Cognitive Essentials
by Swanson Condition Specific Formulas · tablet or pill · 60 tablets
- Off the market since November 2023 (NIH)
- UPC 0 87614 07069 8
- DSLD label 180624
- Serving 1 tablet
Cognitive Essentials by Swanson Condition Specific Formulas lists 41 ingredients, 24 with an amount per serving of 1 tablet, such as 300 mcg RAE of vitamin A, 125 mg of vitamin C, 1.3 mcg (52 IU) of vitamin D and 10 mg of vitamin E; 17 sit inside a blend without their own amounts. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on August 31, 2018.
What is in Cognitive Essentials?
Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 1 tablet. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV | Among products listing it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin Aas Beta-Carotene, Mixed CarotenoidsVitamin A (Form: as Beta Carotene, and Mixed Carotenoids) | 300 mcg RAE | 33% | |
| Vitamin Cas Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Calcium AscorbateVitamin C (Form: as Sodium Ascorbate, Calcium Ascorbate, Potassium Ascorbate, Zinc Ascorbate, and Ascorbyl Palmitate) (Alt. Name: Ascorbic Acid) | 125 mg | 139% | Higher than 56% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C (median 100 mg). Per day at the most servings: 250 mg. |
| Vitamin Das CholecalciferolVitamin D (Form: as Cholecalciferol) | 1.3 mcg (52 IU) | 7% | 97% of 14,175 products listing vitamin D give more (median 15 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 2.6 mcg. |
| Vitamin Eas D-Alpha-Tocopheryl SuccinateVitamin E (Form: as D-Alpha Tocopheryl Succinate) | 10 mg | 67% | |
| Thiamineas Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B1Thiamin (Form: as Thiamin Mononitrate) (Alt. Name: Vitamin B-1) | 1.5 mg | 125% | 66% of 9,830 products listing thiamin give more (median 5 mg). Per day at the most servings: 3 mg. |
| Riboflavinas Vitamin B2 | 0.9 mg | 69% | 86% of 9,824 products listing riboflavin give more (median 4 mg). Per day at the most servings: 1.8 mg. |
| Niacinas Inositol Hexanicotinate, NiacinamideNiacin (Form: as flush-free Inositol Hexanicotinate, and Niacinamide) | 12.5 mg NE | 78% | 75% of 12,413 products listing niacin give more (median 20 mg). Per day at the most servings: 25 mg. |
| Vitamin B-6as Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate, Pyridoxal-Alpha-KetoglutarateVitamin B-6 (Form: as Pyridoxal-Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate) | 7.5 mg | 441% | Higher than 52% of 15,277 products listing vitamin B6 (median 6 mg). Per day at the most servings: 15 mg. |
| Folate | 335 mcg DFE | 84% | |
| Folic Acid | 200 mcg | ||
| Vitamin B12as CyanocobalaminVitamin B-12 (Form: as Cyanocobalamin) | 10 mcg | 417% | 67% of 14,425 products listing vitamin B12 give more (median 36 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 20 mcg. |
| Biotin | 150 mcg | 500% | 51% of 9,447 products listing biotin give more (median 200 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 300 mcg. |
| Pantothenic Acidas D-Calcium PantothenatePantothenic Acid (Form: as D-Calcium Pantothenate) | 6 mg | 120% | 75% of 10,060 products listing pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) give more (median 12 mg). Per day at the most servings: 12 mg. |
| Calciumas Calcium Ascorbate, Calcium Citrate, Calcium SuccinateCalcium (Form: from Calcium Citrate, Calcium Succinate, and Calcium Ascorbate) | 25 mg | 2% | 88% of 17,831 products listing calcium give more (median 115 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg. |
| Ironas Iron CitrateIron (Form: from Iron Citrate) | 2.5 mg | 14% | 64% of 6,910 products listing iron give more (median 5 mg). Per day at the most servings: 5 mg. |
| Iodineas KelpIodine (Form: from Kelp) | 7.5 mcg | 5% | 99% of 6,382 products listing iodine give more (median 150 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 15 mcg. |
| Magnesiumas Magnesium TaurinateMagnesium (Form: from Magnesium Taurinate) | 50 mg | 12% | 59% of 14,003 products listing magnesium give more (median 86 mg). Per day at the most servings: 100 mg. |
| Zincas Zinc Ascorbate, Zinc CitrateZinc (Form: from Zinc Citrate, and Zinc Ascorbate) | 5 mg | 45% | 72% of 13,186 products listing zinc give more (median 11 mg). Per day at the most servings: 10 mg. |
| Seleniumas SelenomethionineSelenium (Form: from Selenomethionine) | 25 mcg | 45% | 75% of 7,658 products listing selenium give more (median 55 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mcg. |
| Copperas Copper CitrateCopper (Form: from Copper Citrate) | 0.2 mg | 22% | 88% of 6,468 products listing copper give more (median 1 mg). Per day at the most servings: 0.4 mg. |
| Manganeseas Manganese CitrateManganese (Form: from Manganese Citrate) | 1 mg | 43% | 70% of 7,016 products listing manganese give more (median 2 mg). Per day at the most servings: 2 mg. |
| Chromiumas Chromium PolynicotinateChromium (Form: from Chromium Polynicotinate) | 50 mcg | 143% | 67% of 7,825 products listing chromium give more (median 100 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 100 mcg. |
