BUILT FROM HUMAN EVIDENCE

Explore the human research behind key GODMODE ingredients, including studies relevant to visual performance, sustained attention, information processing, psychomotor performance and mental fatigue.

VISUAL SYSTEM

Human studies on lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin have examined visual function, contrast sensitivity, visual processing and eye fatigue.

LUTEMAX 2020® — VISUAL PERFORMANCE UNDER SCREEN LOAD

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of adults with high daily screen exposure, supplementation with Lutemax 2020® for six months improved measures of visual performance including contrast sensitivity, glare performance and photostress recovery, while also improving several symptoms associated with prolonged screen use. GODMODE uses Lutemax 2020® as its lutein and zeaxanthin-isomer source, making this study directly relevant to the visual-support ingredient system in the formula. The study evaluated Lutemax 2020®, not the finished GODMODE formula. The study used 24 mg/day of macular carotenoids.

Study: Stringham JM, Stringham NT, O’Brien KJ. Foods. 2017;6(7):47.

ASTAXANTHIN + LUTEIN + ZEAXANTHIN — EYE-HAND COORDINATION AFTER SCREEN USE

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of healthy adults who regularly used visual displays, participants took 6 mg astaxanthin, 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin daily for eight weeks. Compared with placebo, the supplemented group showed significantly better eye-hand coordination after screen use at eight weeks and increased macular pigment optical density. Smooth-pursuit eye movement did not clearly improve. The findings support the combined carotenoid system used in GODMODE, although the study evaluated this three-carotenoid combination rather than the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Yoshida K, Sakai O, Honda T, Kikuya T, Takeda R, Sawabe A, Inaba M, Koike C. Nutrients. 2023;15(6):1459.

ASTAXANTHIN — VISUAL FUNCTION AFTER SCREEN WORK

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 60 healthy adults, participants received 9 mg of astaxanthin daily for six weeks. After visual display terminal work, astaxanthin helped preserve visual acuity in participants aged 40 and older compared with placebo, while the younger subgroup did not show the same significant benefit. Functional visual acuity and pupil-constriction measures were not significantly different overall. The study supports astaxanthin’s relevance to visual performance under screen load, although the effect was age-dependent and the study evaluated astaxanthin alone rather than the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Sekikawa T, Kizawa Y, Li Y, Miura N. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2023;72(1):74–81.

ATTENTION + INFORMATION PROCESSING

Human studies involving citicoline, phosphatidylserine and vinpocetine have examined attention, memory, information processing and other measures of cognitive performance.

LUTEMAX 2020® — ATTENTION + PROCESSING SPEED

In a six-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 59 healthy adults aged 18–25, supplementation with macular xanthophylls containing lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin significantly improved sustained attention, psychomotor speed and processing speed versus placebo, along with composite and verbal memory. Increases in serum lutein were also significantly associated with improvements in sustained attention. These findings are directly relevant to the lutein/zeaxanthin-isomer system used in GODMODE, although the study evaluated the carotenoid ingredient system rather than the finished GODMODE formula. 

Study: Stringham NT, Holmes PV, Stringham JM. Physiology & Behavior. 2019;211:112650.

CITICOLINE — ATTENTION + PSYCHOMOTOR SPEED

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study of 75 healthy adolescent males, participants received 250 mg or 500 mg of Cognizin® citicoline daily for 28 days. Compared with placebo, the citicoline group showed significant improvements in attention and psychomotor speed, while higher weight-adjusted doses were also associated with better attention-task accuracy, improved signal detection and reduced impulsivity. These findings are directly relevant to GODMODE’s citicoline ingredient, although the study evaluated citicoline alone rather than the finished GODMODE formula. 

Study: McGlade E, Agoston AM, DiMuzio J, Kizaki M, Nakazaki E, Kamiya T, Yurgelun-Todd D. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2019;23(2):121–134.

PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE — MEMORY + COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 78 adults aged 50–69 with memory complaints, participants received 100 mg or 300 mg of phosphatidylserine daily for six months. The clearest benefit appeared in participants with lower baseline memory performance, where 300 mg improved delayed verbal recall compared with placebo. The study provides direct human evidence for phosphatidylserine and memory performance, although it used soy-derived phosphatidylserine and evaluated the ingredient alone rather than the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Kato-Kataoka A, Sakai M, Ebina R, Nonaka C, Asano T, Miyamori T. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2010;47(3):246–255.

VINPOCETINE — MEMORY SCANNING IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

In a small randomized, double-blind crossover study of 12 healthy female volunteers, vinpocetine was tested at several dose levels against placebo using measures of memory, reaction time and alertness. The 40 mg treatment condition significantly improved performance on the Sternberg memory-scanning task, suggesting an effect on information-processing during memory comparison. However, choice reaction time and other psychomotor measures did not significantly improve, so this study supports a narrow memory-processing finding rather than a broad reaction-time claim. The study evaluated vinpocetine alone rather than the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Subhan Z, Hindmarch I. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1985;28(5):567–571.

