 1):P15. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-5-S1-P15.
  12. https://www.jbc.org/content/194/2/503.full.pdf
  13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24252493
  14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27473605
  15. YU Langone Medical Center; “Phosphatidylserine;” Updated August 2013
  16. Kataoka-Kato A., et al.; Journal of Pharmacological Sciences; “Enhanced learning of normal adult rodents by repeated oral administration of soybean transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine;” July 2005
  17. Gindin J., et al.; The Geriatric Institute for Education and Research, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel; “THE EFFECT OF PLANT PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE ON AGE-ASSOCIATED MEMORY IMPAIRMENT AND MOOD IN THE FUNCTIONING ELDERLY;” 1993
  18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18616866
  19. NuLiv Science AstraGin Research
  20. Zhao, Q; Effects of huperzine A on acetylcholinesterase isoforms in vitro: comparison with tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine and physostigmine.; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences; 2002
  21. Ved, H; Huperzine A, a potential therapeutic agent for dementia, reduces neuronal cell death caused by glutamate.; Division of Biochemistry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; 1997
  22. Ma, T; Huperzine A promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo.; State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University; 2013
  23. Giesbrecht, Timo, et al; “The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness”; Nutritional Neuroscience; 2010
  24. Owen GN, et al. The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutr Neurosci. (2008)
  25. Cauli, O;Subchronic caffeine exposure induces sensitization to caffeine and cross-sensitization to amphetamine ipsilateral turning behavior independent from dopamine release.; Department of Toxicology and Centre of Excellence for Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari; 2008
  26. Li WX, et al.; “Theacrine, a purine alkaloid obtained from Camellia assamica var. kucha, attenuates restraint stress-provoked liver damage in mice.“; J Agric Food Chem.; 2013
  27. Feduccia A, et al.; “Locomotor activation by theacrine, a purine alkaloid structurally similar to caffeine: involvement of adenosine and dopamine receptors.”; Pharmacol Biochem Behav; 2012
  28. Snellen EL, et al. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration and its relationship to antioxidant intake . Acta Ophthalmol Scand. (2002). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-0420.2002.800404.x/full
  29. Risk factors for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group . Arch Ophthalmol. (1992) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1281403
  30. Falé PL, et al. Function of Plectranthus barbatus herbal tea as neuronal acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Food Funct. (2011)

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