Research-Based

Dave Asprey Supplements – A Full Guide

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By Jack Cincotta, MS

Reviewed by Juliana Tamayo, MS, RDN - Last Updated

Dave Asprey Supplements

Biohacking is “in” now more than ever, with people from all walks of life looking for ways to implement various tools and techniques to live a healthier, more optimal life.

And if you’re into the biohacking world, you’ve almost certainly heard of a man named Dave Asprey. He is a somewhat polarizing figure in the world of biohacking, nutrition, and overall health

But regardless of your opinion of him, you have to admit that he’s obsessed with optimizing health; and this includes the use of many different supplements. 

If you’re wondering what supplements Asprety uses on a regular basis, look no further! In this article we’ll give you the full breakdown of Dave Asprety’s supplement regimen, showcasing the potential benefits and who could possibly benefit from one or more of the various products he takes. 

About Dave Asprey

Dave Asprey is a prominent author, businessman, and biohacker. In fact, he’s often regarded as the “Father of Biohacking” due to the pioneering role he played at a time when the concept of biohacking was largely unknown.

Asprey is a 4x New York Times Best Selling Science Author. His most popular book is The Bulletproof Diet, but other popular health books he’s written are Head Space, Smarter Not Harder, and Head Strong

He also gets his word out on all things health and wellness in his popular, award-winning podcast called Bulletproof Radio

In addition, Asprey is known for creating Bulletproof Coffee, and he also runs a supplement company called Bulletproof 360, which offers a number of different health supplements and nutritional products.

So, overall, Dave Asprey has made a big mark in the biohacking and wellness industries, and he’s often regarded as a very influential figure.

Dave Asprey’s Supplement Summary

Dave Asprey is known for taking a laundry list of different supplements (up to 150 pills per day in some cases, according to an interview on the Genius Life Podcast with Max Lugavere). 

And the sheer number of different supplements he takes each day is part of where the polarization and controversy starts with him. 

Nonetheless, it’s definitely interesting to see what Asprey takes on a daily basis in order to optimize his own health and wellness.

Note: This list may vary, but, from what we’ve gathered across various sources, these are the most common supplements that Asprey referenced taking on at least a pretty regular basis)

  • Prebiotics (typically in the morning)
  • Probiotics (in the morning)
  • Bulletproof Vitamins A-D-K (morning)
    • 5,000IU Vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol)
    • 900mcg Vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate)
    • 1,000mcg Vitamin K1 (as phylloquinone)
    • 1,800mcg Vitamin K2 (as menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7)
  • Glutathione Force:
    • 500mg Glutathione
  • Eye Armour:
    • 300mcg Vitamin A 
    • 20mg Lutein (from Lutemax 2020)
    • 4mg Zeaxanthin (from Lutemax 2020)
  • Zinc with Copper:
    • 15mg Zinc Orotate
    • 2mg Copper Bisglycinate
  • Smart Mode: (as needed; typically morning or afternoon)
    • 13.5mg Vitamin B5 (as D-Calcium Pantothenate)
    • 250mg Cognizin Citicoline 
    • 100mg Theacrine (as TeaCrine)
    • N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (50mg)
    • 1,621mg Bulletproof Brain Blend:
      • Artichoke Extract
      • Bacognize Bacopa Extract
      • Novusetin Fisetin 
      • Rosemary Extract
      • Apigenin
      • Pycnogenol French Maritime Pine Bark Extract
  • Curcumin Max:
    • 500mg ACUMIN turmeric root extract
    • 100mg ginger root extract
    • 100mg Boswellia extract
  • KetoPrime
  • Tru Niagen:
    • 300mg Nicotinamide Riboside
  • MindBodyGreen Beauty & Gut Collagen+
    • 17.7g collagen peptides
    • Various other ingredients
  • CoQ10 Energy:
    • 300mg Brain Octane C8 MCT Oil
    • 100mg CoQ10
    • 10mg PQQ
  • Vitamin C: (once in morning and once in evening)
    • 500 to 1,000mg as liposomal vitamin C 
  • Acetyl L-Carnitine
  • Krill Oil
  • BIOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough
  • Methyl Folate:
    • 800mcg with food
  • Methyl B12:
    • 5,000mcg with food

Dave Asprey’s Supplements 

Clearly, Dave Asprey takes numerous supplements. Below, we’ll go over each one and see what the potential health benefits are as well as possible side effects or other notable information.

Prebiotics

To support gut health, Dave Asprey takes prebiotics (as well as probiotics). He’s stated on his own website that he believes prebiotics are even more important than probiotics because they are less likely to die off and more effective at increasing good bacteria counts and overall gut health.

It isn’t exactly clear which brand he takes, but he’s recommended that others take 1-2 scoops per day of InnerFuel Prebiotic

Probiotics

In a GQ article,  Asprey also said that part of his morning routine was to take probiotics.

