Citicoline's Brain Boosting Properties

PUYALLUP, Wash.Citicoline is a novel and safe compound that acts in multiple ways to address brain health and support cognitive function, including enhancing the bodys antioxidant defenses, promoting anti-inflammatory activities and promoting neurotransmitter function (Nat Med J. June 2010;2(6):11-25). A new review by Irfan Qureshi, N.D., and John R. Endres, N.D., both of AIBMR Life Sciences, examines the research behind citicoline (cytidine disphosphocholine or CDP-choline) including mechanism of action, clinical applications and safety.

As an endogenous compound, citicoline is a source for acetylcholine synthesis and it is hydrolyzed in the body to form choline and cytidine, needed for the generation of phospholipids. It is therefore important in several areas, including supporting cell membrane structural integrity and signaling, and increasing the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the primary neuronal membrane phospholipid. It can also impact neurotransmitter release patterns.

Animal and human studies have examined citicolines effects in the body. Citicoline has the ability to promote learning and memory, with human trials showing the benefits of citicoline on verbal memory function, particularly in subjects with relatively inefficient memory function. It also improves cognitive function in Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease, exerting cholinergic effects, reducing endogenous histamine levels and improving cerebrovascular blood flow. These benefits also translate to other areas of brain injury, including stroke, traumatic head injuries and coma.

There are several other areas in which citicoline has beneficial effects. It has been shown to enhance visual acuity in patients with amblyopia (lazy eye) by stimulating the availability of neurotransmitters and improving blood flow, and appears to enhance synthesis of PC and enhance retinal function in glaucoma patients. It has been used as an adjunct treatment for substance abuse, to address infectious disease, positively support appetite control and increase satiety, and enhance mental health.

Clinical investigations have shown citicoline to be quite safe, even in children, and is highly bioavailable with oral dosing. Dosages used in clinical trials have varied from 500 mg/d to 2,000 mg/d.

It is great to see a new comprehensive review of the substantive research on citicoline that effectively highlighted its multifunctional health benefits, said Karen Todd, director of marketing, Kyowa Hakko USA. The company is the supplier of Cognizin® citicoline, which was used in several of the cited studies in the Natural Medicine Journal review. It can be used in dietary supplements, and is also affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for use in foods and beverages.