E.T. Labz Black Ice 45 caps

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing perceived effort and fatigue. It is found in coffee, tea and energy drinks and is a common ingredient in pre-workout products².

Dicaffeine malate (sold as Infinergy®) is caffeine bonded to malic acid. Its caffeine adds to the total caffeine in a product, but labels do not always state the caffeine equivalent.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

DMHA, also labelled 2-aminoisoheptane or octodrine (2-amino-6-methylheptane), is a synthetic aliphatic amine stimulant found in pre-workout and weight-loss supplements, sometimes alongside the related compound DMBA³.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

β-Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a naturally occurring trace amine with stimulant properties. "Eria jarensis" extract is marketed as a source of related phenethylamines such as N-phenethyldimethylamine. These compounds belong to a large chemical family that also includes synthetic stimulants found in supplements⁴.

Choline (choline bitartrate, alpha-GPC)

Choline is an essential nutrient used to make cell membranes and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. EFSA set an adequate intake of 400 mg a day for adults⁵. Supplements supply it as choline bitartrate, alpha-GPC or citicoline.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Noopept (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester, omberacetam) is a synthetic compound described as an active pharmaceutical ingredient with nootropic activity⁶.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a semi-synthetic derivative of the periwinkle alkaloid vincamine, sold as a medicine in some countries for cerebrovascular disorders⁷.

Piperine (black pepper extract, BioPerine®)

Piperine is the pungent alkaloid of black pepper, added to supplements as a "bioavailability enhancer".

Yohimbine (yohimbe bark, rauwolscine)

Yohimbine is an alkaloid from the bark of the African tree Pausinystalia yohimbe. It blocks α2-adrenergic receptors, which increases noradrenaline release. Rauwolscine (alpha-yohimbine) is a closely related alkaloid.

Huperzine A

Huperzine A is an alkaloid from the club moss Huperzia serrata. It inhibits acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and it has been used as a medicine for dementia in China⁸.

Caffeine

The International Society of Sports Nutrition concludes that caffeine consistently improves exercise performance when consumed in doses of about 3–6 mg per kg of body mass, with benefits for muscular endurance, movement velocity, strength, sprinting, jumping and aerobic exercise².

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

There are no controlled human trials showing that DMHA improves exercise performance or weight loss.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

There are no controlled human trials showing that PEA or Eria jarensis extracts improve exercise performance or focus. Most published research concerns detection of phenethylamines in supplements and their regulatory status⁴⁹.

Choline (choline bitartrate, alpha-GPC)

The EU authorises claims that choline contributes to normal lipid metabolism, homocysteine metabolism and liver function for foods that are a source of choline¹⁰. Claims that choline improves focus or exercise performance are not authorised.

Noopept (omberacetam)

There are no robust controlled trials in healthy people showing improved memory or focus. Published research is mainly chemical, animal or from limited clinical settings⁶.

Vinpocetine

Reviews describe neuroprotective mechanisms and use after ischaemic brain injury; the review cited was written by employees of a vinpocetine manufacturer⁷. There is no good evidence of cognitive benefits in healthy people.

Piperine (black pepper extract, BioPerine®)

A 2026 review of 22 human pharmacokinetic studies found that reports of enhanced nutrient absorption come mainly from manufacturer-affiliated studies, and that independent trials did not confirm enhancement for curcumin or resveratrol at supplement doses¹¹.

Yohimbine (yohimbe bark, rauwolscine)

A small trial in professional soccer players found reduced body fat with yohimbine but no change in body mass, muscle mass or performance¹². Larger, independent trials are lacking.

Huperzine A

A Cochrane review found some benefit on cognitive function in people with Alzheimer's disease, but only one study was of adequate quality and size, so there was inadequate evidence to recommend its use⁸. A Cochrane review in mild cognitive impairment found the evidence insufficient¹³.

There is no good evidence that huperzine A improves focus or performance in healthy people.

Caffeine

Responses vary widely between people, partly because of genetics and habitual caffeine use. Many studies use pure caffeine, so results do not automatically apply to multi-ingredient products².

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

The research concerns detection of these stimulants in supplements, not their effects. Analyses of sports and weight-loss supplements have repeatedly found stimulants that were not declared, or quantities different from the label³⁹.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

Product labels for phenethylamine ingredients are often unreliable. Supplements labelled as containing Eria jarensis that were tested were inaccurately labelled and contained high quantities of caffeine and undeclared stimulants¹⁴⁴.

Choline (choline bitartrate, alpha-GPC)

Evidence on cognitive or performance effects in healthy adults is limited.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Evidence in humans is very limited.

Vinpocetine

Independent, high-quality trials are lacking.

Piperine (black pepper extract, BioPerine®)

Piperine raises blood levels of other compounds mainly by inhibiting drug-metabolising enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9) and P-glycoprotein, not by improving absorption¹¹.

Yohimbine (yohimbe bark, rauwolscine)

Evidence for fat loss or performance is limited to small studies. Supplement labels are often inaccurate: of 49 US yohimbine supplements tested, only 2 gave accurate information on both the quantity and the known adverse effects¹⁵.

Huperzine A

The trials are mostly small, of limited quality and in people with cognitive disease, so they do not apply to healthy users⁸¹³.

Caffeine

EFSA concluded that single doses of up to 200 mg, and daily intakes of up to 400 mg from all sources, do not raise safety concerns for healthy adults. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, daily intakes up to 200 mg do not raise concerns for the foetus or infant¹.

Higher intakes can cause anxiety, sleep disturbance, raised heart rate and blood pressure, and digestive upset. Combining several caffeine sources (coffee, energy drinks, pre-workouts) raises total intake¹².

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

Human safety data are lacking. As a sympathomimetic amine, DMHA may raise heart rate and blood pressure; avoid combining it with other stimulants. Contaminated supplements have caused positive doping tests⁹.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

Stimulants of this family can raise heart rate and blood pressure. A case report linked a supplement containing the related compound β-methylphenylethylamine to a haemorrhagic stroke during exercise¹⁶. Avoid combining with other stimulants, MAO inhibitors or antidepressants.

Choline (choline bitartrate, alpha-GPC)

High intakes can cause a fishy body odour, sweating and digestive upset.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Human safety data are limited. Official medicines control laboratories in Europe and Australia have found illicit "smart drugs" sold as nootropic products and warn of their dangers¹⁷.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine may lower blood pressure and add to the effect of blood thinners; it should not be used in pregnancy.

Piperine (black pepper extract, BioPerine®)

Because it inhibits drug-metabolising enzymes, piperine can raise blood levels of prescription medicines, including drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. People taking medication should ask a pharmacist first¹¹.

Yohimbine (yohimbe bark, rauwolscine)

A review of poison-centre cases found that adverse events with yohimbine products had more serious outcomes than average exposures, including rapid heart rate, anxiety, high blood pressure and agitation¹⁸. People with heart conditions, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders or taking antidepressants should not use yohimbine.

Huperzine A

As an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, huperzine A can cause nausea, diarrhoea, sweating and a slow heart rate, and it may interact with medicines that affect acetylcholine or heart rate. Anyone taking medication or with heart, lung or digestive conditions should ask a doctor first.

Contains a synthetic research compound that is not authorised as food (novel food) or as a medicinal product in the EU. Contains DMHA/DMBA, a synthetic stimulant that is not authorised as a novel food in the EU. Contains yohimbine. Isolated yohimbine is classified as a medicinal substance in several EU member states; its legal status depends on the country of sale. No dosing information for human use is provided.

Caffeine

Caffeine is permitted in EU foods and food supplements, subject to labelling rules. It is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List¹⁹.

DMHA (2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine) and DMBA

DMHA and DMBA are not authorised as novel foods in the EU²⁰. Octodrine and related stimulants are prohibited in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency⁹¹⁹.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) and Eria jarensis

Phenethylamine stimulants are not authorised EU food supplement ingredients, and several related compounds are on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List as stimulants¹⁹²⁰.

Choline (choline bitartrate, alpha-GPC)

Choline is a permitted nutrient source in EU food supplements²¹¹⁰.

Noopept (omberacetam)

Noopept is not authorised as a food or food supplement ingredient in the EU²⁰. Substances with a pharmacological action on the nervous system are regulated as medicinal products in the EU, and Noopept is not an authorised medicine²².

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a medicinal substance in several EU Member States and is not permitted in food supplements there²².

Piperine (black pepper extract, BioPerine®)

No health claim for this ingredient is authorised in the EU¹⁰; botanical ingredients are sold under national food-supplement rules²¹.

Yohimbine (yohimbe bark, rauwolscine)

Yohimbine is a pharmacologically active substance. Its use in food is regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and national rules²³, and several EU Member States treat it as a medicinal substance²².

Huperzine A

Huperzine A is a pharmacologically active substance. Its status as a food ingredient is not harmonised in the EU, and some Member States treat it as a medicinal substance²²²⁰.