Citicoline—also called CDP choline—is the booster you need to increase your brain's performance. Specifically, it stimulates the production of the important neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which can have a significant impact on your brain.
The more citicoline your brain contains, the better you can concentrate, remember, and learn. This article explains exactly how this works and what you should look out for when purchasing.
Table of contents
1. WHAT IS CITICOLINE OR CDP-CHOLINE?
The substance is a special form of the water-soluble nutrient choline , which is produced in small quantities by your body and is also naturally present in many foods .
The active ingredient has numerous anabolic functions in the body and is further converted into a wide variety of substances. The citicoline described here is a special form and plays an important role in the production of neurotransmitters in the brain.
It is therefore a precursor for one of the most important building blocks of nerve cells in the brain . Taking citicoline is one of the most effective ways to improve mental performance .
Citicoline, also commonly called CDP-choline, travels directly to your brain and supplies it with the vital neurotransmitter acetylcholine . Unlike other choline sources, citicoline can cross the blood-brain barrier .
On its way to the brain, citicoline does not have to undergo complex and lengthy conversion processes , making it so effective. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the active ingredient. Leading the way is the study by the Department of Psychiatric Science at the University of Rome. [1]
The meta-study summarized numerous studies and was able to confirm the effectiveness of citicoline. The substance was administered to over 2,000 patients over a period of five months. Among other things, it demonstrated its supportive effect in the recovery from damage to the nervous system in the brain.
Furthermore, it improves memory and recall . Citicoline is therefore the ideal remedy for anyone who wants to improve their memory performance.
Whether for older people suffering from mental decline and memory problems, or for younger people who want to improve their mental performance in their studies or career, citicoline is the right active ingredient for mental performance optimization . This is why citicoline is also called a nootropic . But how exactly does it work?
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2. THE EFFECT OF CITICOLINE
The neurotransmitter acetylcholine is responsible for the numerous positive effects . It plays an important role in communication between neurons in the brain . These neurons, in turn, are responsible for transmitting stimuli and information.
How quickly the information is transmitted and how good your mental performance is depends on the aforementioned neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter is necessary for the network of nerve cells to transmit information correctly and for the brain regions to work together properly.
Simply put: the more acetylcholine you have in your head, the better your brain can work , especially in situations of high stress such as studying or exercising.
As soon as the concentration of acetylcholine is too low , it becomes problematic because then the important neurotransmitter is recycled piece by piece from the existing body cells for the benefit of the brain .
The organs affected include the lungs, kidneys, and digestive organs, which in turn suffer from a choline deficiency. Finally, when the deficiency is already advanced, the body attacks the choline-containing structures in your brain, and the acetylcholine contained therein is resynthesized and broken down.
This not only drastically impairs your mental performance, but also causes DNA damage. Acetylcholine is particularly "used up" during strenuous mental activities over extended periods, such as meetings or exams.
The enzyme acetylcholinerase breaks down acetylcholine and reduces neuronal excitation. Supplementation that provides sufficient amounts of the building blocks for acetylcholine (including citicoline) is a proven strategy for optimizing mental performance .
The active ingredient citicoline originated in dementia research , where its effectiveness has been clearly demonstrated. A study by the Biomedical Research Center in Spain found that memory in older people could be improved by taking citicoline. [2]
However, new studies go even further and examine the effectiveness and benefits in completely healthy subjects. In a recent study from the University of Utah, 27 healthy men who showed no signs of memory impairment were administered citicoline. [3]
The study found that the administration of citicoline increased the men's attention span and psychomotor speed. Thus, citicoline is useful and interesting for anyone interested in improving their mental performance.
Citicoline supplementation is particularly beneficial for athletes , as it can improve their reaction time . Taking citicoline has other benefits as well. It also has a positive effect on the release of another neurotransmitter, dopamine , also known as the happiness hormone.
Here, too, the more dopamine your brain has available, the better and more comfortable you feel. Dopamine is also associated with increased motivation . So, in this way, citicoline not only has a positive influence on your mental performance, but also on your well-being!
And now comes the highlight: By taking the active ingredient citicoline, the levels of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain are directly positively influenced and increased. This is also the greatest advantage of buying citicoline: the direct effect of the active ingredient on the brain .
