Alpha-GPC (Choline Alfoscerate): Studies and Tracking
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Alpha-GPC (Choline Alfoscerate): what it is, studies and tracking

Amounts studied · Approval status · Half-life notes

What is Alpha-GPC?

Alpha-GPC (L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, or choline alfoscerate) is a choline-containing compound also found in small amounts in food. It is studied as a building block for acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and muscle control. It is sold as a dietary supplement for memory and focus, and in South Korea it is prescribed to older adults.

Also known as: L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine, choline alfoscerate, glycerophosphocholine, GPC.

Amounts studied

Alpha-GPC itself has no intake value. For choline as a whole, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) lists an Adequate Intake of 550 mg a day for men and 425 mg for women, and an upper limit of 3,500 mg a day for adults from food and supplements. A trial in Alzheimer's disease used 400 mg three times a day for 180 days (De Jesus Moreno, 2003); a small study in young men used a single 1,000 mg dose (Kawamura, 2012). These are study protocols, not a recommendation.

Approval status and how it is used

It is sold in the US as a dietary supplement. Under the 1994 dietary supplement law (DSHEA), FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, and the maker, not FDA, is responsible for safety and labeling. There is no FDA-approved alpha-GPC drug.

In a 180-day trial in 261 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (De Jesus Moreno, 2003), thinking scores improved on 400 mg three times a day and worsened on placebo. In 8 young men, a single 1,000 mg dose raised growth hormone at 60 minutes compared with placebo (Kawamura, 2012). A Korean study of about 12 million adults aged 50 and over (Lee, 2021) found that people prescribed alpha-GPC had a higher 10-year risk of stroke (about 43% higher after matching), rising with more use. That study shows a link, not proof that alpha-GPC caused strokes; the authors point to TMAO, a gut-bacteria product of choline. ODS lists fishy body odor, sweating, low blood pressure and liver toxicity with very high choline intakes.

Alpha-GPC half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeNot listed
  • Time to peak (Tmax)Not listed

We could not find a published human half-life or time to peak for alpha-GPC that we could check against a primary source, so we do not list one. In one small study, blood free choline was higher 60 and 120 minutes after a 1,000 mg dose (Kawamura, 2012).

How to track Alpha-GPC in Dose Track

  1. Add Alpha-GPC as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each dose when you take it so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

Citicoline (CDP-Choline)CDP-choline, cytidine diphosphate choline Bacopa MonnieriBacopa monnieri, Brahmi Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)Hericium erinaceus, Yamabushitake PiracetamNootropyl, racetam Cholinecholine bitartrate, phosphatidylcholine

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of Alpha-GPC?+
We could not find a published human half-life or time to peak for alpha-GPC that we could check against a primary source, so we do not list one. In one small study, blood free choline was higher 60 and 120 minutes after a 1,000 mg dose (Kawamura, 2012).
Does alpha-GPC raise stroke risk?+
A 2021 Korean study of about 12 million adults aged 50 and over found a higher 10-year stroke risk in people prescribed alpha-GPC, rising with more use. It was an observational study, so it shows an association, not cause, and the authors called for more research.
How much choline is too much?+
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists an upper limit of 3,500 mg of choline a day for adults, from food and supplements combined.
Can I track Alpha-GPC in Dose Track?+
Yes. Alpha-GPC is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Kawamura T, et al. Glycerophosphocholine enhances growth hormone secretion and fat oxidation in young adults. Nutrition. 2012;28(11-12):1122-1126.
  2. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Choline fact sheet for health professionals (updated June 2, 2022).
  3. De Jesus Moreno Moreno M. Cognitive improvement in mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia after treatment with the acetylcholine precursor choline alfoscerate: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Ther. 2003;25(1):178-193.
  4. Lee G, et al. Association of L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine with subsequent stroke risk after 10 years. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(11):e2136008.
  5. FDA. Questions and answers on dietary supplements.

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