NioActive Focus+ is a unique blend of ingredients designed to support mental clarity, focus, and performance. The formula features a combination of menthol, spearmint extract, saffron, and stevia, which work together to provide a refreshing and invigorating experience. But what makes each of these ingredients so special? In this series of deep dives, we'll explore the science behind each component of Focus+, examining their individual benefits, mechanisms of action, and the research that supports their use. From the cooling effects of menthol to the mood-boosting properties of saffron, we'll take a closer look at what makes Focus+ an effective tool for anyone looking to stay focused, alert, and performing at their best.

Menthol cool

Menthol is a compound of plant origin and has recently been used to aid exercise performance in hot, humid environments. Menthol creates a sensation of coolness when applied to the skin or mucosal surfaces stimulating the cold receptors. In these environments, fatigue is known to be accelerated and feelings of being hot are one of the main contributors to the early onset of fatigue. However, current research indicates that nonthermal perceptual cooling interventions could alter behaviour in the heat by reducing thermal perception. This would allow the athlete to feel cooler when exercising at the same work rate in the heat.

Internal menthol interventions evoke pleasant and refreshing sensations of airflow and nasal patency, altering the thermal comfort and sensation [i]

The application of menthol has recently been researched as a performance-enhancing aid for various aspects of athletic performance including endurance, speed, strength and joint range of motion. A range of application methods has been used including a mouth rinse, ingestion of a beverage containing menthol. [ii][iii]

One study using the same dose of menthol as has been formulated into NioActive Focus+ showed oral administration of peppermint essential oil standardised to deliver menthol compared with control group showed an incremental and a significant increase in the grip force (36.1%), standing vertical jump (7.0%), and standing long jump (6.4%). Data obtained from the experimental group after five minutes exhibited a significant increase in breathing with the forced vital capacity in first second (FVC1)(35.1%), peak inspiratory flow rate (PIF) (66.4%), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) (65.1%). [iv]

Spearmint extract and focus

Spearmint extract has been shown to aid memory and learning and helps to improve focus. In this study they used spearmint that naturally contains menthol among other compounds in elderly population with diagnosed memory impairment to improve memory and learning. [v]

Spearmint extract has also been shown to be effective at improving cognition, mood and attention concentration span in younger healthy active men and women as well as elderly with memory defects. [vi]

Saffron and focus

Saffron has been studied in randomised controlled trials and shown to be effective in managing ADHD. Research indicates that saffron, in the same dose found in one serve of NioActive Focus +, can be as effective as certain pharmaceutical treatments, such as methylphenidate, but with fewer side effects. While pharmaceutical options remain the standard prescription, saffron's long history of use, low side-effect profile, and natural origin make it a potential alternative for some individuals.

Additionally, saffron may help improve mood. Studies have shown that saffron extract can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. [vii][viii][ix][x][xi]

Gut-Brain axis

Saffron works on the Gut-Brain Axis. Our intestinal microbiome can influence our learning and behaviour as well as our levels of systemic stress and inflammation through multiple mechanisms.[xii]

Our intestinal microbes can alter brain chemistry by manipulating the synthesis and conversion pathways of neurotransmitters and compounds that regulate our stress responses. Our intestinal microbiome can also contribute to our levels of stress and our ability to get into the zone for learning and our flow state. Stress responses facilitated by the Sympathetic nervous system enhance gut instincts and intuition and long-term memory and far vision as that may help in a survival situation but can inhibit short term memory, concentration span, focus and close vision and attention to detail that can reduce learning and alter our mood and behaviour. For ultimate performance we need a healthy balance between our nervous system.

Saffron extract with similar specifications as the material used in NioActive Focus + has been shown in animal studies to modulate our intestinal microbiome to support a healthy gut-brain axis. [xiii][xiv][xv][xvi]

Spearmint microbiome

Spearmint and menthol have a long history of use as teas to help improve digestion and relive digestive problems. They support healthy gut function and healthy digestion.

Menthol helps to modulate the types of bacteria that colonise our intestinal microbiome and help to generate more beneficial compounds such as SCFA butyrate from our microbiome. [xvii]

Stevia and microbiome Focus+ synergistic ingredients to support a healthy gut-brain axis

Saffron, spearmint in a base of gut friendly fibre and MCT sweetened with stevia.

Together the combination of spearmint, menthol and saffron help to mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress, support a healthy diverse intestinal microbiome and aid a healthy-gut brain axis.

The base of fibresol [xviii] fibre and coconut MCT oil are gut friendly (and keto friendly and low allergenic) to work synergistically with the plant-based polyphenols to aid a healthy gut-brain axis. 

There is not adequate dose of fibre in focus + to make claims as a prebiotic fibre supplement but Focus+ is not intended to be your sole source of nutrition, and it is not formulated to be a fibre supplement. It is recommended that we consume 25 – 30g fibre daily from a variety of sources.

References

[i] Flood TR. Menthol Use for Performance in Hot Environments. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2018 Apr;17(4):135-139. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000474. PMID: 29629974.

