Human beings constantly strive to push fun and functionality to their limits. With work, play, family, and health at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it’s easy to let the pressure run down even the fittest bodies. Perhaps this is why the global vitamins and supplements industry is expected to grow from $129.60 billion in 2021 to $196.56 billion in 2028. An offshoot of this burgeoning field is the nootropics market. Nootropics are a particular class of vitamins, supplements, and prescription medications that focus on enhancing brain function. 

Silicon Valley and college campuses are homes to widespread nootropics use. Students take them to stay focused in classes and to memorize large amounts of information. Coders and programmers rely on their cocktails of brain pills or “stacks” to meet stringent deadlines and to stay awake during long stretches of work. Nootropics and other supplements are so popular that vegan companies are popping up en masse to provide an equal opportunity to explore this wellness trend. Thesis Nootropics and FreeMind Supplements are just two brands offering their blends to plant-based consumers.

According to Goodreads, Shawn Wells, author of “The Energy Formula: Six Life Changing Ingredients to Unleash Your Limitless Potential,” once wrote about brain supplements: “When used carefully, thoughtfully and in conjunction with an overall healthy lifestyle, nootropics can be effective at boosting feelings of well-being and energy, promoting resilience and helping ease feelings of stress and anxiety.” 

However, there are downsides to nutritional enhancements. In 2022, the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded in its study that many popular antioxidants like vitamins A, D, and E do little to quell cardiovascular disease or other disorders they were thought to prevent. Synthetic vitamin D3 often contains cholecalciferol, a derivative of sheep’s wool. Collagen, a popular dietary additive promoted by celebrities like Addison Rae and Jennifer Aniston, is made from cow hides. Other nootropics and supplements like omega-3 fatty acids are often extracted from fish. Royal jelly and propolis, widely viewed as having anti-inflammatory properties, are stolen from bee populations. Next is the issue of safety. Growing numbers argue their concerns in online forums and shopping sites about the provenance of ingredients sourced from countries with lax regulations and incidents of international suppliers cutting their products with substances like lead and formaldehyde. Users are also vulnerable to interactions when they create stacks or use supplements with prescribed medications. Working with a naturopath or licensed physician is always advised when considering new wellness regimens.

While the benefit of vitamins, supplements, and nootropics is hotly debated, their usage and demand are higher than ever. Most of these products are not subject to FDA regulations, so vegan consumers must research which brands are consistent with their dietary needs. No supplement on the market is scientifically proven to cure disease or prevent it, so users must take a leap of faith in terms of the efficacy of what they ingest. However, with proper education, these products might provide the added boost of energy and alacrity so many of us crave.

Sources: USA Today, Fortune Business Insights, Goodreads