PERFORMANCE UNDER LOAD

Human studies on Rhodiola rosea, Cordyceps, Eleuthero and glycine have examined fatigue, stress-related performance, exercise capacity and daytime performance under demanding conditions.

RHODIOLA ROSEA — MENTAL PERFORMANCE UNDER FATIGUE

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 56 healthy physicians working night duty, a standardized Rhodiola rosea extract significantly improved a composite measure of mental performance during fatigue. The test battery included concentration, short-term memory, associative thinking, calculation, and speed of audio-visual perception. The findings support Rhodiola’s relevance to maintaining cognitive performance under demanding, fatigue-producing conditions, although the study evaluated a standardized Rhodiola extract rather than the finished GODMODE formula. 

Study: Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Phytomedicine. 2000;7(5):365–371.

CORDYCEPS — EXERCISE CAPACITY + FATIGUE

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of healthy older adults, supplementation with Cs-4 Cordyceps sinensis for 12 weeks significantly improved ventilatory threshold, a measure related to aerobic exercise capacity, compared with placebo. The study supports the broader Cordyceps performance literature, although it evaluated Cs-4 Cordyceps sinensis rather than the Cordyceps militaris ingredient used in GODMODE.

Study: Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, Abrazado M, Kim W, Cooper CB. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010;16(5):585–590.

CORDYCEPS MILITARIS — HIGH-INTENSITY PERFORMANCE

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 28 healthy adults, a Cordyceps militaris-containing mushroom blend was evaluated for high-intensity exercise performance. After one week, the primary between-group performance differences were limited, but after three weeks the supplemented group showed improvements in VO₂max, with additional improvements in time to exhaustion and ventilatory threshold. These findings are more directly relevant to the Cordyceps militaris species used in GODMODE, although the study tested a mushroom blend rather than Cordyceps militaris alone or the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2017;14(1):42–53. DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386.

ELEUTHERO — ENDURANCE CAPACITY + METABOLIC EFFICIENCY

In an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of recreationally trained men, Eleutherococcus senticosus supplementation improved endurance capacity and produced changes consistent with greater fat utilization and glycogen sparing during exercise. The researchers also reported improved cardiovascular performance measures. These findings support Eleuthero’s relevance to sustained physical performance under load, although the study evaluated Eleuthero alone rather than the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Kuo J, Chen KW, Cheng IS, Tsai PH, Lu YJ, Lee NY. Chinese Journal of Physiology. 2010;53(2):105–111.

GLYCINE — DAYTIME PERFORMANCE AFTER SLEEP RESTRICTION

In a randomized crossover study of healthy adults undergoing three consecutive nights of partial sleep restriction, participants took 3 g of glycine before bedtime or placebo. Glycine significantly reduced next-day fatigue, showed a trend toward less sleepiness, and produced a significant improvement in psychomotor vigilance performance. The findings support glycine’s relevance to maintaining alertness and performance when sleep is restricted, although the study evaluated glycine alone rather than the finished GODMODE formula.

Study: Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N. Frontiers in Neurology. 2012;3:61. PMID: 22529837. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00061.

INGREDIENT EVIDENCE VS. FINISHED FORMULA

The studies summarized here evaluate individual ingredients or ingredient combinations used in GODMODE. They should not be interpreted as clinical evidence that the finished GODMODE formula produces the same outcomes.

REFERENCES

Bovier ER, Hammond BR. A randomized placebo-controlled study on the effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on visual processing speed in young healthy subjects. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 2015;572:54–57. PMID: 25483230.

Yoshida K, Sakai O, Honda T, Kikuya T, Takeda R, Sawabe A, Inaba M, Koike C. Effects of Astaxanthin, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin on Eye-Hand Coordination and Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movement after Visual Display Terminal Operation in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Intergroup Trial. Nutrients. 2023;15(6):1459. PMID: 36986186. DOI: 10.3390/nu15061459.

Jówko E, Sadowski J, Długołęcka B, Gierczuk D, Opaszowski B, Cieśliński I. Effects of Rhodiola rosea supplementation on mental performance, physical capacity, and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy men. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2018;7(4):473–480. PMID: 30450257.

Doma KM, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Study Investigating the Efficacy of a Whole Coffee Cherry Extract and Phosphatidylserine Formulation on Cognitive Performance of Healthy Adults with Self-Perceived Memory Problems. Neurology and Therapy. 2023;12(3):777–794. PMID: 36929344. DOI: 10.1007/s40120-023-00454-z.

