Here's the reason people take Alpha GPC: Risks & Benefits

What is Alpha GPC

Alpha-GPC is a form of choline, which is an essential nutrient that supports brain health and function. Choline can be found in foods such as eggs, chicken breast and tuna, but you can also take it as a supplement to give your brain the extra boost it needs.

Alpha-GPC stands for alpha glycerophosphocholine, and it’s often used to treat memory problems caused by dementia or other illnesses. It might also be helpful for people who are struggling with attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD).

Because alpha GPC contains choline—a precursor to acetylcholine—it may help improve your memory function by increasing the amount of this neurotransmitter in your brain. While there’s still some debate over whether or not this supplement works as advertised (more research needs to be done), some studies have found evidence that alpha GPC could be beneficial when taken alongside other supplements like ginkgo biloba or phosphatidylserine.

How alpha GPC work

Alpha GPC boosts your brain’s acetylcholine - a neurotransmitter tied to memory and overall brain function. It improves the efficiency of communications between neurons in your brain. This increase in neural signaling boosts memory, learning, cognitive processing and mental clarity. Alpha GPC directly impacts the development of cell membranes on the surface of neurons in your cerebral cortex. This outer layer of neural tissues or “gray matter” is the information processing center of your brain. It controls intelligence, motor function, organization, personality, planning and touch.

Other types of Choline source: Alpha GPC vs. CDP-Choline vs. Choline Bitartrate: What’s the Difference?

While Alpha GPC is a natural source of Choline, it’s not the only source. Other forms of Choline include CDP-Choline and Choline bitartrate. So what’s the difference between these three?

Well, CDP-Choline and choline bitartrate are both synthetic forms of Choline that have been modified from their original state. This means they aren’t as “natural” as Alpha GPC (which is derived directly from soy lecithin) but they are equally effective at boosting brain health.*

Let’s now compare their bioavailability:

CDP-Choline is a prodrug that needs to be metabolized in order to be converted into Choline. This means it’s not as bioavailable as Alpha GPC, which doesn’t need any conversion process.* Choline bitartrate is also not very bioavailable because it must be broken down into its constituent parts before being absorbed by the body.

However, Alpha GPC is readily bioavailable and can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. This makes it more effective than CDP-Choline and Choline bitartrate at supporting brain health.*

Benefits of taking Alpha GPC

It has been shown that Alpha GPC can help in::

Increase mental energy and focus
Improve memory and cognitive ability
Promote healthy brain function
Improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia
Boost muscle strength and promote muscle growth during exercise training by supporting the production of human growth hormone (HGH) in the body. Alpha GPC may also help with weight loss by reducing fat mass while preserving lean body mass when combined with exercise.
Additionally, Alpha GPC may alleviate symptoms of depression because it increases levels of serotonin—the neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood —in your brain.*
Finally, Alpha GPC may also help to manage ADHD symptoms because it enhances glucose metabolism while increasing dopamine activity in the frontal cortex area of your brain.*

In addition, alpha GPC has been shown to enhance cognition in both healthy individuals and those suffering from cognitive impairment. It's also known for its ability to improve mental performance related to long-term memory storage and retrieval, including episodic memory (memories about specific events), semantic memory (general knowledge) and working memory (the ability to hold information in mind as you execute complex tasks).

Alpha GPC is also used as an ingredient in many nootropic supplements because it helps increase mental energy levels by increasing focus while decreasing fatigue at the same time. It can also help treat symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia by improving short-term memory loss caused by these diseases.

Alpha GPC Recommended Dosage

Depending on the dosage, you can expect to see results after taking Alpha GPC for a few weeks. The recommended dosage is 300 mg to 1,2g per day. You may want to start with the lower end of that range if you haven’t used it before or have any health conditions.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use this supplement without consulting your doctor first.

How to take Alpha GPC

Take alpha GPC with a high-fat, high-protein, or high-fiber meal to increase the molecule's efficacy. If you're taking an omega-3 supplement, for instance, you might want to think about including alpha GPC in the mix as well. You should avoid taking it on an empty stomach because doing so would force your liver to handle all of the digestion work, which might make you sick to your stomach.

Effects and side effects of alpha Gpc

Alpha GPC is a safe compound. If you're worried about side effects, relax—they are rare and generally mild. Some rare side effects may include headache and dizziness, which can be reduced by taking Alpha Gpc with food or after eating.

Final Thoughts

I have a deep hope that you have found the information included in this article to be useful. I really hope that if you use Alpha GPC, it be a pleasant experience for you, but if you do have any concerns or run into any difficulties, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.