He states, “I have found in recent research that if you take probiotics at night, they disrupt your sleep. If you take them in the morning they seem to work better.”

And overall, it’s known that prebiotics and probiotics are an effective combo for boosting gut health and reducing various digestive symptoms such as bloating and constipation. 

Bulletproof Vitamins A-D-K

In the morning, Asprey takes Bulletproof Vitamins A-D-K, which is a combination of vitamin A (as retinyl palmitate), vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol), vitamin K1 (as phylloquinone), and vitamin K2 (as MK-4 and MK-7).

It’s unclear the exact dose he uses, but the serving size for this product provides 5,000 IU of vitamin D, 900mcg of vitamin A, 1,000mcg of vitamin K1, and 1,800mcg of vitamin K2.

These are all fat-soluble vitamins that play vital roles in immunity, heart function, eye health, brain function, and other areas.

In particular, vitamin A has antioxidant properties and is pivotal for vision and immunity

Vitamin D and vitamin K actually work synergistically with each other to promote cardiovascular health and bone health, among other things. 

Many people are deficient in these nutrients. And Asprey says that these three vitamins (along with vitamin E) are what pretty much everyone should be supplementing with on a daily basis. 

Glutathione Force

Glutathione Force is the Bulletproof brand of glutathione, which offers 500mg of glutathione per serving. 

Glutathione is an antioxidant compound. Research shows that glutathione promotes powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, decreasing damage to nearly every area of the body.

This may also reduce the risk of various inflammatory-related diseases and improve overall healthspan. 

Eye Armour

Another Bulletproof supplement Asprey takes is Eye Armour, which is a combination of vitamin A, lutein & zeaxanthin (from Lutemax 2020), astaxanthin, and bilberry fruit extract. 

Lutein and zeaxanthin are both powerful carotenoids that have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, particularly for the eyes and brain. Clinical research on Lutemax 2020 shows that it decreases eye strain, fatigue, and headaches, improves visual performance, and even enhances sleep quality. 

The additional vitamin A likely supports vision and eye health too.

And then we see astaxanthin and bilberry fruit extract, which are both potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Astaxanthin in particular protects the eyes from damage and may reduce dry eyes, macular degeneration, and other eye issues.

Zinc with Copper

Zinc with Copper is another product from the Bulletproof 360 supplement brand. Each serving has 15mg of zinc (as zinc orotate) and 2mg of copper (as copper bisglycinate). 

Combining zinc with copper is smart since it decreases the likelihood of becoming deficient in either one, as they work together. And these forms are both chelated, which is best for bioavailability.

These minerals work together to support hormonal health, immunity, brain function, and healthy inflammatory responses, among several other things. 

Smart Mode

Smart Mode is one of the key nootropic supplements that Dave Asprey uses in order to optimize his mental health and cognitive function.

In an interview with Asprey on Tom Bilyeu’s Health Theory podcast, Asprey said that nootropics are so important because, 

“They make you feel more like yourself. They reduce the struggle and work it takes to do something.”

This supplement is a blend of different vitamins and herbs, including: 

  • 13.5mg Vitamin B5 (as D-Calcium Pantothenate)
  • 250mg Cognizin Citicoline 
  • 100mg Theacrine (as TeaCrine)
  • N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (50mg)
  • 1,621mg Bulletproof Brain Blend:
    • Artichoke Extract
    • Bacognize Bacopa Extract
    • Novusetin Fisetin 
    • Rosemary Extract
    • Apigenin
    • Pycnogenol French Maritime Pine Bark Extract

Cognizin is a trademarked form of citicoline, which is a form of the naturally occurring compound, choline. It’s important for overall brain function. And specific research on Cognizin shows that it improves memory in older adults. 

Another trademarked ingredient is TeaCrine, which is a form of theacrine. It’s somewhat similar in effect to caffeine, and can increase dopamine while lowering adenosine. There’s clinical research on TeaCrine which shows it can improve energy and concentration and reduce mental fatigue.

Next up is n-acetyl l-tyrosine, which is a well-absorbed form of tyrosine (an amino acid). Tyrosine can increase dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals involved in motivation, energy, and alertness. Some research shows that it can improve cognitive performance during stressful situations. 

Then we have the Bulletproof Brain Blend, which is a combination of various botanical extracts and antioxidant compounds. 

One of the standouts from this one is Bacognize, a clinically researched form of bacopa extract which can improve memory and cognition, and may even reduce stress and improve sleep. This is because of various effects on neurotransmitters as well as antioxidant effects in the brain.

Pycnogenol is another quality, research-backed ingredient that has been shown to improve brain function, memory, and cognition, likely due to its high anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. And this is essentially what you get from artichoke, rosemary, and the other ingredients in this blend.

Curcumin Max

Asprey also noted on the Health Theory podcast that he takes Curcumin Max, which is also from the Bulletproof brand. 

