Comparison
Alpha-GPC vs TB-500
Side-by-side of Alpha-GPC and TB-500. 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.
TB-500
TB-500 peptide, a 17-aa thymosin beta-4 fragment. Preclinical tendon and wound healing via actin sequestration. Typical dosage 2 to 5 mg weekly. No human RCTs.
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
TB-500
- •17-amino-acid fragment of endogenous Thymosin Beta-4, an actin-sequestering peptide
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon, ligament, and dermal wound healing
- •Equine veterinary use for soft-tissue injury is the most documented real-world application
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 2 to 5 mg twice weekly subcutaneously for 4 to 6 weeks
- •WADA banned under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors) since 2018
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026; long-term safety unestablished
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Alpha-GPC | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | peptide |
| Also known as | L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, choline alfoscerate, GPC, alpha-glyceryl phosphorylcholine | Thymosin Beta-4 fragment, TB4-Frag, Thymosin Beta 4 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 2 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 600 | 2.5 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily | 2x weekly (anecdotal protocols) |
| Routes | oral | subcutaneous, intramuscular |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | - |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | - |
| Molecular weight | 257.22 | 4963.4 |
| Molecular formula | C8H20NO6P | C212H350N56O78S |
| Mechanism | Hydrolyzed to free choline and glycerophosphate after absorption; choline supports acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine synthesis in CNS. | Sequesters G-actin monomers, modulates cell migration and angiogenesis, and upregulates VEGF and myosin transcription. Promotes endothelial differentiation and stem-cell migration to injury sites in preclinical models. |
| Legal status | Dietary supplement (US); prescription medication in much of Europe | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; choline generally recommended in pregnancy | Insufficient data |
| CAS | 28319-77-9 | 885340-08-9 |
| PubChem CID | 71920 | 62707662 |
| Wikidata | Q411478 | Q7799921 |
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)
TB-500
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- fatigue (anecdotal)
- lethargy in early dosing (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established human safety profile
Interactions
- BPC-157: Frequently co-administered in anecdotal healing protocols; no controlled interaction data(minor)
Which Should You Take?
Alpha-GPC comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. TB-500 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Alpha-GPC.
- → If your priority is athletic performance, pick Alpha-GPC.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick TB-500.
- → If your priority is tendon repair, pick TB-500.
Edge case: If you want to avoid research-only / gray-market sourcing, Alpha-GPC is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: Alpha-GPC. Lower friction to source, and broader goal coverage. Reach for TB-500 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns 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 TB-500?
Alpha-GPC and TB-500 differ in category (supplement vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Alpha-GPC or TB-500?
Alpha-GPC half-life is 4 hours; TB-500 half-life is 2 hours.
Can you stack Alpha-GPC with TB-500?
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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