Unmatched Supps CogniShot: Liquid Cognitive Support Shot with Cognizin® Citicoline

Kris Gethin and Doug Miller built Unmatched Supps around a simple premise: performance and longevity aren't opposites. CogniShot is the clearest expression of that philosophy yet -- a 30mL liquid nootropic shot with no caffeine, no crash, and a formula built entirely around brain energy, neurotrophin support, and sustained focus. It's also the product that launched Unmatched's white label line, a tier reserved for longevity-focused innovations like this one, separate from the black label sports nutrition core.

The formula leads with 3,000mg of exogenous ketones, pairs them with 250mg of Cognizin® citicoline (the sponsor of the Bevlab Podcast, including episode #003 where Gethin cracked CogniShots on camera with Ben and Cody during a sit-down in Boise), and rounds out the active stack with 500mg of organic lion's mane fruiting body extract and 100mg of CognatiQ® whole coffee fruit extract. No stimulants. The energy here comes from ketone metabolism and cholinergic support, which means you can take it at 2pm without lying awake at midnight.

CogniShot Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 20
• Total Carbohydrate: 4g
• Total Sugars: 3g
• Added Sugars: 3g
• Magnesium (as magnesium citrate): 12mg (3% DV)
• Potassium (as potassium citrate): 69mg (1% DV)

CogniShot Ingredients

Each 30mL serving (one full cap) provides the following:

• Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid (as goBHB® D-Free Acid and L-Free Acid) - 3,000mg

  CogniShot delivers beta-hydroxybutyrate in two forms: 1,500mg D-BHB and 1,500mg L-BHB, using free acid rather than mineral salts. That keeps the sodium and potassium contribution low while delivering the full ketone payload. Older ketone salt products limited how much you could reasonably take because of the mineral load. Free acid removes that ceiling.

  D-BHB is the physiologically active form. It feeds directly into the TCA cycle via BHB dehydrogenase, generating acetyl-CoA for efficient cellular oxidation and serving as the brain's primary alternative fuel to glucose.^[1] L-BHB clears more slowly from circulation and appears to extend the metabolic signaling window beyond what D-BHB alone provides.^[2]

  Beyond fuel, BHB is a signaling molecule in its own right. Both forms inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome, a driver of neuroinflammation that can blunt cognitive performance.^[3] BHB also inhibits class I and IIa histone deacetylases, influencing gene expression tied to oxidative stress resistance and synaptic plasticity.^[4] A 2026 randomized controlled trial in 136 healthy adults found that both D- and L-BHB produced directionally consistent improvements in reaction time at 60 minutes post-ingestion, at a dose below CogniShot's 3g total.^[5] Alongside Cognizin's frontal-lobe energy support, the two ingredients approach neuronal fuel from genuinely complementary angles.

• Organic Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) Fruiting Body Extract 8:1 - 500mg

  Lion's mane at 500mg via an 8:1 concentrated fruiting body extract is a solid dose for a cognitive support product. The fruiting body sourcing matters: many lion's mane products use mycelium grown on grain substrate, which dilutes active compound content considerably. Fruiting bodies concentrate hericenones, aromatic compounds that stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in neuronal tissue.^[6] NGF is critical for the maintenance and long-term health of cholinergic neurons, the same neurons at the center of memory encoding and attention regulation.

  The human research is encouraging. A 16-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in adults with mild cognitive impairment found that daily lion's mane supplementation produced significantly higher cognitive scores versus placebo, with scores declining after discontinuation.^[7] A separate study in adults over 50 using 3.2g per day for 12 weeks showed significant improvements on a standard cognitive assessment versus placebo.^[8] Acute effects show up faster: a single 1g dose improved reaction time on cognitive tasks at two hours in healthy adults.^[9]

  In CogniShot, lion's mane pairs well with both Cognizin and CognatiQ. Citicoline supports cholinergic neuron health, which aligns directly with NGF's role in maintaining those same neurons, while CognatiQ covers a complementary neurotrophin pathway through BDNF. The formula addresses neurotrophin support from multiple angles without any stimulant load.^[10]

• Cognizin® Citicoline - 250mg

  

  Cognizin® is Kyowa Hakko's branded citicoline, and 250mg is a dose backed by direct clinical evidence at that exact amount. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled three-arm trial enrolled 60 healthy women ages 40 to 60 and split them into 250mg, 500mg, and placebo groups for 28 days. After four weeks, the 250mg group made significantly fewer attentional errors on a sustained-attention task versus placebo, and showed cleaner results than the 500mg group.^[11]

  The mechanism runs through two distinct pathways. Citicoline breaks down into choline and cytidine after ingestion. In humans, cytidine converts to uridine, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and drives synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the dominant structural phospholipid in neuronal membranes. That membrane-rebuilding function is what separates citicoline from basic choline sources.^[12] On the neurotransmitter side, citicoline supports acetylcholine production and stimulates dopamine synthesis while slowing its reuptake in attention-related brain regions.^[13]

  The brain energy connection goes deeper than neurotransmitters. Neuroimaging research documented measurable increases in frontal cortex phosphocreatine and ATP following citicoline supplementation, direct evidence of enhanced cerebral energy metabolism rather than just neurotransmitter effects.^[14] That finding ties directly into CogniShot's design logic: citicoline's frontal-lobe energy support and BHB's ketone oxidation address cellular brain energy from two distinct metabolic angles. The episode with Kris Gethin on the Bevlab Podcast gives a good look at how the brand thinks about this ingredient in context.^[15]