| Molybdenumas Sodium MolybdateMolybdenum (Form: from Sodium Molybdate) | 5 mcg | 11% | 97% of 4,390 products listing molybdenum give more (median 50 mcg). Per day at the most servings: 10 mcg. |
| Potassiumas Potassium Ascorbate, Potassium Aspartate, Potassium CitratePotassium (Form: from Potassium Citrate, Potassium Aspartate, and Potassium Ascorbate) | 25 mg | 1% | 86% of 11,614 products listing potassium give more (median 99 mg). Per day at the most servings: 50 mg. |
| Proprietary Synergistic Blend | 182 mg | ||
| Dmaeas DMAE Bitartrate | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| L-Glutamine | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Bacopa monnieri | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| L-Pyroglutamic Acid | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Phosphatidylserineas Soy Phospholipid | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Docosahexaenoic Acid Concentrateas Fish OilDHA Concentrate (Form: from Fish Oil) | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Choline Bitartrate | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Inositol | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Pyridoxal-Alpha-Ketoglutarate | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| N-Acetyltyrosine | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Bilberry | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| GABA | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Grapeskin extract | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Grape Seed Extractas Polyphenols | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Trace-Lyte Electrolyte concentrate | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Huperzine Aas Huperzia serrataHuperzine A (Form: extract of Huperzia serrata PlantPart: aerial parts Genus: Huperzia Species: serrata) | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Boronas Boron Aspartate, Boron Citrate, Boron GlycinateBoron (Form: from Boron Citrate, Boron Aspartate, Boron Glycinate) | in the blend, no amount given | ||
| Vanadiumas Vanadyl SulfateVanadium (Form: from Vanadyl Sulfate) | in the blend, no amount given |
Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 180624 (entered August 31, 2018), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD. Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.
Is that a lot?
The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:
- 97% of the 14,175 products that print an amount of vitamin D list more than its 1.3 mcg (52 IU) of vitamin D (median 15 mcg (600 IU)).
- 99% of the 6,382 products that print an amount of iodine list more than its 7.5 mcg of iodine (median 150 mcg).
- 88% of the 6,468 products that print an amount of copper list more than its 0.2 mg of copper (median 1 mg).
- 97% of the 4,390 products that print an amount of molybdenum list more than its 5 mcg of molybdenum (median 50 mcg).
The NIH database records 2 servings a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.
Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.
Which products have the closest formulas?
The products whose ingredient lists overlap most with Cognitive Essentials's, rare ingredients counting for more.
- Focus Factor Extra StrengthFocus Factor 38 shared, 90% alike
- FocusFactorFOCUSfactor 38 shared, 88% alike
- Focus FactorFOCUSfactor · off the market 38 shared, 88% alike
- Focus FactorFocus Factor 38 shared, 88% alike
- Brain & VisionFocus Factor 38 shared, 87% alike
- FOCUSfactorFocus Factor 37 shared, 79% alike
Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.
What does the label say about taking it?
Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.
- Directions
- Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, take one tablet two times per day with water.
- Warnings
- Do not use if seal is broken.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Warning: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under age six. Keep this product out of the reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
- May contain crustacean shellfish (lobster, crab and shrimp).
- Storage
- Store in a cool, dry place.
Source: label statements in DSLD label 180624.
What else is on the label?
Other ingredients: Stearic Acid, Croscarmellose Sodium, Aqueous Film Coating, Silica, Magnesium Stearate, Calcium Carbonate, Beta-Carotene Beadlets, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Acacia, Maltodextrin, Vitamin D3 Beadlets, Methylcellulose, Sunflower Lecithin.
Seals and symbols as the label prints them (the maker's; a certifier's own list confirms a seal): Guaranteed purity & potency.
How many labels does Cognitive Essentials have?
One label is on file, entered on August 31, 2018.
- Label 180624 (current) Entered August 31, 2018 · off the market November 28, 2023 · 60 tablets · UPC 0 87614 07069 8
Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).
Who makes it?
The label names Swanson Health Products (distributor), Fargo, ND. All Swanson Condition Specific Formulas products.