What Is Alpha GPC Choline?
L-Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine is a natural choline compound that is found primarily in the brain. Many people today are very interested in using this nootropic supplement for its tremendous potential to enhance memory, learning, and cognition (1). This supplement is also water soluble and capable of quick absorption, making it a very fast-acting product that can be easily added to existing nootropic routines or used as a stand-alone cognition enhancer (2).
Benefits of Alpha GPC
The primary benefit of Alpha GPC is that it acts as a precursor in the development and production of acetylcholine, which is one of the most important neurotransmitters produced in the brain. Due to the elevated levels of acetylcholine, this supplement is also thought to improve the ability to remember, think, and overall general cognitive functions. Students use this for help with studying and to remember facts and figures (3).
Alpha GPC is also important because it helps to build new cell membranes. This is particularly useful for the brain cells. These new membranes are also able to contribute to the continued development of nerve cells. In fact, there is even some evidence that this supports increased neuroplasticity of the brain (3).
How Alpha GPC Choline Works
Alpha GPC is one of the few supplements capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and entering into the central nervous system. This is where the Choline is released and the formation of acetylcholine is begun.
Once in the brain, many experts also think that this substance is helpful in raising the levels of human growth hormone. Taken together, this means that it is also a precursor in a number of processes like protein synthesis, general cell repair, and increasing energy levels throughout the body (4).
Alpha GPC is also thought to help stimulate the firing of neurons. This helps to improve the efficiency of message transmission within the brain. It is thought that these are some of the main reasons why Alpga GPC stimulates cognition and brain health.
Alpha GPC Side Effects
The side effects for Alpha GPC are generally very mild. This supplement has been proven to be safe and very well-tolerated in healthy adults. The most commonly reported side effect is a headache, which typically goes away on its accord.
Sources:
(1) http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S0899-9007(12)00089-5/
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16366737
(3) http://examine.com/supplements/Alpha-GPC/
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22673596
Benefits of Alpha GPC
The primary benefit of Alpha GPC is that it acts as a precursor in the development and production of acetylcholine, which is one of the most important neurotransmitters produced in the brain. Due to the elevated levels of acetylcholine, this supplement is also thought to improve the ability to remember, think, and overall general cognitive functions. Students use this for help with studying and to remember facts and figures (3).
Alpha GPC is also important because it helps to build new cell membranes. This is particularly useful for the brain cells. These new membranes are also able to contribute to the continued development of nerve cells. In fact, there is even some evidence that this supports increased neuroplasticity of the brain (3).
How Alpha GPC Choline Works
Alpha GPC is one of the few supplements capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and entering into the central nervous system. This is where the Choline is released and the formation of acetylcholine is begun.
Once in the brain, many experts also think that this substance is helpful in raising the levels of human growth hormone. Taken together, this means that it is also a precursor in a number of processes like protein synthesis, general cell repair, and increasing energy levels throughout the body (4).
Alpha GPC is also thought to help stimulate the firing of neurons. This helps to improve the efficiency of message transmission within the brain. It is thought that these are some of the main reasons why Alpga GPC stimulates cognition and brain health.
Alpha GPC Side Effects
The side effects for Alpha GPC are generally very mild. This supplement has been proven to be safe and very well-tolerated in healthy adults. The most commonly reported side effect is a headache, which typically goes away on its accord.
Sources:
(1) http://www.nutritionjrnl.com/article/S0899-9007(12)00089-5/
(2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16366737
(3) http://examine.com/supplements/Alpha-GPC/
(4) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22673596