CDP-Choline supplement research studies, benefit and side effects, review of dosage, risks and optimal usage, pills in 250 mg and 500 mg capsules
How effective is this supplement as a brain booster, are there any safety concerns?
Review of clinical trials as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, glaucoma, brain injury, stroke, ischemia, and hypoxia.
CDP-choline stands for cytidine 5-diphosphocholine, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of membrane phospholipids and brain acetylcholine. This nutrient is approved in Europe and Japan for use in stroke, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders and is sold by the brand name Citicoline. In a way, you could consider CDP-choline as a more potent form of choline. Studies show that CDP choline helps make phosphatidylcholine in human brain cell membranes; may increase acetylcholine synthesis; improves mental performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease; and even improves memory in elderly patients with memory deficits. A Belgian study has shown that CDP choline administration to dogs improves their ability to learn and remember.
    This supplement is not well known yet but it should be since it provides many cognitive benefits.

 Buy CDP-Choline, 250 mg per pill, 60 Capsules
Mind Power Rx brain booster formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., world renowned supplement expert
Stabilized CDP Choline (cytidine 5'diphosphocholine) is a naturally occurring, water soluble biological compound that is an essential intermediate for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, a major constituent of the grey matter of brain tissue (30%).  CDP choline is metabolized to yield the free nucleotide cytidine and choline.  Scientific research demonstrates that CDP Choline consumption promotes brain metabolism by enhancing the synthesis of acetylcholine, restoring phospholipid content in the brain and regulation of neuronal membrane excitability and osmolarity (by its effect on the ATP-dependent sodium and potassium pumps).

Supplement Facts:
CDP Choline  250 mg (from stabilized cytidine 5'diphosphocholine)

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Suggested Use: One CDP-choline capsule before breakfast or lunch. You may take a CDP choline capsule one day and a Mind Power Rx capsule the second day and alternate their use.

Benefit
CDP-choline functions as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cell membrane phospholipids. CDP-choline belongs to the group of biomolecules in living systems known as nucleotides that play important roles in cellular metabolism. CDP-choline is composed of ribose, pyrophosphate, cytosine (a nitrogenous base), and choline. The administration of oral CDP-choline may be of use in reversing age-related changes in the brain. CDP-choline helps to increase levels of phosphodiesters such as phosphatidylcholine and glycerophosphoethanolamine in the brain. These phosphodiesters form part of the cell membrane of brain cells and their levels are known to decline with age. Hence, CDP-choline supplements may help replace the declining levels of these important phosphodiesters.
   CDP choline may be helpful in reducing damage after a stroke.
   This nutrient may be helpful in Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Vittorio Porciatti at the Institute of Neurophysiology in Pisa, Italy, tells me, "CDP-choline is commercially produced in Europe under several product names. Neurologists have found this nutrient useful in Parkinson’s disease, brain trauma, and aging in general. It may surprise you that I mention Parkinson’s disease. In addition to the understandable action on cell membranes, we have been somehow surprised that CDP-choline has dopamine-like effects. Interestingly, dopaminergic-like activity seems to be long lasting, possibly due to stabilization of the effects at membrane level."

CDP-choline availability
CDP-choline became available over the counter in the US in 1998. Most pills come in a 250 mg dose. You will also find CDP choline added to brain formulas as part of other brain boosters such as acetyl l carnitine and ginkgo biloba. A trademarked name for cdp-choline is Cognizin.

Safety and side effects, caution, safety concerns, danger and risk
Toxicology studies show that CDP-choline is safe and produces no serious side effects in doses ranging from 250 mg to 500 mg a day. However, most of the studies lasted less than a few weeks. Long-term safety is not known. There are medications used as anticholinergic drugs which have serious side effects.

