Boost your performance with the best energy supplements
Feeling fatigued in body and mind? Energy supplements can help boost both physical and mental vitality. Today's top dietary supplements for energy do this in many different ways.
Many people use supplements specifically to boost energy. In the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) 2024 Consumer Survey (conducted by Ipsos), 27% of U.S. supplement users said they take supplements for energy. (CRN, 2024).
If you are looking for an up-to-date, trustworthy shortlist of the top supplements that improve energy and fight fatigue—along with what they’re best for, how to choose, and which options are safest and most effective right now—then this guide was written just for you.
In this article, we're first going to discuss today's most effective dietary supplement ingredients and top products that help to optimize your energy levels. Let's get to it!
Key Takeaways
- Energy supplements can support both physical vitality and mental drive by working through multiple pathways (mitochondria, neurotransmitters, circulation, and stress resilience).
- Many people supplement specifically for energy: 27% of U.S. supplement users say they take supplements for energy (CRN Consumer Survey, 2024; Ipsos).
- Some ingredients boost cellular energy production (mitochondria) while others reduce fatigue from stress (adaptogens) or improve alertness and motivation (e.g., caffeine via adenosine signaling).
- Nootropic-style energy support targets brain performance (focus, clarity, motivation), while sports-style support emphasizes physical performance.
- “Stacking” can improve synergy—combining compatible products to support energy from multiple angles (cellular fuel + stress fatigue reduction + clean stimulation + nutrient repletion).
- Top ingredients highlighted: citicoline (brain ATP support), rhodiola (stress-fatigue reducer), L-tyrosine (stress/sleep-loss support), MCT oil (fast ketone fuel), enhanced caffeine (cleaner stimulation), CoQ10 + PQQ (mitochondrial output), plus essentials like iron, B vitamins, and magnesium (fatigue from nutrient gaps).
Best Energy Supplements in 2026
-
Mind Lab Pro® (Mental Energy)
Whole-brain nootropic support for focus, clarity, motivation, and stress resilience.
Stim-free foundation that supports cognitive performance and long-range brain health.
Read more -
Performance Lab® Energy (Overall Energy)
Clean, caffeine-free cellular energy support focused on mitochondria (CoQ10 + PQQ + ALCAR + more).
Designed for smooth daily vitality with no jitters or crashes.
Read more -
Performance Lab® Caffeine 2™ (Caffeinated Energy)
Low-dose caffeine (50 mg) enhanced with L-theanine, L-tyrosine, and balancing B-vitamins.
A cleaner, calmer “buzz” designed to reduce jitters and improve tolerance.
Read more -
Performance Lab® MCT Oil (Fast Fuel)
Premium C8/C10 MCTs (60/40) for rapid ketone-based energy and mitochondrial support.
Flavor-neutral, easy to mix into coffee, smoothies, or dressings for daily fuel.
Read more -
Performance Lab® NutriGenesis® Multi (Nutrient Repletion)
Gender-specific multi to help restore foundational vitamins/minerals linked to fatigue (B’s, iron, magnesium, etc.).
NutriGenesis® forms are designed for absorption with whole-food cofactors.
Read more
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any dietary supplement—especially if you are pregnant or nursing, have a medical condition, or take prescription medications. Supplements are not drugs and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results vary, and the information provided reflects the author’s interpretation of current research and should not be used as a substitute for individualized medical guidance.
How do supplements boost energy?
Before we get into the individual ingredients, let's get into the many different ways that energy supplements in general work to restore vitality throughout the entire body.
Some nutrients contained in these formulas help our cells to generate energy. This is often achieved by optimizing, fueling and protecting the mitochondria powerhouses of each cell.
Other nutrients may help by regulating the brain chemicals that play roles in alertness and motivation, directly or indirectly helping to increase energy. One example is caffeine, which influences the fatigue neurotransmitter adenosine.
Since red blood cells transport energizing oxygen throughout the body, other ingredients in energy formulas will support blood health and circulatory function. And still others boost energy by fighting the fatigue-inducing effects of physical and mental stress.
In addition to working in many different ways, the top energy supplements can target specific aspects of your performance.
For example, nootropic energy supplements feature bioactivities that benefit the brain, resulting in revitalized cognitive performance. Sports nutrition energy supplements focus more on raising vitality for physical performance.
Skillfully combining energy nutrients a practice known as "stacking" -- may help them to restore energy levels even more effectively.
A single well-designed product may combine several energizing ingredients that function effectively as a team. For even more synergy, you can combine several products to raise energy from multiple angles.
Stacking can be complicated, however. All of the products discussed in this article can be combined safely and effectively, so keep that in mind as you read on.
Let's get into the best individual ingredients found in today's top energy formulas.
Increase energy naturally with these vitality-boosting supplements
Citicoline
The best nootropic for brain energy enhancement and cognitive fitness.
