PlainPill

ALCAR vs B Complex for energy

Short answer: For energy, users rate them about the same: 95% report improvement with ALCAR (234 reports) and 95% with B Complex (93 reports).

ALCAR has 46 meta-analyses and 86 randomized trials on PubMed; B Complex has 246 and 106.

Based on 1,190 reports about ALCAR and 572 about B Complex. Not medical advice.

ALCAR
Supplement
B Complex
Supplement
Users say it helped64%helped428 reports · high confidence66%helped166 reports · high confidence
Verdict
Mostly positive
Mostly positive
ResearchAResearch: StrongAResearch: Strong
Meta-analyses / RCTs46 / 86246 / 106
Mainly used for
Energy
% reporting improvement
95% (234)95% (93)
Focus
% reporting improvement
91% (155)84% (25)
Mood
% reporting improvement
78% (89)91% (35)
Anxiety
% reporting improvement
33% (42)43% (23)
Memory
% reporting improvement
90% (30)—
Common side effectsanxiety, insomnia, irritability, stomach issuesanxiety, insomnia, headache, neuropathy
Typical dose reported1000 mg500 mcg B12
ALCAR
Latest review conclusion

There is evidence for benefit of ALC on clinical global impression, but there was no evidence using objective assessments in any other area of outcome. Given the large number of comparisons made, the statistically significant result may be due to chance. At present there is no evidence to recommend its routine use in clinical practice. Although the intention of the review was to access ALC for the treatment of all dementias, the included trials had confined themselves to participants with Alzheimer's disease. Individual patient data may add to the findings, as would trials including other type

Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2003 ↗
What a user said
“ALCAR is great. Great energy burst. I find it takes a few hours to kick in though.”
Full ALCAR profile →
B Complex
Latest review conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests that B vitamin supplementation is associated with slowing of cognitive decline, especially in populations who received early intervention and intervention of long duration; the study also indicates that higher intake of dietary folate, but not B12 or B6, is associated with a reduced risk of incident dementia in non-dementia aged population. Given the prevalence of dementia cases in many countries with aging populations, public health policies should be introduced to ensure that subgroups of the population at risk have an adequate B vitamin status.

Nutr Rev, 2022 ↗
What a user said
“Adding a B complex has totally eliminated my depression lethargy brain fog insomnia and anxiety.”
Full B Complex profile →

Related comparisons

Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate