2.1. Experimental Design
This was a double-blind, randomized, three-arm, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover trial in which participants visited the laboratory on four occasions (one screening visit and three testing visits). This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975, and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Genetic Alliance IRB on 4/5/23 (#AFS-04-2023-003). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects prior to enrollment. The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT06062186). This study was conducted at The Center for Applied Health Sciences, a contract research organization (CRO) in Northeast Ohio. During the initial screening visit, each participant’s medical history and blood work (CBC, CMP, and lipid panel) were assessed, baseline diet was evaluated, and each participant underwent 3 sets of familiarization trials of the neuropsychological assessments (Go/No-go, Serial Sevens, and N-Back). During the testing visits (visits 2–4), subjects completed baseline testing at 0 min (i.e., prior to acute supplementation), 60 min post ingestion, and 120 min post ingestion, which included subjective questionnaires [visual analog scales (VAS)] that assessed mood, focus, mental clarity, concentration, ability to be productive, ability to tolerate stress; a 4-item subjective happiness scale (SHS) that assessed general happiness, happiness in comparison to peers, enjoying life and getting the most out of everything, and level of unhappiness; and 3 sets of the neuropsychological assessments to assess reaction time, mental processing, cognitive control, and attention, and vital signs to assess blood pressure and heart rate. 