Citicoline is a nootropic shown to boost energy levels in the brain. It is backed by multiple studies demonstrating both brain health benefits and cognitive performance enhancements to focus, memory, attention and more.
Some of citicoline's benefits are attributed to its ability to increase natural energy levels in the brain. In a clinical study on Cognizin® citicoline, researchers observed a significant increase in ATP presence in brain cells by 13.6% with citicoline supplementation.(1)
More on Citicoline here.
Rhodiola Rosea Extract
A powerful, fast-acting herbal adaptogen that boosts energy by directly countering the fatigue induced By stress.
Often quoted as an “energy booster,” Rhodiola rosea is more accurately described as a fatigue reducer, thanks to this herb's noticeable, reliable effects against the feelings of lethargy and brain fog associated with mental and physical stressors.
In a review on Rhodiola rosea, researchers investigated if the root could reduce the symptoms of chronic stress. The researchers reported Rhodiola “is the main adaptogen approved by the HMPC/EMA for the indication ‘stress' and influences the release of stress hormones while boosting energy metabolism as revealed in animal literature.”(2)
Rhodiola is an adaptogen herb, like Bacopa monnieri in Ayurvedic medicine, that helps to banish fatigue and enhance physical and mental performance, especially in the context of performance under stress.
More on Rhodiola Rosea here.
L-Tyrosine
amino acid that fights low energy levels related to stress, physical fatigue, overworking, sleep depreivation and other lifestyle factors.
When the brain is stressed or sleep deprived, it burns through L-tyrosine to make catecholamines, brain chemicals required to stay energized. When L-tyrosine levels deplete, so do cognitive and physical vitality, which may be restored by L-tyrosine supplementation.
In one study on supplementing L-tyrosine during sleep deprivation, researchers found that “L-tyrosine may prove useful in counteracting performance decrements during episodes of sustained work coupled with sleep loss.”(3)
More on L-Tyrosine here.
MCT oil
versatile, Fast-acting fuel for cells' powerhouse mitochondria
MCT oil is made from coconuts, which are a natural source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). MCTs are absorbed quickly and converted into ketones: an alternative fuel source that can be burned by cells to produce energy. MCTs also appear to optimize cells' powerplant mitochondria, suggesting a fundamental role in boosting overall energy levels.
Unlike the other energy supplements on this list, MCT oil can be incorporated into foods as part of a healthy diet. MCTs can be added to salad dressings, smoothies, etc. to impart them with extra fuel for cell energy production. (SEE: Performance Lab® MCT).
Enhanced Caffeine
Next-gen stimulation combines caffeine with restorative and balancing nutrients for a cleaner power surge
It's technically a stimulant, but it is hard to deny: Caffeine is the most widely used energy boosting supplement in the world. It works by blocking receptors of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that tells the brain to feel fatigued and sleepy.
By blocking fatigue, caffeine sustains energy. The trick in maximizing caffeine's potential is to moderate dosage and stack it with L-Theanine and B vitamins, both of which can help to optimize caffeine benefits while minimizing its jitters and other side effects. (SEE: Performance Lab® Caffeine 2).
Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10)
energizing antioxidant that plays key roles in powering all life on earth
CoQ10 is a cellular energy booster. It is a key player in bioenergetics: the flow of energy that enables all life.(4) CoQ10 has a few mechanisms of action. Most importantly, it transports electrons and protons throughout the cell, including mitochondria. Without CoQ10, cells could not produce energy. It is most highly concentrated in organs that use a lot of energy, especially the brain and heart. It also converts to ubiquinol, a health promoting substance with significant antioxidant properties.
Unlike caffeine, CoQ10 is a stim-free energy booster supplement that enhances the body's ability to power-up on a cellular level. Therefore it is not associated with any caffeine-like side effects or crashes. (SEE: Performance Lab® Energy).
PQQ
The best mitochondria booster known to science, helps energize vitality on a cellular level
PQQ is a powerful antioxidant that appears to have a profound impact on cellular energy production. Specifically, PQQ may help to multiply mitochondria, the powerhouses in each cell that produce energy that drives all aspects of our lives.(5)
PQQ's formidable antioxidant activity, suggested to be thousands of times greater than that of vitamin C, also protects mitochondria from free radical damage -- helping to support their healthy energy generation across virtually all the body's cells. (SEE: Performance Lab® Energy)
Vitamins and Minerals
Suboptimal intake of some essential nutrients can result in fatigue that is easily reversed with smart supplementation
In addition to the dynamic energy supplements listed above, basic essential vitamins and minerals also support vitality. The top minerals and best vitamins for tiredness and lack of energy include:
Iron: Low iron levels are worse for women, who lose the key mineral via blood loss during heavy periods. Iron deficiency anemia that follows can manifest as fatigue. Iron rich foods (red meat, liver, beans, spinach) and taking iron supplements can help, especially a quality multivitamin that is customized for women's distinct nutritional needs. Sufficient iron helps red blood cell formation; red blood cells transport oxygen that is required for energy.(6)
B Vitamins: In addition to helping keep nerve cells healthy, the B complex includes vitamins that are required for cell energy and overall vitality. Supplements with vitamin B-12 and folic acid may be most famous for converting food into energy, and may assist with chronic fatigue.(7)
Magnesium: This mineral is involved in over 700 life-sustaining bioactivities, including helping the body produce energy. In fact, if magnesium is not present, then cell energy cannot be generated.(8) A magnesium supplement can help restore optimal levels for energy production.