It contains 500mg of ACUMIN turmeric root extract, along with 100mg of ginger extract and 100mg of Boswellia extract.

Essentially, this trio is designed to provide powerful anti-inflammatory support. Turmeric/curcumin in particular has been shown to be very anti-inflammatory and beneficial for joint health, brain function, heart health, and other areas.

Ginger and Boswellia also add other benefits for digestion and joint support, respectively. 

KetoPrime

KetoPrime is another staple in Asprey’s regimen. He’s stated before that he doesn’t do the keto diet all the time, and believes most people should cycle the ketogenic diet on a regular basis to make it more sustainable and to receive the benefits from other dietary regimens.

According to Asprey, he takes KetoPrime “whenever I want sustained energy and focus. This is a way to upgrade the energy in every cell in my body that actually uses energy…and that’s pretty much all of ‘em.” 

(More information about KetoPrime at this YouTube link). 

Tru Niagen

Tru Niagen contains a trademarked form of nicotinamide riboside (NR) called NIAGEN. 

NR is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is a very important molecule in the body, involved in energy metabolism, DNA repair, cellular function, gene function, and a variety of other processes related to longevity and overall health. 

Some research shows it can reduce inflammation, improve exercise performance, and decrease the risk of various diseases.

Dave Asprey chooses Tru Niagen because he says this is the most clinically-researched form of NR out there. And he’s right, since NIAGEN has been used in several published clinical trials, with many others currently ongoing. 

MindBodyGreen Beauty and Gut+ Collagen

Asprey uses collagen for a number of different things, including gut health, joint health, skin, hair, and nails; all of which are generally in line with the evidence

He makes sure to only choose collagen from grass-fed cows as he believes this is the most nutrient-dense (and also free from any harmful ingredients).

He has his own line of collagen products on the Bulletproof website, but we also saw a video on TikTok where he explained that he used MindBodyGreen’s Beauty and Gut Collagen, which offers over 17g of collagen per serving. 

There are several other beneficial ingredients in there too such as hyaluronic acid, glutamine, sulforaphane, and vitamins C and E. 

CoQ10 Energy

Another pivotal supplement in Asprey’s routine is CoQ10 Energy, which appears to be the new name (based on the same ingredients) for a former product called Unfair Advantage.

CoQ10 Energy contains PQQ, CoQ10, and Brain Octane C8 MCT oil. He used this specific combination to activate mitochondrial function quickly and powerfully, which he believes leads to a notable increase in energy and both mental and physical performance. 

There is, in fact, evidence that both PQQ and CoQ10 can improve mitochondrial function and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress. 

MCT Oil is generally proven to not be as beneficial. Some people may get mild benefits from it for cognition, weight loss, or exercise, but the research doesn’t show any huge improvements. 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important for more than just immune function. It also is a potent antioxidant and helps with muscle recovery and even boosting collagen synthesis. 

Asprey typically takes at least 500mg of vitamin C per day, preferably as liposomal vitamin C due to higher bioavailability.

Acetyl L-Carnitine

Acetyl L-carnitine is one of Dave’s most important supplements for boosting brain power. He believes acetyl l-carnitine has neuroprotective and antioxidant effects in the brain, while also enhancing dopamine and acetylcholine levels. 

These effects may promote better memory and all-around cognition.

Krill Oil

Krill oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA, which are good for the brain, heart, and overall health.

Asprey is a fan of krill oil since it’s lower on the food chain and less likely to contain contaminants. But he still likes quality fish oil too. 

Magnesium

Asprey has noted several times that many people are magnesium deficient and that it’s very hard to get enough magnesium in today’s world. That’s why he places a high importance on magnesium supplementation. 

He takes it for overall health, but especially to help with brain function, relaxation, mood, and heart health.

There are many varieties of magnesium out there, but in one article on his website, Asprey recommended BIOptimizers magnesium, which contains the key seven forms of magnesium. 

Methyl Folate and Methyl B12

Lastly, Dave Asprey takes methyl folate and methyl B12, which are both methylated forms of two B-complex vitamins (B5 and B12).

He combines these two because of the synergistic effect they have on regenerating brain cells, improving cognitive function, and even helping with brain anti-aging.

Asprey takes 800mcg methylfolate with 5,000mcg methyl B12 daily with food. 

Conclusion: Dave Asprey Supplements

Overall, Dave Asprey uses many different supplements to help optimize his health and wellness. He certainly takes a huge number of supplements, which does increase the risk of side effects. Not to mention that this regimen can get quite expensive.

But it works for him. And at the end of the day, that’s what really matters with supplementation since it’s a very individualized process.

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Jack Cincotta, MS

Jack Cincotta is a certified holistic health coach through AFPA and a board-certified holistic health practitioner through AADP. He has written hundreds of articles on nutrition and supplementation. Jack has a M.S. degree in Psychology and is passionate about researching the science behind nutrition. He often uses research-backed supplementation protocols for many of his clients to optimize results.