• CognatiQ® (Whole Coffee Fruit Extract) - 100mg

  

  CognatiQ® is a standardized whole coffee fruit extract, the pulp and skin of the Coffea arabica cherry rather than the roasted bean. The primary reason it's in this formula: it's one of the only ingredients shown to acutely elevate circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in humans. A within-subject crossover study found a 91% increase in plasma BDNF at 60 minutes following a single 100mg dose, significantly greater than freshly brewed coffee (21% increase) or placebo (5% increase).^[16] An earlier pilot study recorded a 143% average increase at the same dose.^[17] Green coffee bean extract and caffeine isolate didn't replicate the effect, pointing to the whole-fruit polyphenol profile rather than caffeine as the active driver.

  BDNF plays a central role in synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival, and memory consolidation. Higher BDNF levels correlate with improved learning efficiency and cognitive adaptability. A 28-day trial in adults ages 55 to 65 with mild cognitive decline found that 100mg of coffee cherry extract taken in the morning was associated with meaningfully faster reaction times on a working memory challenge at day 28 versus placebo.^[18] A pilot neuroimaging study using high-field fMRI and MRS found that a single 100mg dose increased the glutamate/GABA ratio in the anterior cingulate cortex and reduced reaction time on working memory tasks versus placebo.^[19]

  Paired with lion's mane's NGF stimulation, CognatiQ creates a dual-neurotrophin environment: NGF and BDNF both elevated, covering two complementary neuroplasticity pathways.

• Vitamins and Minerals

  • Magnesium (as Magnesium Citrate) - 12mg (3% DV)

    

    Magnesium in citrate form is included here at a modest dose. At 12mg it won't move the needle on daily intake, but it serves a supporting role. Magnesium is a cofactor for ATP synthesis and regulates NMDA receptor activity, acting as a voltage-dependent gatekeeper that limits excessive calcium influx during neuronal activity.^[20] It also supports GABAergic signaling, contributing to calm focus rather than overstimulation, a sensible pairing in a ketone-driven formula. Magnesium citrate is among the more bioavailable forms.

  • Potassium (as Potassium Citrate) - 69mg (1% DV)

    Potassium at 69mg is likewise a minor electrolyte contribution. Potassium is the dominant intracellular cation and is critical for restoring resting membrane potential following neuronal depolarization: after sodium influx triggers a signal, potassium efflux repolarizes the neuron and prepares it for the next transmission.^[21] The citrate form keeps the GI experience clean and contributes a slight alkaline load. At 1% DV, this is background support rather than a therapeutic dose.

• Other Ingredients

  

  • Purified Water -- the delivery vehicle for the 30mL shot format. No physiological role beyond solubilizing the actives and enabling the liquid form.
  • Cane Sugar -- provides 3g of added sugar and 20 calories, aiding palatability. The small amount of glucose can be quickly metabolized and doesn't meaningfully compete with ketone utilization at this dose.
  • Stevia Leaf Extract (PurusSweet™) -- a branded stevia extract used to round out sweetness without adding more sugar. PurusSweet™ is a steviol glycoside blend formulated for a cleaner aftertaste profile relative to standard stevioside.
  • Glycerin -- a three-carbon alcohol that acts as a humectant and co-solvent in liquid formulas, improving mouthfeel and helping maintain product stability. Functionally inert at typical shot use levels.
  • Natural Flavors -- proprietary flavoring blend providing the shot's taste character. Standard food-grade flavoring with no pharmacological role at use concentrations.
  • Potassium Sorbate -- a widely used antimicrobial preservative effective against yeasts and molds in acidic aqueous products like liquid shots. GRAS and within normal beverage use parameters here.
  • Sodium Benzoate -- a broad-spectrum food preservative functioning at the acidic pH typical of this type of shot. Used in combination with potassium sorbate for comprehensive antimicrobial coverage. Standard food-safe levels.

Who It's For

• High-output professionals and creatives who can't use stimulants in the afternoon: CogniShot's entire energy mechanism is non-stimulant. Ketone metabolism and cholinergic support don't spike cortisol or disrupt sleep. Take this at 3pm before a long work session and you'll still sleep that night.
• Biohackers and longevity-focused athletes already tracking their cognitive stack: If you follow Gethin's work or are already thinking in terms of NGF, BDNF, and neuroplasticity, this is a purpose-built product. The branded ingredients (Cognizin, ketones, CognatiQ) all have specific research behind them.

The Formula Backs Up the Positioning

CogniShot is doing something genuinely different from most of what sits in the cognitive support category. Three clinically studied branded ingredients, no caffeine, meaningful doses: 250mg Cognizin is the exact amount used in the attentional improvement trial, 100mg CognatiQ hits the BDNF-elevating threshold from the human studies, and 3g ketones is a real cognitive energy dose. The lion's mane fruiting body extraction matters too. This is a formula built to back up its claims, which is exactly what you'd expect from a brand co-founded by someone who spent years testing supplements on himself before putting his name on them. If you want clean, stim-free cognitive support from a formula that's actually been thought through, CogniShot belongs in your stack.

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References

References

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