Vitamin D: The "sunshine vitamin" Vitamin D doesn’t act like a stimulant, but it can meaningfully affect energy if you’re low—and many people don't get enough vitamin D. In U.S. NHANES data, about one-quarter of people were “at risk of vitamin D inadequacy” (blood 25(OH)D 12–19 ng/mL) and about 8% were “at risk of deficiency” (<12 ng/mL), which can show up as tiredness, low mood, and weaker muscle performance in some people. If fatigue is persistent and especially if you get little sun exposure, checking vitamin D levels via a simple blood test and correcting inadequate Vitamin D intake can be a simple, high-leverage step toward steadier day-to-day energy.(9)
(SEE: Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi).
Top Energy Supplements to Buy in 2026
Let's take a look at some of the top supplements that supply these energy boosters.
Best Supplement for Mental Energy: Mind Lab Pro
Since cognitive performance depends on brain energy production, Mind Lab Pro® supplies some of the top stim-free nootropics for unleashing a healthy energy boost. But that's just the beginning of what the world's greatest nootropic supplement can do.
Mind Lab Pro® functions as a whole-brain optimizer – unlocking significant mental performance improvements across focus, learning, memory, motivation, relaxation, stress resistance and more while nourishing the brain for long-range health and clarity. Its nootropic ingredients include:
- Citicoline, 250 mg
- Phosphatidylserine, 100 mg (Sharp-PS® Green)
- Bacopa Monnieri, 150 mg (24% bacosides, 9 bioactives)
- Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom, 500 mg (full spectrum extract)
- Rhodiola Rosea, 50 mg (3% rosavins, 1% salidrosides)
- L-Theanine, 100 mg (Suntheanine®)
- L-Tyrosine, 175 mg (N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine)
- Maritime Pine Bark Extract, 75 mg (95% proanthocyanidins)
- Vitamin B6 2.5 mg, vitamin B9 100 mcg, vitamin B12 7.5 mcg (NutriGenesis®)
MLP is backed by good research.
- Study 1: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, researchers reported that adults taking Mind Lab Pro showed significant improvements versus placebo on multiple information-processing and reaction-time tasks—suggesting faster, more efficient “in-the-moment” cognitive performance.(10)
- Study 2: In another double-blind, placebo-controlled study, participants taking Mind Lab Pro improved across several memory domains, including auditory and visual memory, visual working memory, and both immediate and delayed recall—pointing to broad, real-world memory support rather than a single narrow effect.(11)
- Study 3: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Mind Lab Pro did not significantly improve speed or accuracy on the primary cognitive task—but EEG findings suggested stronger coordination/communication across brain networks, which may reflect “deeper” or more integrated processing even without obvious performance gains.(12)
Best Supplement for Overall Energy: Performance Lab® Energy
Performance Lab® Energy is an ultramodern supplement that provides a clean energy boost with zero jitters or crashes. It achieves this with an advanced formula design:
- MicroActive® Q10 (CoQ10), 100 mg
- BioPQQ® (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone), 10 mg
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR), 750 mg
- BioPerine® Black Pepper Extract, 2.5 mg
- Bio-Enhanced® R-Lipoic Acid, 150 mg
In addition to the CoQ10 and PQQ mentioned above, Performance Lab Energy supplies ALCAR to improve fatty acid transport to mitochondria for fat-burning energy and R-lipoic acid to assist with carbohydrate metabolism.
Because it features all of the best mitochondrial nutrients, Performance Lab® Energy can boost your cell vitality like no other product can -- all without relying on stimulation.
Performance Lab® Energy
Boost mitochondria for mind-body energy, vitality, & performance without caffeine.
Shop Now
Top Caffeine Energy Supplement: Performance Lab Caffeine 2
Prefer your energy with a nice caffeinated buzz? Performance Lab® Caffeine 2 is an enhanced caffeine supplement that includes amino acids and B-vitamins that produce a cleaner, easier state of energized stimulation. Its formula includes:
- Natural Caffeine, 50 mg
- L-Theanine, 100 mg
- L-Tyrosine, 250 mg
- NutriGenesis® Caffeine Balance B-Complex
Great stuff! I won't take caffeine without the L-theanine. This is the perfect blend and also has added B vitamins!Cindy S
Best MCT for Energy: Performance Lab® MCT oil
Performance Lab® MCT oil is a clean, premium-quality source of fuel for cell energy. It supplies the best C8/C10 MCTs from 100% non-GMO organic coconuts. This helps unlock peak MCT energy benefits without the indigestion associated with plain coconut oil or low-quality MCT formulas.
