Nutrition for the Brain
Citicoline (CDP Choline) is a
supplement which nutritionally supports the aging brain. This support
is important because neurological function declines with age and
reflect multiple factors. Many of these are nutritional nature.
First, the basic building blocks for
important neurochemicals, especially acetylcholine, are less available
and less efficiently used by the aging brain. One reason is that the
same deterioration of the vascular system which is involved in heart
disease can affect the ability of the blood to carry and release oxygen
is subjected to decline.
Other factors involved in mental
decline reflect undesirable general changes within the body. For
instance, the body's ability to produce the basic energy unit which
powers metabolism, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), declines over time. Similarly, the brain's capacity to metabolize glucose for energy goes down with age.
Although the causes of mental decline
and degenerative brain disorders are diverse, a few basic changes are
common to most forms of deterioration which affect the brain. Reduced
synthesis of necessary neurotransmitters, decreased circulation and
diminished cellular efficiency are the enemies of sound memory and
mental clarity.
Somewhat
surprisingly, phospholipids can influence all of these areas
responsible for brain health. CDP Choline is a very effective
supplement to influence the production of important phospholipids.
Choline for Learning and Memory
Phospholipids are the principal
components of all cell membranes. These membranes might be envisioned
as internal and external walls which are permeable, yet relatively
solid and stable in comparison with their more fluid core. Within this
semi fluid core float proteins which act as switching and control
mechanisms for cellular processes.
The
membrane consists of a single layer of cholesterol with a layer of
phospholipids, and their attached polyunsaturated fatty acids. These
supply the building blocks for prostaglandins, immune components,
regulatory signals and other physiologically important processes. Some
phospholipids, primarily the inositols, are especially active in cell
signal regulation. The cholines are preferentially involved in the
functioning of various neurotransmitters and in the production of
acetylcholine, although they influence other brain mechanisms as well.
CDP Choline: Clinically Proven
CDP Choline (cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine, also called citicoline)
is a donor of choline for use in the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine
and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. Clinical
experiments have shown a reactivation of brain mitochondrial ATPases
and the Na+/K+ ATPases when this compound is orally administered. There
may also be improvements in the regulation of blood flow and
neuroimmune responses in the brain.
The compound has been tested
extensively in clinical trials in the areas of memory, verbal memory,
recognition, recall, and cognitive abilities. These are all areas in
which membrane permeability, choline and other neurotransmitters are
known to be important.
Cholinergic
compounds and the brain neurons which make use of them play especially
significant roles in learning and memory. Typical of journal titles
regarding studies of this compound are "Citicoline Improves Verbal
Memory in Aging" and "Citicoline Improves Memory Performance in Elderly
Subjects". In these tests, this special nutrient improved many forms of
recall at intakes as low as 300 mg/day. Even higher dosages (2,000
mg/day) improved both immediate and delayed logical memory. Recent
studies have indicated improved visual activity as well.
CDP Choline is a molecule that
consists of cytidine and choline joined together. It is almost
completely absorbed and equally bioavailable whether given orally or by
injection. Once CDP Choline is ingested, it is broken down into this
component parts, and these readily cross into the brain and central
nervous system. Both components are incorporated into the phospholipids
fraction of the membrane and microsomes. CDP Choline activates
the biosynthesis of structural phospholipids in the neuronal membranes,
increases cerebral metabolism and acts on the concentration of various
neurotransmitters.
Increased
levels of phosphatidylcholine noradrenaline, acetylcholine and dopamine
have been demonstrated in animal trials with the administration of CDP
Choline.
Why Use CDP Choline?
Researchers have theorized that CDP
Choline may be effective in helping brain cells prevent the buildup of
different toxins, as well as enhancing neuronal functions and promoting
the production of proper levels of neurotransmitters. These effects
reflect not just the impact of CDP Choline upon the synthesis of
actylcholine, dopamine and noradrenaline, but also its indirect impact
upon membrane health and transport through the improved production of
phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine (PS).
It might seem that the obvious way to
increase phosphatidylcholine levels in the brain would be to supplement
with phosphatidylcholine itself. However, the obvious is not always
the best. Phosphatidylcholine is a good supplement, but it may not be
absorbed as fully as CDP Choline.
Both the cytidine and the choline
fractions of CDP Choline are active. Cytidine is capable of penetrating
the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), and has been shown to improve the
synthesis of several of the phospholipids, e.g. phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine. Choline is a substrate for phospholipid synthesis.
Source: Jarrow Formulas
View our Selection of Products
Scientific References
Alvarenz XA, et al. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1997 Apr; 19(3): 201-10.
Aranowski J., Strong R., Grotta JC. Citicoline for treatment of experimental focal ischemia: histologic and behavioral outcome. Neurol Res 1996 Dec; 18(6): 570-4.
Babb
SM, Appelmans KE, Renshaw PF, Wurtman RJ, Cohen BM. Differential effect
of CDP Choline on brain cytostolic choline levels in younger and older
subjects as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1996 Sep; 127(2):88-94.
Hickenbottom SL, Grotta J. Neuroprotective therapy. Semin Neurol 1998; 18(4):485-92.
Porciatti V, Schiavi C, Benedetti P, Baldi A, Campos
EC. Cytidine-5'-disphosphocholine improves visual acuity, contrast
sensitivity and visually-evoked potentials of amblyopic subjects. Curr Eye Res 1998 Feb; 17(2): 141-8.
Schabitz
WR, Weber J, Takano K, Sandage BW, Locke KW, Fisher M. The effects of
prolonged treatment with citicoline in temporary experimental focal
ischemia. J Neurol Sci 1996 Jun; 138(1 2): 21-5.
Secades JJ, Frontera G. CDP-Choline: pharmacological and clinical review. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 1995 Oct; 17 Suppl B: 2-54.
Spiers PA, Myers D, Hochanadel GS, Lieerman HR, Wurtman RJ. Citicoline improves verbal memory in aging. Arch Neurol 1996 May; 53(5): 441-8. Published erratum appears in Ach Neural 1996 Oct; 53(10):964.
| 
