Summary
CDP-choline is a nootropic compound that is essentially a prodrug for both choline and uridine, conferring both of those molecules to the body following oral ingestion of CDP-Choline. Specifically, the CDP-choline dissociates into choline and cytidine, with the cytidine then converting into uridine. CDP-choline is one of the three choline-containing phospholipids that can be orally supplemented (the other two being Alpha-GPC and phosphatidylcholine).
This supplement is catered towards preventing or treating memory impairments associated with aging due to the fact that both of the molecules it confers are neuroprotective and potentially enhance learning. While it appears to be more effective than phosphatidylcholine (PC) at this role, in part due to also increasing PC synthesis in the brain, its potency is somewhat comparable to that of Alpha-GPC.
CDP-choline has some other potential uses in relation to cognition. It is commonly used as a memory enhancer in youth, but despite some rodent studies suggesting that this is possible with oral CDP-choline, there are no human studies in youth at this point in time. One study has noted an increase in attention with low dose CDP-choline (which needs to be replicated), and CDP-choline may have roles as an anti-addictive compound against both cocaine and (preliminary evidence suggests) food as well.
Dosage information
Standard dosing of CDP-choline is to take 500-2,000 mg in two divided doses (of 250-1,000 mg) usually separated by 8-12 hours, although a single daily dose is also sometimes used. A single dose of 4,000 mg does not appear to affect the blood any differently than 2,000 mg, and so it is not necessary to take such a high dose.
There are some properties, such as attention-promotion or improving bioenergetics, that seem to respond exclusively or more strongly to the lower dosage range. Other properties like appetite are the opposite, and thus the ideal dosage depends somewhat on the goal.
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Research Breakdown
Examine Database References
- Attention - Erin McGlade, Allison Locatelli, Julia Hardy, Toshikazu Kamiya, Masahiko Morita, Koji Morishita, Yoichiro Sugimura, Deborah Yurgelun-ToddImproved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult WomenFood and Nutritional Sciences.()
- Visual acuity (VA) - Parisi V, Coppola G, Centofanti M, Oddone F, Angrisani AM, Ziccardi L, Ricci B, Quaranta L, Manni GEvidence of the neuroprotective role of citicoline in glaucoma patientsProg Brain Res.(2008)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Brown ES, Gorman AR, Hynan LSA randomized, placebo-controlled trial of citicoline add-on therapy in outpatients with bipolar disorder and cocaine dependenceJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2007 Oct)
- Cocaine Addiction Symptoms - Licata SC, Penetar DM, Ravichandran C, Rodolico J, Palmer C, Berko J, Geaghan T, Looby A, Peters E, Ryan E, Renshaw PF, Lukas SEEffects of daily treatment with citicoline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in cocaine-dependent volunteersJ Addict Med.(2011 Mar)
- Appetite - Killgore WD, Ross AJ, Kamiya T, Kawada Y, Renshaw PF, Yurgelun-Todd DACiticoline affects appetite and cortico-limbic responses to images of high-calorie foodsInt J Eat Disord.(2010 Jan)
- Blood Pressure - Alvarez XA, Laredo M, Corzo D, Fernández-Novoa L, Mouzo R, Perea JE, Daniele D, Cacabelos RCiticoline improves memory performance in elderly subjectsMethods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol.(1997 Apr)
- Memory - Spiers PA, Myers D, Hochanadel GS, Lieberman HR, Wurtman RJCiticoline improves verbal memory in agingArch Neurol.(1996 May)