Single- and repeated-dose oral toxicity studies of citicoline free-base (choline cytidine 5'-pyrophosphate) in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Int J Toxicol. 2009 Nov-Dec; Schauss AG, Somfai-Relle S, Financsek I, Glavits R, Parent SC, Endres JR, Varga T, Szücs Z, Clewell A. Natural and Medicinal Products Research, AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc, 4117 S. Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98373 USA.
The dietary supplement Citicoline free-base (choline cytidine 5'-pyrophosphate) was toxicologically evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats using oral gavage. In an acute 14-day study, 2000 mg/kg was well tolerated. In a 90-day study, 100, 350, and 1000 mg/kg/day doses resulted in no mortality. In males, slight significant increases in serum creatinine (350 and 1000 mg/kg/day), and decreases in urine volume (all treated groups) were observed. In females, slight significant increases in total white blood cell and absolute lymphocyte counts (1000 mg/kg/day), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (100 and 350, but not 1000 mg/kg/day) were noted. A dose-related increase in renal tubular mineralization, without degenerative or inflammatory reaction, was found in females (all treated groups) and two males (1000 mg/kg/day). Renal mineralization in rats (especially females) is influenced by calcium:phosphorus ratios in the diet. A high level of citicoline consumption resulted in increased phosphorus intake in the rats, and likely explains this result.

What you may notice if you take a CDP choline supplement
Within an hour of taking a 250 pill CDP choline pill on an empty stomach, many people notice being more alert and motivated. The effects last a few hours. In addition, colors seem brighter and sharper and occasionally some individuals notice a sexual enhancement. Because of the alertness it produces, insomnia can occur if this nutrient is taken late afternoon or early evening.

Another CDP-choline experience
 We started one morning with a 250 mg pill. Within two hours we were more alert and focused with slightly enhanced vision. The next day we took 500 mg and noticed even more alertness and focus, with a slight vision enhancement and perhaps a slight erectile enhancement. There was a mild enhancement in mood, too. The side effects were increased body temperature and a little bit of underarm sweating. The effects lasted a few hours. We like CDP-choline and plan to take it once in a while for a quick mental enhancement.

CDP-Choline recommendations and review
CDP-choline has been used successfully in Europe for many years but clinical experience in the US is limited. This nutrient appears to have a more direct and immediate effect on the brain than its cousin choline. However, it is difficult to predict at this time the long-term benefits or risks of regular use. CDP-choline is a promising nutrient and we suspect that with time it will become more popular.

CDP-Choline and sensory perception
Effects of cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine CDP-choline on the thermal nociceptive threshold in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 Nov 19; Kamei J, Ohsawa M, Miyata S, Endo K, Hayakawa H. Department of Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan.
Neuropathy accompanied by abnormal sensory perception is the most common complication in insulin-dependent and -independent diabetes mellitus. Since there are very few effective therapeutic regimens for sensory abnormalities in diabetes, we examined the effect of cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine CDP-choline on the thermal nociceptive threshold in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice using the tail-flick test. Diabetic mice showed a shorter tail-flick latency at 1-4 weeks after streptozotocin treatment and a longer tail-flick latency after 8-12 weeks. This hyper- and hypoalgesia in diabetic mice was almost completely inhibited by daily treatment with CDP-choline beginning on the day of streptozotocin treatment. Daily treatment with CDP-choline beginning 5 weeks after streptozotocin treatment attenuated the development of hypoalgesia. Our results provide evidence to support the therapeutic potency of CDP-choline on the development of thermal hyper- and hypoalgesia and the progression of thermal hypoalgesia in diabetic mice. Moreover, these effects of CDP-choline may result from the normalization of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity.

CDP-Choline Research
CDP-choline in the treatment of chronic cerebrovasculopathies.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1994 May-Jun;18(3):161-8.
Ninety-two patients affected by chronic cerebrovasculopathy were treated with cytidine diphosphate choline ( CDP-choline ) 1000 mg/day i.m. or with placebo, in a double-blind study. Two cycles of therapy of 4 weeks each were performed, with an interval of 1 week. There were 46 patients in each group with chronic cerebrovascular diseases, and the two groups were comparable as far as mental deterioration was concerned. The comparison between the two groups revealed significant improvements in the CDP-choline group compared with the placebo group in some of the attention capabilities. No side-effects were detected in the CDP-choline group.

