Fact Checked By Dr Mark Watson M.D.
L-Theanine 200mg - L-Theanine is an amino acid commonly found in tea leaves. It is known for its calming effects and its ability to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. L-Theanine has been shown to enhance alpha brain waves, lower stress, improve sleep and boost mental energy [5]. This ingredient is believed to improve focus, attention, and overall cognitive performance. Roman Focus talks a lot about "calm energy", this is generally a bit of marketing waffle rather than this actually making any difference to how the caffeine kicks in.
C
affeine 100mg - Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that is widely consumed for its ability to increase alertness and improve concentration. Roman claim when combined with L-Theanine, as found in Roman Focus, caffeine can provide pretty decent energy boost, they talk a lot about how this avoids the jitters or crash typically associated with caffeine consumption although as we mentioned this is a bit of waffle. All in all this is a very common ingredient in focus boosters, so we're not going to complain here, roman focus is off to a good start. 100mg is about the same amount as 2 cups of coffee, so split through the day it's not bad for a nootropic dietary supplement. The reality is if you overdo your caffeine intake, you'll still have a problem. Although in theory L theanine does help you sleep which should mitigate the effects slightly. Also caffeine has been proven to boost focus, as most readers will likely know. [6]
American Ginseng root extract 200mg - Not to be confused with Panax Ginseng (which is arguably a much better nootropic ingredient, due to it's substantial difference in ginsenosides) American ginseng is a herb that has shown to have some limited adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress and promotes overall well-being. American ginseng is also thought to enhance cognitive function, memory, and focus. [4,7] Most of the studies suggest that it is mildly useful at this, although there's isn't much data. The ideal dose seems to be 100-400mg, meaning the 200mg in Roman Focus is fine, but not ideal. Sadly 200mg of Panax Ginseng would've been ideal. Panax ginseng is more expensive however, so it's not unreasonable for Roman Focus to go with the cheaper option here.
Bacopa Monnieri 300mg
- Bacopa monnieri, also known as Brahmi, is an herb commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine. It contains compounds called bacosides, which have been shown to support cognitive function and memory. [8] Bacopa monnieri is believed to improve brain health by reducing oxidative stress and promoting the growth of new neurons. Bacopa is a solid ingredient and makes it into a lot of the best nootropic supplements as does pretty much everything in Roman Focus. It's also shown to reduce stress, in terms of general stress not the oxidative kind, making it a multifacited ingredient for brain supplements.
Vitamin B6 - Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is an essential nutrient involved in various brain functions. It plays a crucial role in neurotransmitter synthesis, which is necessary for optimal brain function. Adequate levels of vitamin B6 are essential for proper brain development, memory, and cognitive performance. Roman Focus contains 78% of your RDI, which is fine as an inclusion for a brain health supplement. [9]
Niacin - Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in brain health. It is involved in energy production in the brain, DNA repair, and antioxidant protection. Niacin deficiency has been linked to symptoms of depression and memory loss, which can be alleviated with niacin supplementation. This is 125% of your RDI again, nothing wrong here. [10]
B12 - At 4000% of your RDI, this may seem like overkill and it is a little bit, but b12 has been shown to improve cognitive performance, so again, it's a good ingredient for roman focus. [11]
Alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC) 196mg - Alpha-GPC is a compound that is naturally present in the brain. It is involved in the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in learning, memory, and cognitive function. Supplementing with Alpha-GPC has been shown to enhance cognitive performance and improve memory. And the studies have placed it's dose at between 100mg and 400mg, although generally speaking the positive results are 200mg and up, meaning 196 isn't bad, but we'd have liked to have seen a bit more from roman focus. [2,12]
While Roman Focus is generally well-tolerated, it is essential to be aware of potential roman focus side effects. Some individuals may experience mild side effects due to individual sensitivities or interactions with other medications, although generally most of the side effects are either caused by caffeine or bacopa, if you're not sensitive to either, you should be fine. That said, here are some potential side effects associated with Roman Focus:
Headaches
Stomach cramps
Nervousness
Changes in blood pressure
Sleep disturbances
Fatigue or weakness
Roman Focus can be purchased through the official Roman website (ro.co) or online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and CVS Pharmacy. It is recommended to purchase through Amazon, due to Roman's customer service and billing issues.
Dr Mark Watson is the founder of Center TRT, having graduated from stamford more than 20 years ago, he is an expert in the field of supplemental health, focusing on long term benefits of complimenary treatment. View Bio
1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7210535/
2 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4595381/
3 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9496100/
4 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20676609/
5 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462044/
6 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462044/
7 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2952762/
8 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7937913/
9 - https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
10 - https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Riboflavin-HealthProfessional/
11 - https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
12 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8708068/