This post is an in-depth comparison between Performance Lab® vs Life Extension®, two well-known supplement brands.
You will learn the difference in supplement offerings, company history and values, and the overall effectiveness of each company’s dietary supplements.
In the end, you should have a clear understanding of which brand is best for your health and brain optimization goals.
Table of Contents
Who is Performance Lab?
Performance Lab® was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Dave Wright in the small town of Leamington Spa in the UK. The company manufactures their supplements in the USA.
Performance Lab® leads in the nootropic supplement space because they’ve developed their own patented NutriGenesis® nutrients that mimic what used to be found in food.
NutriGenesis® nutrients are grown in a unique culture that produces vitamins and minerals with the accompanying transporters and cofactors that ensures total absorption.
Their mission is to optimize human performance across multiple health domains, including healthy aging, energy and vitality, heart and brain health, immune system, healthy gut, strong muscles and bones, skin, hair, teeth, and nails.
Innovation is at the heart of Performance Lab‘s mission, as they strive to produce high-quality, natural supplements backed by clinical research.
Their dedication to purity has made them a go-to choice in the biohacking community for those looking for a comprehensive health solution.
What supplements does Performance Lab sell?
The first supplement Performance Lab® introduced in 2015 is now the world’s bestselling pre-made nootropic stack Mind Lab Pro®.
Fast forward to 2018 and Performance Lab® introduced their NutriGenesis® Multivitamin for men and women.
The company then in quick succession introduced Performance Lab® Mind, Performance Lab® Energy, Performance Lab® Omega-3, MCT Energy Oil, Sleep, Vision, Caffeine 2™, Prebiotic, Flex, Pre Lab Pro®, and Immune.
Performance Lab® then launched a series of individual vitamins and minerals in 2023 including NutriGenesis® Iodine, B-Complex, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3+K2, and Zinc.
Their supplement range is designed with a focus on bioavailability and purity. Performance Lab® developed an advanced supplement manufacturing technology called NutriGenesis® with the intention of maximizing absorption and efficacy.
NutriGenesis® is a patented process that replicates natural nutrient genesis to produce vitamins and minerals that are bio-identical to those found in whole foods. This helps your body absorb and utilize these nutrients quickly and effectively.
Performance Lab® supplements are non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan-approved, vegetarian-approved, and free from synthetic additives.
The company uses NutriCaps® capsules and NutriGels® gelcaps made from prebiotic fiber to ensure quick release and delivery of the supplement contents.
Who is Life Extension?
Life Extension® was founded Bill Faloon and Saul Kent in 1980
“with the goal of educating people on the latest breakthroughs in anti-aging and disease prevention.” The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL .
Life Extension® is known for their extensive clinical research when developing their supplement formulas meant to improve quality of life.
Their commitment to customer education and transparency has built a strong reputation among their customer base. And the dietary supplement industry as well.
What supplements does Life Extension sell?
Life Extension® has an extensive range of products that cater to many different health needs. But primarily catering to those looking for anti-aging and longevity support.
The company offers dozens of various formulas including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, immune support, and anti-aging supplements.
Life Extension® supports their supplement sales with hundreds of research articles. With the unique commitment of explaining the neuroscience in plain English. But not directly linking to the relevant supplement in their store.
Life Extension’s commitment to using high quality and often patented ingredients and supported by clinical research ensures their products are effective.
The company offers a monthly Life Extension® Magazine mailed to their customers. And phone support with “Wellness Specialists” for free.
Life Extension® is also well known for their discounted lab tests including hormone panels for men and women, standard Complete Blood Count (CBC)/Chemistry tests, Lipid panels, urine analysis, allergy tests, and more.
And Life Extension® lab tests go on sale at least once per year with an even more discounted price.
Are Performance Lab supplements better than Life Extension?
Performance Lab® and Life Extension® share a commitment to producing high quality supplements.
But Performance Lab® has taken a big slice of the supplement market by offering ultra-clean supplements at affordable prices.
I am a customer of both companies. Life Extension® for a couple of decades and Performance Lab® since they launched in 2015.
For brain health and optimization, Performance Lab® wins hands-down. The first product they introduced in 2015 was Mind Lab Pro®. Which has gone on to be the bestselling pre-made nootropic stack on the planet.
But Life Extension® is certainly at the top of my list of supplement brands if I cannot get what I need from Performance Lab®. More on this distinction in the next section.
Ingredients and Formulation Quality Comparison
Performance Lab® and Life Extension® both prioritize high-quality ingredients in their supplements, but their approaches differ slightly.
Life Extension® does produce formulas using high quality and often patented ingredients. But the company uses standard cellulose capsules. And “other ingredients” often include silica, vegetable stearate, and stearic acid.
Performance Lab® on the other hand uses their own patented vegan-friendly NutriCaps® capsules and NutriGels® gelcaps made from prebiotic fiber. Which ensures that their supplements are quickly absorbed and highly effective.
Performance Lab® also invented their own patented NutriGenesis® method for growing nature-identical nutrients.
NutriGenesis® technology is based on the Nobel Prize-winning research of Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi. The same guy who discovered Vitamin C back in the 1920s.[i]
Vitamins and minerals are grown on cultures of carrot, alfalfa, and Brewer’s Yeast.
The benefit of producing nutrients using this method is the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids include cofactors such as complex carbohydrates, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants. Just like you’d get from plants.
Performance Lab® supplements are optimized for absorption and efficacy. Their products are also free from synthetic additives, allergens, and artificial colorants, and emphasizing their focus on bioavailability and purity.
Here are a couple of examples.
The Performance Lab® NutriGenesis Multi for men and women includes 24 vitamins and minerals that are cultured with cofactors including probiotics, fiber, enzymes, and antioxidants. Just like you’d get from food.
Their multivitamins are pure with no “other ingredients” in a daily dose of 4 NutriCaps® prebiotic capsules instead of gelatin or cellulose.
The Life Extension® Two-Per Day Multivitamin includes vitamins and minerals in their ‘natural’ form along with small and ineffective doses of Alpha Lipoic Acid, Quercetin, Marigold extract, Apigenin, and Lycopene.
Their multivitamin comes in a daily 2 cellulose capsules including “other ingredients” calcium phosphate, food starch, silica, vegetable stearate, maltodextrin, lecithin, and sunflower oil.
Another example for comparison is Performance Lab® (NutriGenesis®) Zinc 15 mg in 1 NutriCaps® capsule and the only “other ingredient” is NuFlow® rice concentrate.
Life Extension® Zinc Caps (as OptiZinc®) 50 mg in one cellulose capsule and “other ingredients” including microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable stearate and silica.
I personally use Life Extension Vinpocetine, Life Extension Pregnenolone, and Life Extension Ultra Prostate Formula. Because these supplements are not offered by Performance Lab®.
Customer Experience and Reviews
We know that customer experience is critical when choosing a supplement brand. Because I’m sure you share the experience of checking the user reviews before buying a supplement.
Performance Lab® consistently receives positive reviews for its modern, minimalist packaging and their clear commitment to clean, natural formulations.
Customers are vocal about the noticeable improvements in mental clarity, energy, and physical performance, as well as the brand’s transparency in ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes.
Life Extension® is known for its extensive educational resources, which can help customers make informed decisions about their health.
Many Life Extension® customers report positive outcomes related to immune support, cardiovascular health, and overall feelings of well-being.
Life Extension® does have a long-standing reputation in the supplement industry for providing a sense of trust and reliability by many of its users.
Performance Lab vs Life Extension – Pricing and Value for Money
When comparing Performance Lab® and Life Extension® in terms of pricing, there are some notable differences.
Performance Lab® tends to position itself as a premium brand, with prices reflecting the quality of the ingredients, advanced formulations, and focus on innovation. While the cost may be higher, customers report finding value in the effectiveness and quality of their supplements.
Life Extension® offers a broader range of products, often at a lower price point. Their supplements provide good value for those looking for reliable, research-backed formulations without necessarily focusing on the cutting-edge advancements that Performance Lab® prioritizes.
Life Extension® also frequently offers discounts and bulk purchasing options, which makes it a cost-effective choice for those looking for longevity and anti-aging support.
Conclusion and Recommendation
In conclusion, both Performance Lab® and Life Extension® offer high-quality supplements designed to improve health and wellness, each with its own strengths.
Performance Lab® excels in nootropic innovation and performance enhancement, making it ideal for those focused on optimizing their physical and cognitive performance.
Life Extension®, on the other hand, is well-known for promoting longevity and providing comprehensive customer wellness support.
I like, use, and recommend both brands. Depending on your health goals, either brand is a suitable choice. But understanding your specific needs will help you make the best decision for your well-being.
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