3. THE BENEFITS OF CITICOLINE
The greatest benefit of citicoline is that it goes directly into your brain , increasing levels of acetylcholine and dopamine. Many people suffer from a deficiency of this important neurotransmitter because they don't get the necessary amount of choline from their diet.
Although the body produces a certain amount of acetylcholine itself , it 's not enough to cover the brain's entire needs . This is particularly problematic in old age , when acetylcholine production gradually declines.
In the long term, this leads to mental impairments such as difficulty concentrating and memory lapses . Citicoline counteracts this by increasing the concentration of choline in the blood. It passes through the blood to the blood-brain barrier and from there into the brain, where it is then converted into acetylcholine.
What's interesting is that citicoline has a more effective effect than the pure choline that's present in the blood. This is because citicoline has a much higher bioavailability in the brain and is even closer to acetylcholine on a molecular level than pure choline.
After taking the supplement, it quickly reaches the brain via the blood, crosses the blood-brain barrier without any conversion processes, and can exert its effects in the brain. A study from the Department of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine examined the benefits of citicoline in more detail. [4]
The study tested its effectiveness on overall cognitive performance in over 1,000 men and women between the ages of 36 and 83. Results in verbal memory, in particular, improved with higher levels of citicoline in the brain.
A further advantage is that both the metabolism and blood circulation in the brain are stimulated , thus supplying it with more oxygen and glucose .
In a sense, the supplement can be seen as a refreshment for the brain , as it burns more glucose, which, along with ketones, is the brain's only source of energy.
This process simply makes more energy available to the brain, leading to a feeling of increased mental performance. This makes you more alert, focused, and motivated.
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Side effects of citicoline
Basically, anyone can take citicoline or CDP-choline. It's of interest to anyone who wants to improve their mental performance and increase their concentration. How you take the supplement is up to you, as there are various ways to do so.
The recommended daily dose of citicoline in Germany is on average 550 mg for men and around 425 mg for women . However, only 500 mg of citicoline per day is marketable as a dietary supplement in Germany.
Citicoline is safe to take and rarely associated with side effects, as it is a naturally occurring substance that the body produces in small doses. However, when supplementing, attention should be paid to the daily dose and ensure that it is not exceeded.
Possible , but very rare , side effects include stomach pain and diarrhea . In rare cases, headaches may also occur, which are probably caused by the increased amount of acetylcholine in the brain.
However, these usually resolve on their own after a short time , once the receptors have become accustomed to the higher amount of neurotransmitter. These side effects usually only occur if the daily dose of 500 mg is significantly exceeded .
A study conducted by the Medical Department in Barcelona focused specifically on side effects. [5] It was shown that citicoline has no side effects other than those described, thus confirming the safety of the supplement.
If you look at the testimonials of customers who use Citicoline, no other side effects are reported .
Improved concentration and, above all, a longer attention span is essential, especially for long working days where constant performance is required.
Especially if you need to maintain long-term mental performance, it's important that your brain is well supplied with acetylcholine. Other customers speak from their own experience and feel significantly more alert and refreshed after taking citicoline.
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4. Supplement with citicoline
Not sure if you're getting enough choline or if you're suffering from a deficiency? Experience has shown that vegans and vegetarians are particularly at risk . Foods that contain particularly high levels of natural choline include beef , chicken eggs , and salmon .
Those who avoid these foods can quickly become critically undersupplied with this important neurotransmitter and suffer from a deficiency. Athletes and office workers who engage in particularly demanding mental activities can also quickly develop a choline deficiency due to their high consumption .
The consequences of an empty choline store include a reduced ability to concentrate , memory impairment , a decline in cognitive performance after longer periods and, in the worst case, damage to the DNA.
That's why doctors often recommend citicoline as a dietary supplement. These can be purchased at pharmacies or conveniently online, such as in our BRAINEFFECT SHOP .
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5. Conclusion
Citicoline is a key neurotransmitter that helps your brain perform at its best in demanding situations over a longer period of time.
Due to its high bioavailability, it is directly available to your brain. It can be absorbed through food or supplemented, which can be particularly helpful before intensive study and work phases.
6. Sources
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15106147
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9203170
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26179181/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252552/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17171187