[ii] Stevens CJ, Best R. Menthol: A Fresh Ergogenic Aid for Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2017 Jun;47(6):1035-1042. doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0652-4. PMID: 27858306.

[iii] Miranda Neto M, Meireles ACF, Alcântara MA, de Magalhães Cordeiro AMT, Silva AS. Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita L.) increases time to exhaustion in runners. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Dec;62(8):3411-3422. doi: 10.1007/s00394-023-03235-4. Epub 2023 Sep 4. PMID: 37665425.

[iv] Meamarbashi A. Instant effects of peppermint essential oil on the physiological parameters and exercise performance. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014 Jan;4(1):72-8. PMID: 25050303; PMCID: PMC4103722.

[v] Herrlinger KA, Nieman KM, Sanoshy KD, Fonseca BA, Lasrado JA, Schild AL, Maki KC, Wesnes KA, Ceddia MA. Spearmint Extract Improves Working Memory in Men and Women with Age-Associated Memory Impairment. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Jan;24(1):37-47. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0379. Epub 2018 Jan 9. PMID: 29314866; PMCID: PMC5779242.

[vi] Falcone PH, Nieman KM, Tribby AC, Vogel RM, Joy JM, Moon JR, Slayton CA, Henigman MM, Lasrado JA, Lewis BJ, Fonseca BA, Herrlinger KA. The attention-enhancing effects of spearmint extract supplementation in healthy men and women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Nutr Res. 2019 Apr;64:24-38. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.11.012. Epub 2018 Dec 7. PMID: 30802720.

[vii] Shafiee M, Arekhi S, Omranzadeh A, Sahebkar A. Saffron in the treatment of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders: Current evidence and potential mechanisms of action. J Affect Disord. 2018 Feb;227:330-337. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.020. Epub 2017 Nov 7. PMID: 29136602.

[viii] Jackson PA, Forster J, Khan J, Pouchieu C, Dubreuil S, Gaudout D, Moras B, Pourtau L, Joffre F, Vaysse C, Bertrand K, Abrous H, Vauzour D, Brossaud J, Corcuff JB, Capuron L, Kennedy DO. Effects of Saffron Extract Supplementation on Mood, Well-Being, and Response to a Psychosocial Stressor in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Clinical Trial. Front Nutr. 2021 Feb 1;7:606124. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.606124. PMID: 33598475; PMCID: PMC7882499.

[ix] Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron®, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Affect Disord. 2018 May;232:349-357. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.02.070. Epub 2018 Feb 26. PMID: 29510352.

[x] Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27. doi: 10.1002/hup.2434. Epub 2014 Sep 22. PMID: 25384672.

[xi] Kell G, Rao A, Beccaria G, Clayton P, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Aug;33:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jun 13. PMID: 28735826.

[xii] Ashktorab H, Soleimani A, Singh G, Amin A, Tabtabaei S, Latella G, Stein U, Akhondzadeh S, Solanki N, Gondré-Lewis MC, Habtezion A, Brim H. Saffron: The Golden Spice with Therapeutic Properties on Digestive Diseases. Nutrients. 2019 Apr 26;11(5):943. doi: 10.3390/nu11050943. PMID: 31027364; PMCID: PMC6567082.

[xiii] Pontifex MG, Connell E, Le Gall G, Pourtau L, Gaudout D, Angeloni C, Zallocco L, Ronci M, Giusti L, Müller M, Vauzour D. Saffron extract (Safr'Inside™) improves anxiety related behaviour in a mouse model of low-grade inflammation through the modulation of the microbiota and gut derived metabolites. Food Funct. 2022 Nov 28;13(23):12219-12233. doi: 10.1039/d2fo02739a. PMID: 36341693.

[xiv] Monchaux De Oliveira C, De Smedt-Peyrusse V, Morael J, Vancassel S, Capuron L, Gaudout D, Pourtau L, Castanon N. Prevention of Stress-Induced Depressive-like Behavior by Saffron Extract Is Associated with Modulation of Kynurenine Pathway and Monoamine Neurotransmission. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Dec 14;13(12):2155. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122155. PMID: 34959434; PMCID: PMC8709346.

[xv] Kell G, Rao A, Beccaria G, Clayton P, Inarejos-García AM, Prodanov M. affron® a novel saffron extract (Crocus sativus L.) improves mood in healthy adults over 4 weeks in a double-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Aug;33:58-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jun 13. PMID: 28735826.

[xvi] Lopresti AL, Drummond PD. Saffron (Crocus sativus) for depression: a systematic review of clinical studies and examination of underlying antidepressant mechanisms of action. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Nov;29(6):517-27. doi: 10.1002/hup.2434. Epub 2014 Sep 22. PMID: 25384672.

[xvii] Luo L, Yan J, Chen B, Luo Y, Liu L, Sun Z, Lu Y. The effect of menthol supplement diet on colitis-induced colon tumorigenesis and intestinal microbiota. Am J Transl Res. 2021 Jan 15;13(1):38-56. PMID: 33527007; PMCID: PMC7847519.

[xviii] https://www.fibersol.com/