Comparison
Alpha-GPC vs Citicoline
Side-by-side of Alpha-GPC and Citicoline. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Alpha-GPC
Alpha GPC supplement profile: 300 to 600 mg dosage, acetylcholine synthesis, attention and reaction-time evidence, side effects, and choline donor comparisons.
Citicoline
Citicoline supplement profile: CDP-choline as a phosphatidylcholine precursor, Cognizin dosing 250-2000 mg, cognition trials, stroke recovery evidence.
Effects at a glance
Alpha-GPC
- •Choline donor supplement, roughly 40% choline by weight; crosses blood-brain barrier efficiently
- •Replicated small gains in attention and reaction time at 300 to 600 mg in healthy adults
- •Standard prescription cognitive medication in much of Europe (Gliatilin) at 1,200 mg/day for vascular cognitive impairment
- •ASCOMALVA trial (n=210) showed cognitive preservation when added to donepezil over 24 months
- •Increases acute power output (~14%, single trial) and transient growth hormone secretion at 600 mg
- •TMAO production raises a contested cardiovascular concern at chronic high doses
Citicoline
- •Choline donor and phosphatidylcholine precursor; oral bioavailability roughly 99%
- •Standard prescription medication for stroke recovery and vascular cognitive impairment in much of the world
- •Healthy-adult cognitive trials (Cognizin) report small gains in attention and working memory at 250 to 500 mg/day
- •ICTUS trial (n=2,298) was negative on stroke recovery in the modern thrombolysis era
- •Lower per-gram choline content than alpha-GPC (~18% vs ~40%), meaning smaller TMAO load at equivalent dose
- •Long uridine half-life (~56 hours) supports once or twice daily dosing
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-GPC | Citicoline |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, choline alfoscerate, GPC, alpha-glyceryl phosphorylcholine | CDP-choline, cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine, Cognizin |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 56 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily | 1 to 2 times daily |
| Routes | oral | oral, intravenous |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 257.22 | 488.32 |
| Molecular formula | C8H20NO6P | C14H26N4O11P2 |
| Mechanism | Hydrolyzed to free choline and glycerophosphate after absorption; choline supports acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in CNS. | Hydrolyzed to cytidine and choline after absorption; both cross the blood-brain barrier and are recombined intracellularly to reform CDP-choline, supporting phosphatidylcholine synthesis and acetylcholine production. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US); prescription medication in much of Europe | Dietary supplement (US, Cognizin GRAS); prescription medication in most of the world |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | OTC supplement (US); Rx in most of the world |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; choline generally recommended in pregnancy | Insufficient data for routine use |
| CAS | 28319-77-9 | 987-78-0 |
| PubChem CID | 71920 | 13804 |
| Wikidata | Q411478 | Q411470 |
Safety profile
Alpha-GPC
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache
- dizziness
- occasional insomnia with evening dosing
Contraindications
- established cardiovascular disease (TMAO concern)
- concurrent strong anticholinergic therapy
Interactions
- anticholinergic medications: partial mutual antagonism(minor)
- cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil): additive cholinergic effect, basis for ASCOMALVA protocol(minor)
- scopolamine: partial counteraction of anticholinergic effect(minor)
Citicoline
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- headache
- restlessness
- occasional insomnia with evening dosing
Contraindications
- concurrent strong anticholinergic therapy
- established cardiovascular disease (TMAO concern, smaller than alpha-GPC)
Interactions
- anticholinergic medications: partial mutual antagonism(minor)
- cholinesterase inhibitors: additive cholinergic effect(minor)
- antimetabolite chemotherapy (5-FU): theoretical cytidine pathway interaction(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Alpha-GPC and Citicoline score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is athletic performance, pick Alpha-GPC.
- → If your priority is stroke recovery, pick Citicoline.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Alpha-GPC.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (Alpha-GPC ~4 hr vs Citicoline ~56 hr). Citicoline reaches steady state faster; Alpha-GPC is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: either is defensible. Alpha-GPC edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; Citicoline is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Alpha-GPC and Citicoline?
Alpha-GPC and Citicoline differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Alpha-GPC or Citicoline?
Alpha-GPC half-life is 4 hours; Citicoline half-life is 56 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-GPC with Citicoline?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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