Sekikawa T, Kizawa Y, Li Y, Miura N. Effects of diet containing astaxanthin on visual function in healthy individuals: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2023;72(1):74–81. PMID: 36777084. DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.22-65.

Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Gonzalez A, Beller NA, Hoffman MW, Olson M, Purpura M, Jäger R. The effects of acute and prolonged CRAM supplementation on reaction time and subjective measures of focus and alertness in healthy college students. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2010;7:39. PMID: 21156078. DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-39.

Naber M, Hommel B, Colzato LS. Improved human visuomotor performance and pupil constriction after choline supplementation in a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Scientific Reports. 2015;5:13188. PMID: 26271904. DOI: 10.1038/srep13188.

McGlade E, Agoston AM, DiMuzio J, Kizaki M, Nakazaki E, Kamiya T, Yurgelun-Todd D. The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males. Journal of Attention Disorders. 2019;23(2):121–134. PMID: 26179181. DOI: 10.1177/1087054715593633.

Chen S, Li Z, Krochmal R, Abrazado M, Kim W, Cooper CB. Effect of Cs-4 (Cordyceps sinensis) on exercise performance in healthy older subjects: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010;16(5):585–590. PMID: 20804368. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2009.0226.

Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine. 2000;7(2):85–89. PMID: 10839209. DOI: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80078-1.

Bannai M, Kawai N, Ono K, Nakahara K, Murakami N. The Effects of Glycine on Subjective Daytime Performance in Partially Sleep-Restricted Healthy Volunteers. Frontiers in Neurology. 2012;3:61. PMID: 22529837. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2012.00061.

Kuo J, Chen KW, Cheng IS, Tsai PH, Lu YJ, Lee NY. The effect of eight weeks of supplementation with Eleutherococcus senticosus on endurance capacity and metabolism in human. Chinese Journal of Physiology. 2010;53(2):105–111. PMID: 21793317. DOI: 10.4077/CJP.2010.AMK018.

Subhan Z, Hindmarch I. Psychopharmacological effects of vinpocetine in normal healthy volunteers. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1985;28(5):567–571. PMID: 3899677. DOI: 10.1007/BF00544068.

Gulyás B, Halldin C, Sandell J, Karlsson P, Sóvágó J, Kárpáti E, Kiss B, Vas A, Cselényi Z, Farde L. PET studies on the brain uptake and regional distribution of [11C]vinpocetine in human subjects. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. 2002;106(6):325–332. PMID: 12460136.

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Szilágyi G, Nagy Z, Balkay L, Boros I, Emri M, Lehel S, Márián T, Molnár T, Szakáll S, Trón L, Bereczki D, Csiba L, Fekete I, Kerényi L, Galuska L, Varga J, Bönöczk P, Vas A, Gulyás B. Effects of vinpocetine on the redistribution of cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism in chronic ischemic stroke patients: a PET study. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 2005;229–230:275–284. PMID: 15760651. DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2004.11.053.

Baumeister J, Barthel T, Geiss KR, Weiss M. Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stress. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2008;11(3):103–110. PMID: 18616866. DOI: 10.1179/147683008X301478.

Nakazaki E, Mah E, Sanoshy K, Citrolo D, Watanabe F. Citicoline and Memory Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Nutrition. 2021;151(8):2153–2160. PMID: 33978188. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab119.

Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. The effects of lutein/zeaxanthin (Lute-gen®) on eye health, eye strain, sleep quality, and attention in high electronic screen users: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025;12:1522302. PMID: 39963662. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1522302.

Stringham NT, Holmes PV, Stringham JM. Effects of macular xanthophyll supplementation on brain-derived neurotrophic factor, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and cognitive performance. Physiology & Behavior. 2019;211:112650. PMID: 31425700. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112650.

Kato-Kataoka A, Sakai M, Ebina R, Nonaka C, Asano T, Miyamori T. Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaints. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2010;47(3):246–255. PMID: 21103034. DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.10-62.

Katagiri M, Satoh A, Tsuji S, Shirasawa T. Effects of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2012;51(2):102–107. DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.D-11-00017.

Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue—a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine. 2000;7(5):365–371. PMID: 11081987. DOI: 10.1016/S0944-7113(00)80055-0.

Lutemax 2020® — High Screen-Time Study
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving adults with at least six hours per day of screen exposure, supplementation with a Lutemax 2020 carotenoid formulation was associated with improvements in measures of visual performance, including contrast sensitivity, glare performance and photostress recovery, along with reductions in eye-strain-related symptoms.

Stringham JM, Stringham NT, O’Brien KJ. Macular Carotenoid Supplementation Improves Visual Performance, Sleep Quality, and Adverse Physical Symptoms in Those with High Screen Time Exposure. Foods. 2017;6(7):47. PMID: 28661438. DOI: 10.3390/foods6070047.