In today’s modern world, people show a greater interest in not just their physical health, but also their mental health. Interestingly, one of the most important chemicals for a healthy body and brain is choline. Choline is in many foods and in most B Vitamin complexes. Being an important part of human health at any age, it treats and prevents many physical disorders. Some of those disorders include hepatitis, asthma, and some forms of cancer.
For Nootropic users with experience, choline is very important. That’s thanks to its ability to boost focus, memory, and cognitive function. It is also popular as a stand-alone supplement or in combination with other drugs. Moreover, it is a forerunner of acetylcholine, which is the neurotransmitter responsible for cognitive function, learning, and memory. For Nootropic users, choline is effective in boosting the effects of other drugs. Additionally, it is most effective taken in combination with supplements from the racetam family. Interestingly, Racetams are are the most popular smart drugs on the market. Moreover, choline is a must-have for many of the best racetam stacks.
Essential to both brain and liver health in the human body, choline is a water-soluble nutrient that has a variety of functions in the body. As it relates to Nootropics, its most vital function is increasing cognition. It is also a forerunner to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is important to the communication between nerve cells and brain functions. Additionally, unlike many supplements that aid in neurotransmitter growth, choline easily breaks down in the body.
Even though choline synthesizes in the liver, our bodies don’t create the optimal amount on their own. Moreover, it is estimated that as much as 90% of the population get an inadequate amount of choline from their diets. The best foods for choline intake include calves liver, eggs, beef, navy beans, cauliflower, almonds, tofu, and peanut butter.
Choline sources may be natural, but other options include acetylcholine precursors that raise acetylcholine neurotransmitter levels, one of which is CDP choline. Let’s dig deeper into this powerful nootropic supplement.
What is CDP Choline?
First manufactured back in 1956, CDP choline is a potent nootropic supplement in use as a memory enhancer and neuroprotector against memory loss. It also boosts mental energy and increases focus for clarity of thoughts.
In addition to providing better cognition, some studies, suggest it is an effective treatment for medical issues that include strokes, glaucoma, head injuries, cocaine addiction, and age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Originally developed in Japan as a treatment for strokes, it was later introduced as a prescription drug in European countries. CDP choline is sold as a nutritional supplement in the United States and Canada and there are no FCA regulations.
One of the best things about CDP choline is that it boosts the effects of other nootropic supplements. In fact, it works with the racetam family of nootropics as a cholinergic forerunner that builds up acetylcholine levels in the brain. Then, while greatly enhancing the effects of other nootropics, it also prevents side effects like headaches.
How Does CDP Choline Work?
Unlike most other nootropics, CDP choline shows many studies, which means that its effects have documentation to back them up.
As a psychostimulant, it works in various ways. First, it increases the production of acetylcholine, which is the “learning neurotransmitter”. It also repairs and restores the neuronal membranes. In addition, it boosts the levels of dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine in the central nervous system.
CDP choline is water-soluble and the intestines quickly absorb it. Once absorption takes place, it splits into cytidine and choline. Then, reabsorption takes it back into the liver and other soft tissues. From there it goes throughout the body, crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the central nervous system.
Choline also serves as a cholinergic, which increases the levels of choline in the brain. At the same time, the cytidine transforms into uridine, a potent neuroprotectant, which boosts cognition.
Synergy with Racetams
Racetam nootropic supplements, like piracetam, aniracetam, and oxiracetam rely on choline for their brain-boosting functions. CDP choline’s quick absorption makes it a great companion to the racetam family.
Choline precedes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is vital to the various aspects of cognitive functions. The racetam family of nootropics, led by piracetam, are acknowledged acetylcholine agonists, which are compounds that boost the release and production of acetylcholine by encouraging the applicable neurotransmitter receptor sites. Thus, choline will replenish the spent acetylcholine and prevent harmful side effects in the brain.
With enough existing choline, an increase in the production and release of acetylcholine will significantly increase cognition functions such as recall, memory, and, focus. However, when the levels of choline in the brain diminish, the effects of the racetam supplements are lessened. In addition, the insufficient choline levels result in headaches, which are a typical minor side effect from racetam supplementation. Because of these reasons, Nootropic users recognize that CDP choline is a vital component when stacking with racetams.
CDP choline enhances mood and removes brain fog, as some users have reported. Other users say that including CDP choline in stacks that contain racetams helps to eliminate racetam-related depression as well as prevent headaches related to racetam supplementation.
Synergy with Catecholamine Neurotransmitters
Studies have shown that levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and adrenaline, which are essential neurotransmitters that are known as catecholamines, are impacted by CDP choline. Having a neuroprotective effect on dopamine cells, CDP choline shows an amazing ability to defend these neurons from toxins related to Parkinson’s disease.
