Monograph: |
ALPHA-GPC
ALPHA-GPC IS A CHEMICAL RELEASED WHEN A FATTY ACID FOUND IN SOY AND OTHER PLANTS BREAKS DOWN. IT IS USED AS MEDICINE.
IN EUROPE ALPHA-GPC IS A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER 'S DISEASE. IT IS AVAILABLE IN TWO FORMS; ONE IS TAKEN BY MOUTH , AND THE OTHER IS GIVEN AS A SHOT. IN THE UNITED STATES ALPHA-GPC IS ONLY AVAILABLE AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT , MOSTLY IN PRODUCTS PROMOTED TO IMPROVE MEMORY.
OTHER USES FOR ALPHA-GPC INCLUDE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS KINDS OF DEMENTIA , STROKE , AND “MINI-STROKE ” (TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK , TIA). ALPHA-GPC IS ALSO USED FOR IMPROVING MEMORY, THINKING SKILLS, AND LEARNING.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
DOSING
THE APPROPRIATE DOSE OF ALPHA-GPC DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS SUCH AS THE USER'S AGE, HEALTH, AND SEVERAL OTHER CONDITIONS. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE RANGE OF DOSES FOR ALPHA-GPC. KEEP IN MIND THAT NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY SAFE AND DOSAGES CAN BE IMPORTANT. BE SURE TO FOLLOW RELEVANT DIRECTIONS ON PRODUCT LABELS AND CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE USING.
ALPHA GPC (ALPHA GLYCEROPHOSPHOCHOLINE), LIKE CITICOLINE, MAY ALSO AID NEUROPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY. IT'S A COMPOUND COMPOSED OF GLYCEROPHOSPHATE AND CHOLINE. ALPHA GPC IS A NATURAL COMPOUND THAT CAN ALSO WORK WELL WITH OTHER NOOTROPICS. ALPHA GPC WORKS FAST AND HELPS DELIVER CHOLINE TO THE BRAIN AND ACTUALLY INCREASES THE PRODUCTION OF ACETYLCHOLINE ALONG WITH CELL MEMBRANE PHOSPHOLIPIDS. IT'S POSSIBLE THE COMPOUND MAY ALSO INCREASE THE RELEASE OF DOPAMINE AND CALCIUM.
ALPHA GPC BENEFITS
ALPHA GPC BRINGS WITH IT A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE BENEFITS, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING BRAIN HEALTH AND COGNITION. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR ALPHA GPC TO IMPROVE MEMORY FORMATION AND ENHANCE LEARNING ABILITY. THE POSSIBLE MEMORY ENHANCEMENT BENEFITS FROM ALPHA GPC MAY ACTUALLY RESTORE MEMORY, BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS . ALPHA GPC CAN ALSO RAISE DOPAMINE LEVELS, WHICH BENEFITS BRAIN FUNCTION SIGNIFICANTLY. AS ALPHA GPC BREAKS DOWN, ACETYLCHOLINE IS RELEASED AS A BYPRODUCT.
ALPHA GPC MAY ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF INTERESTING SIDE EFFECTS THAT CITICOLINE DOESN'T HAVE. TAKING ALPHA GPC COULD LEAD TO IMPROVED VITALITY AND INCREASED STRENGTH AS IT HELPS MUSCLES RECOVER AFTER EXERCISE. ALPHA GPC MAY ALSO INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF GROWTH HORMONE IN THE HUMAN BODY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ACTING AS SOMETHING OF A WEAK STIMULANT.
USES & EFFECTIVENESS
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE FOR
· ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. DEVELOPING RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT TAKING 1200 MG OF ALPHA-GPC PER DAY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES THINKING SKILLS IN ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS AFTER 3 TO 6 MONTHS OF TREATMENT.
· DEMENTIA. GIVING 1000 MG OF ALPHA-GPC PER DAY AS A SHOT MIGHT IMPROVE SYMPTOMS OF VASCULAR (MULTI-INFARCT) DEMENTIA INCLUDING BEHAVIOR, MOOD, AND THINKING SKILLS. RESEARCHERS WHO DID THIS STUDY USED A PRESCRIPTION-ONLY FORM OF ALPHA-GPC (DELECIT) THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE US.
· STROKE AND “MINI-STROKE” (TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK, TIA). STROKE AND TIA PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE ALPHA-GPC WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE STROKE OR TIA SEEM TO HAVE A BETTER RECOVERY. EARLY RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE WHO GET 1200 MG OF ALPHA-GPC PER DAY AS A SHOT FOR 28 DAYS, FOLLOWED BY 400 MG OF ALPHA-GPC THREE TIMES DAILY (1200 MG/DAY) BY MOUTH FOR 6 MONTHS, RECOVER MORE THINKING SKILLS AND ARE BETTER ABLE TO FUNCTION.
· IMPROVING MEMORY.
· THINKING SKILLS.
· LEARNING.
· OTHER CONDITIONS.
MORE EVIDENCE IS NEEDED TO RATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALPHA-GPC FOR THESE USES.
SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY
ALPHA-GPC SEEMS TO BE SAFE WHEN USED APPROPRIATELY. IT CAN CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS IN SOME PEOPLE INCLUDING HEARTBURN , HEADACHE , INSOMNIA , DIZZINESS , SKIN RASH , AND CONFUSION.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS & WARNINGS:
PREGNANCY AND BREAST -FEEDING: NOT ENOUGH IS KNOWN ABOUT THE USE OF ALPHA-GPC DURING PREGNANCY AND BREAST -FEEDING. STAY ON THE SAFE SIDE AND AVOID USE.
INTERACTIONS
MINOR INTERACTION
BE WATCHFUL WITH THIS COMBINATION
!
· SCOPOLAMINE (TRANSDERM SCOP) INTERACTS WITH ALPHA-GPC
ALPHA-GPC INCREASES A CHEMICAL IN THE BRAIN CALLED ACETYLCHOLINE. SCOPOLAMINE BLOCKS THIS SAME CHEMICAL. BUT IT'S NOT KNOWN IF ALPHA-GPC DECREASES THE BENEFITS OF SCOPOLAMINE.
DOSING
THE APPROPRIATE DOSE OF ALPHA-GPC DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS SUCH AS THE USER'S AGE, HEALTH, AND SEVERAL OTHER CONDITIONS. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE RANGE OF DOSES FOR ALPHA-GPC. KEEP IN MIND THAT NATURAL PRODUCTS ARE NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY SAFE AND DOSAGES CAN BE IMPORTANT. BE SURE TO FOLLOW RELEVANT DIRECTIONS ON PRODUCT LABELS AND CONSULT YOUR PHARMACIST OR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL BEFORE USING.
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