- Neuroprotective, supporting both long-range brain health and mental energy
- C8/C10 MCTs: More potent, effective and easier to digest than coconut oil
- State-of-the-art MCT: Clean, pure, triple-filtered and calibrated to 60% C8 and 40% C10
- Flavor-neutral, mixes easily into coffee, shakes, smoothies, dressings
Performance Lab® MCT Energy Oil
For enhanced mind-body vitality and metabolic performance.
Shop Now
Best Multivitamin for Energy: Performance Lab NutriGenesis Multi
Performance Lab® NutriGenesis® Multi supplies NutriGenesis® vitamins and minerals in gender-specific multivitamin supplements calibrated for men's and women's distinct nutritional needs.
NutriGenesis® Multi is the cleanest, healthiest and easiest-to-absorb of all the multi vitamin supplements on the market:
- Supplies 27 vitamins and minerals, including 100%+ Daily Value of the 17 essentials, including energizing vitamin b12
- All NutriGenesis® vitamins and minerals are bound with absorption-enhancing whole-food cofactors
- NutriGenesis® is completely free of hard-to-absorb synthetic nutrients and isolated nutrient forms
- Supplies B-vitamins, iron to reverse iron deficiency anemia, along with magnesium and other essentials for energized muscle and nerve function
Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi
The world's most advanced multivitamin formula.
Shop Now
All Performance Lab® products sell exclusively through www.performancelab.com, where you can find even more energy boosting supplements, as well as many other health and fitness supplement products.
Summary
With Mind Lab Pro® taking a multi-pathway approach to energy enhancement with nootropics, Performance Lab® MCT fueling cells, Performance Lab® Energy promoting mitochondrial energy output, Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi restoring energizing essentials, and Performance Lab® Caffeine+ stacking stimulating caffeine with caffeine-balancing vitamins and aminos, you can unleash your full energized potential.
For long-term energy enhancement, these natural energy boosting supplements work and are safe for daily, long-term use. Take these formulas, start exercising regularly, get enough sleep and follow a healthy diet. Your energy will go through the roof, naturally.
These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
This article is an opinion and explanation of current research given by the author. It is not an expression of a medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on as such.
References
- Silveri MM, Dikan J, Ross AJ, Jensen JE, Kamiya T, Kawada Y, Renshaw PF, Yurgelun-Todd DA. Citicoline enhances frontal lobe bioenergetics as measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. NMR Biomed. 2008;21(10):1066-1075. doi:10.1002/nbm.1281. Link
- Anghelescu IG, Edwards D, Seifritz E, Kasper S. Stress management and the role of Rhodiola rosea: a review. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2018;22(4):242-252. doi:10.1080/13651501.2017.1417442. Link
- Neri DF, Wiegmann D, Stanny RR, Shappell SA, McCardie A, McKay DL. The effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance during extended wakefulness. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1995;66(4):313-319. Link
- Littarru GP, Tiano L. Bioenergetic and antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10: recent developments. Mol Biotechnol. 2007;37(1):31-37. doi:10.1007/s12033-007-0052-y. Link
- Chowanadisai W, Bauerly KA, Tchaparian E, Wong A, Cortopassi GA, Rucker RB. Pyrroloquinoline quinone stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis through cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation and increased PGC-1alpha expression. J Biol Chem. 2010;285(1):142-152. doi:10.1074/jbc.M109.030130. Link
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Updated March 24, 2022. Link
- Regland B, et al. Response to Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia. PLoS One. 2015. PMCID: PMC4406448. Link
- National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated January 6, 2026. Link
- Looker AC, Johnson CL, Lacher DA, et al. Vitamin D status: United States, 2001–2006. NCHS Data Brief. 2011;(59). Link
- Utley A, Gonzalez Y, Imboden CA. The Efficacy of A Nootropic Supplement on Information Processing in Adults: A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res. 2023;49(1). BJSTR.MS.ID.007746. Link
- Abbott-Imboden C, Gonzalez Y, Utley A. Efficacy of the nootropic supplement Mind Lab Pro on memory in adults: Double blind, placebo-controlled study. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2023; e2872. doi:10.1002/hup.2872. Link
- O’Reilly D, Bolam J, Delis I, Utley A. Neural mechanisms of cognitive enhancement with a nootropic supplement. Brain Sci. 2025;15(3):226. doi:10.3390/brainsci15030226. Link