Benefits of CDP Choline
CDP choline is a potent Nootropic supplement on its own and when stacked helps to increase the effects of other nootropics. Here are some of the most common and popular benefits of this stackable wonder-drug.
It May Help Improve Memory
CDP choline has anti-aging qualities. In fact, it is a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s disease due to its ability to boost memory and avoid future memory loss. Some data suggests that taking CDP choline orally helps improve memory and information processing. It also helps with learning in patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
It May Help with Mental Energy
Whether you suffer from mental decline due to aging or you’re a student preparing for an exam, clinical trials show that CDP choline has a significant effect on mental energy as it lessens the age-related decline of cognition.
It May Help with Focus and Concentration
For anyone needing a boost in concentration for extended periods of time, CDP choline may help. In some studies, CDP choline shows improvement to levels of concentration even including brain injury, Alzheimer’s, and stroke.
Enhances the Potency of Other Nootropics
CDP choline is an essential building block for nootropic stacks with other supplements. Because it is an exceptional source of choline, it functions well in combinations with nootropics from the racetam family. This makes their effects more powerful and prevents headaches that sometimes happen when using nootropics. As a stack with piracetam studies show that CDP choline helps slow the onset of cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s disease.
Stacking with CDP Choline
One of CDP Choline’s most essential features is its ability to boost the potency of other nootropics. Again, this is especially true when using with racetams. To that end, here is a list of a few of the most popular stacks that include CDP choline.
Piracetam and CDP Choline
Piracetam is the grandfather of the racetam family and one of many cognitive boosting nootropics. It is a reliable and popular brain booster. In fact, its benefits include improvements to cognition and memory enhancement. When taking piracetam, the brain requires more acetylcholine. So, taking choline keeps the brain from choline depletion which leads to headaches and brain fog. Therefore, stacking CDP choline with Piracetam helps you avoid headaches.
Oxiracetam and CDP-Choline
Oxiracetam is a powerful nootropic that helps improve a variety of cognitive processes including attention, memory, verbal fluency, and learning capacity. In addition, it acts as a mild stimulant that enhances motivation, mental energy, and alertness. Taken as a stack with CDP choline, the positive effects of oxiracetam show enhancement and it stops headaches.
Aniracetam and CDP Choline
Aniracetam is a Nootropic that boosts memory, enhances focus, and reduces depression and anxiety. Moreover, taking a bioavailable, high-quality choline supplement like CDP choline has even better nootropic effects. This is particularly important when stacking with aniracetam because it stimulates the cholinergic system. Supplementing with choline assures that there is enough in the system to enhance aniracetam’s effects. In addition, it also helps with headaches.
Pramiracetam and CDP Choline
One of the most powerful nootropics ever created is pramiracetam. It is a derivative of one of the original nootropics piracetam, but it is more potent. It is a promising treatment for problems of cognition and memory loss from Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injuries. It’s also a potential remedy for other central nervous system disorders. Pramiracetam’s cognitive improvements in focus, thought clarity, sensory perception, and memory show enhancement when taken with CDP choline.
CDP Choline Side Effects
Through substantial studies and trials, CDP choline shows no serious side effects, even at high doses.
Toxicological testing also proves that CDP choline has no serious effects on the cholinergic system and is generally well-tolerated in the brain.
Though not prevalent in clinical trials, possible side effects that are reported from users include diarrhea, headache, insomnia, and indigestion. Some users report that higher dosages may lead to lethargy, anxiety, and depression.
Women who are pregnant or lactating must not take CDP choline supplementation as side effects are not yet conclusive.
Recommended CDP Choline Dosage
CDP choline is highly bioavailable and is water-soluble. Generally, dosages taken orally range from 250-1000mg and are effective and safe. In studies, doses that range from 1000-2000mg combat the decrease in cognition. For chronic cerebrovascular disease, studies show doses at 600 mg. In addition, for the treatment of ischemic stroke, doses range from 500-2000mg per day.
A wide range of doses is without considerable side effects since CDP choline is highly tolerable. An MIT study shows that a dose of 2000mg vs. 4000mg is not significantly different. Interestingly, that indicates that there is the limited-to-no value of taking higher doses.
Since CDP choline is water-soluble, it absorbs into the body within an hour of taking it orally and is easy to take with food or water.
Conclusion
Many Nootropic users include CDP choline in their daily supplementation plans. Taken on its own demonstrates an ability to boost memory, enhance recall, and helps prevent memory decline as it relates to injury, illness, or aging. It also helps to bolster clarity of thought, focus, and mental energy.
When stacking with racetams, it establishes a synergy effect that neither drug achieves without the other.
CDP choline demonstrates to be highly tolerable with very little to no serious side effects. Moreover, higher doses are not necessary to achieve the best results. This makes it one of the easiest-to-take and powerful nootropics on the market today.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.