The prevagen is Apoaequorin. Prevagen is a protein that is produced from a glowing jellyfish. It is a specific type of jellyfish that is called Aequorea victoria. The secret of its glowing is the binding of prevagen and calcium. When prevagen is exposed to calcium, the protein and calcium bind, and blue light is produced. For more than 40 years, apoaequorin has been used in a laboratory to study the working procedure of calcium inside the cells. Recently apoaequorin has been used in dietary supplements, so it is manufactured on a larger scale.
Several factors are working in choosing the appropriate doses of apoaequorin, such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time, there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for apoaequorin (in children/in adults). Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe, and dosages can be important. It is important to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a pharmacist or physician, or other healthcare professional before using.
Demerits of prevagen:
Problems with calcium regulation in the human brain are thought to play a role in age-related mental decline. Because apoaequorin has a similar structure to human calcium-binding proteins, some researchers believe it might help regulate calcium in the brain and reduce memory loss and mental decline.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease):
Some reports suggest that taking 20 mg of apoaequorin every 2-3 waking hours and an additional 20-40 mg 30-60 minutes before bed, along with other drugs and supplements, might slow the progression of ALS. The effects of taking apoaequorin alone are not clear.
Memory:
Early research shows that taking 10 mg of apoaequorin (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) daily for 90 days might improve forgetfulness, word recall, and the need for reminders in some people. But, this research is of lower quality.
Mental function:
Early research shows that taking 10 mg of apoaequorin (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) daily for 90 days might improve some measures of mental function in older adults.
Foods:
Prevagen (Apoaequorin) is a substance originally found in jellyfish. Although it has been synthesized for use as a supplement, it is not commonly found in foods.
Sleep quality:
Early research shows that taking 10 mg of apoaequorin (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) daily for 90 days might increase sleep time by around 30-40 minutes per night, cut nighttime awakenings by 50%, and improve sleep quality by over 90% of people with trouble sleeping. But, this research is of lower quality.
Observed side effects of prevagen in human health
When taken in the correct doses, Prevagen/Apoaequorin is generally well tolerated. The most common prevagen side effects associated with certain Apoaequorin products include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Cardiovascular problems (especially when taken in doses over 10mg per day)
- Chest pain
- Hypertension
- Irregular heart rate
- Medication Interactions
Oral consumption:
Apoaequorin may be safe when taken appropriately. Safe use is a 10 mg dose of a specific apoaequorin product (Prevagen, Quincy Bioscience) for up to 90 days. The most commonly reported side effects are headache, dizziness, and nausea. Other less common events include memory problems, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. It is not totally clear what side effects prevagen may cause.
There have also been a small number of reports of more serious potential side effects such as heart and nervous system-related events. But there isn’t enough information about these potential side effects to know if apoaequorin was the actual cause of these side effects.
During Pregnancy:
There isn’t enough reliable information to know if prevagen is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. So it is better to stay on the safe side and avoid use.
After checking all these effects and possibilities, it is clear that prevagen is not safe for human consumption. Right doses of the right age may be valid to some extent. But the majority of its effects say that it is not beneficial to health. And if it goes wrong, it can be hazardous. More research and findings are needed to be established for considering it as a safe product. Before that, it is better to avoid it.
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