A Mind Booster Helpful After Strokes
Findings presented at the American Stroke Association's 27th International Stroke Conference indicate that CDP-choline may be helpful in reducing damage after a stroke. The most common cause of a stroke is blockage of a blood vessel within the brain, which leaves a portion of the organ starved for blood and oxygen. Bleeding within the brain can also lead to stroke. Much of the brain damage is caused by a cascade of harmful chemicals released by dying cells. Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders in Bethesda, Maryland, reported data on two trials of the supplement citicoline, sold in some health food stores or on the internet as CDP-choline. This nutrient is related to choline. One of the studies involved 41 patients who received 500 milligrams of cdp-choline daily for 6 weeks after having a stroke. In the other, 62 stroke patients took 2,000 mg of the drug every day for 6 weeks. The trials also included 111 patients who received an inactive placebo. The researchers gauged the supplement's effectiveness by measuring the size of the infarct, or area of dead tissue. They scanned patients' brains within 24 hours of the stroke and again 12 weeks later. At the end of the study period, the investigators found that infarct size measured by MRI scans had increased by 85% in patients on placebo, by 34% in patients receiving the 500 mg dose of cdp-choline and by only 2% in patients receiving 2,000 mg cdp-choline.
   CDP-choline is a more powerful form of choline, and most users without a stroke notice an enhancement of mental focus, along with clarity of vision and thinking with as little as 200 mg.

CDP-Choline supplement emails
 Q.  I have been taking CDP-Choline for about 3 - 4 weeks. I began taking it after reading Dr. Sahelian's publication on Natural Sex Boosters. My results with CDP Choline have been fabulous. Sensation and enjoyment have returned. My question is; should I take a break every so often, or will CDP-Choline just continue to be effective if taken continuously?
   A.  Thank you for your email and feedback. It's great that cdp-choline worked for you. It's an interesting supplement. Although we can't give specific advice, my philosophy regarding supplements is to take breaks from their use. As to the extent of breaks and their frequency, that is an individual matter and decision.

What are the differences between CDP-Choline and GPC-choline? I've had a chronic problem with stiff neck and DMAE made it worse. What's probability that either of these 2 versions of choline would do the same?
    We have come across GPC-choline but have not really looked into it in any detail since we can't find any revealing human trials with it. DMAE can make neck tenseness worse in higher dosages. We are not aware that CDP-choline would do the same. But to assure this, we recommend less than a full dose.

Additional pages of interest and review articles
Canelilla bark and leaves have a has a cinnamon odor due to1-nitro-2-phenylethane.
Capros is developed from Phyllanthus emblica, the Indian Gooseberry.
Carnosic acid is found in several herbs like rosemary and sage.
Carnosol is found in several herbs such as rosemary and sage.
Carnosyn is a trademarked form of beta alanine amino acid.
Casearia sylvestris is a plant used in the treatment of several diseases in Brazil
 Casuarinin is a hydrolyzable tannin isolated from the bark of Terminalia arjuna plant. This plant substance appears to have anti cancer benefits.
 Centella asiatica herb is commonly used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
 Cetraria islandica (Iceland moss) has been used for centuries in folk medicine in many countries
 Chakunda is a small plant that grows in dry soil in tropical India.
Chitrakmool has been mentioned as having astringent, diuretic, germicidal, and vesicant properties.

I understand that choline is really wonderful for pregnant women- especially in the third trimester. I have been taking 500mg a day of cdp-choline. Does this seem appropriate? I do sometimes get an increased heart rate- but other than that I feel fine. I am also on Synthroid for thyroid replacement because I have hypothyroidism (via radioactive iodine treatment/ Graves). Can the choline influence my TSH levels? Both my OBGYN and endocrinologist don't really have any answers for me as they are not that progressive, and it is difficult to find doctors who are truly up to date.
    We are not aware of any studies regarding the use of this supplement and pregnancy, nor the interaction of choline and CDP-choline with thyroid medications. CDP choline is a potent nutrient and 500 mg may be too high a dosage. Your doctor may wish to read this page and guide you.