Onnit Tranquillity Blend - 450 MG
Valerian Root Extract
Valerian root extract comes from the valerian plant and is classified as a mild, natural sedative. It's said to signal the GABA neurotransmitters in the brain to reduce stress levels and anxiety, which will help you drift off to sleep much faster (1).
There are, unfortunately, many issues with its inclusion. Firstly, despite the positive outlook, none of these claims have been proven, so it can't be guaranteed to be effective. Then there's the fact that, while it's said to help you fall asleep quicker, it has no effect on sleep quality.
The biggest issue though, is the dose. As all studies agree you must use 450 mg of valerian root each day to see results, Onnit New Mood can't possibly contain enough to be of any use.
Chamomile Flower Extract
Chamomile flower extract is well known for its naturally relaxing effects, which are produced by a chemical called apigenin. Proven to reduce anxiety and promote a peaceful calm that helps you fall asleep and stay that way, it can even reduce inflammation and aid digestion (2).
The problem is, these benefits need you to take between 1.1 and 15 grams of chamomile extract each day to be seen. This means even the proprietary blend can't hide the fact that there isn't enough present in Onnit New Mood to be of any use.
Lemon Balm Extract
Lemon balm extract comes from a plant in the mint family. Known to contain vitamin c and a range of minerals, it's linked to a number of benefits which help to boost your overall mood, like easing stress and anxiety, enhancing cognitive functions, and helping you relax (3).
Unfortunately, none of the benefits lemon balm is claimed to offer have ever been proven. This means its presence in Onnit New Mood is highly unlikely to do anything at all.
Jujube Seed Extract
Jujube seed extract comes from the fruit of a plant native to China and Korea which is popular in traditional Chinese medicine. It's said to provide anxiety and stress relief, while also having sedative properties, which can combine to optimise your sleep quality (4).
The problem is none of these claims have ever been substantiated by medical sciences, and it is believed by many researchers that its inclusion in Onnit New Mood is utterly pointless.
L-Tryptophan - 400 MG
L-tryptophan is one of the essential amino acids the human body relies on to function at an optimal level, yet is unable to naturally synthesise itself. It regulates various chemicals and hormones released by the brain, but is especially important for natural serotonin production.
It's known to regulate your mood, increase relaxation, and help you fall asleep and then stay asleep.
Studies show that these benefits can start being seen when daily doses of 1 gram of l-tryptophan are consumed each day (5). Unfortunately, as Onnit New Mood contains just 400 mg of l-tryptophan per serving, it's unlikely to have any real effect in a sleep supplement.
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) - 150 MG
5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is another amino acid that research shows can boost serotonin production in the brain. It's very similar to l-tryptophan, although 5-HTP can cross the blood brain barrier much more easily, making it more effective.
This will enhance your mood, help you relax, provide sleep support, reduce anxiety, combat depression, suppress appetite, and even promote weight loss (6).
Unfortunately, it can only help the body optimize serotonin levels when 200 mg of l-5-hydroxytryptophan is consumed each day. As Onnit New Mood only contains 150 mg of 5-HTP per serving, there simply isn't enough present for it to be effective.
Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate - 40 MG
Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal that's required for maintaining the health of the cells in the human and producing over 300 vital enzymes. It's included in brain supplements as it promotes refreshing sleep, mental clarity, and focus, boosts mood, and combats depression.
Its other benefits include improving exercise performance, optimising blood sugar and blood sugar levels, reducing cramps and inflammation, improving heart, nerve, muscle, nail, skin, joint, bone, and hair health, relieving migraines and headaches, and reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and digestive issues.
The problem is that the studies show 250 to 450 mg of magnesium must be consumed each day for it to be effective (7). As Onnit New Mood contains just 40 mg per serving, it's way too weak to be able to produce any notable results.
Niacin - 30 MG
Niacin is another name for vitamin b3, a vitamin that can boost brain function and combat occasional stress triggers. This makes it much easier to relax and drift off to sleep after a stressful day.
It can even provide additional benefits, like lowering cholesterol, improving skin and joint health, stimulating fat burning, and enhancing your overall wellbeing.
Unfortunately, these benefits are only seen when 1,500 mg of niacin is consumed each day. With Onnit New Mood containing just 30 mg per serving, the dose is simply far too low to be of any real use (8).
Vitamin B6 - 20 MG
Vitamin B6 consists of 6 compounds which effect over 140 coenzyme reactions in the human body. The main reason for its inclusion in a mood supplement is the fact that it boosts the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain and protects brain cells.
Beyond this, it can even offer benefits like boosting metabolism and testosterone levels (9). The problem is that it's only said to be safe when you consume doses of 1.5 mg or less per day.
As Onnit New Mood contains 20 mg per serving, it's simply too strong, and puts users at risk of experiencing side effects like heartburn, involuntary muscle contractions, nausea, numbness, photosensitivity, skin lesions, and a lack of feeling in the extremities.
Vitamin D3 - 25 MCG
Vitamin D3 is a fat soluble vitamin that plays many roles in the human body, like helping the digestive system break down and absorb nutrients, preventing fat storage, boosting protein synthesis and energy levels, limiting oestrogen production, and aiding mood regulation (10).
However, the 25 mcg of vitamin d3 present in each serving of Onnit New Mood is the absolute lowest dose known to have any effect in a dietary supplement. So, while some users may see mild benefits, they will be far from optimal and most users will get no benefits at all from it.
References
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian-HealthProfessional/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4245564/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7726020/
https://exami.com/summaries/study/9yZW8d/
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5-Hydroxytryptophan
https://centertrt.org/blog/does-magnesium-help-you-sleep.html
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16887123/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6727359/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/