Paraxanthine vs Caffeine

Paraxanthine is the main compound your body turns caffeine into. It's now sold on its own (for example, as "Enfinity") in supplements and some focus pouches. ClinicalTrials.gov describes its half-life as about 3.1 hours (ClinicalTrials.gov).

The human studies (all small)

• 2021, 13 adults: 200 mg paraxanthine vs placebo improved some measures of short-term memory, reasoning, and sustained attention over 6 hours (Nutrients).
• 2021, 12 adults, dose-response: 50, 100, and 200 mg doses were compared over a single dose and 7 days. Several cognitive measures differed vs placebo (PMC).
• 2025, 24 adults, fed state: 200 and 300 mg increased self-rated energy and productivity and improved some N-back measures vs placebo; 200 mg also increased focus (J Int Soc Sports Nutr).

Paraxanthine vs caffeine: what we can and can't say

• Can say: small, short-term trials show some cognitive effects of paraxanthine vs placebo.
• Can't say yet: that paraxanthine is better or "cleaner" than caffeine. We found no head-to-head trial in this review. Note that these studies used one branded ingredient, and several were industry-associated.

Products: see Ultra Pouches review (Focus line uses paraxanthine).