Cerebra GPC - Purified Alpha Glycerophosphocholine

Cerebra-GPC is 100% Purified PhosChol with the fatty acids removed. It is a simple formulation of purified GPC and water, which comes together as a clear, concentrated, sweet tasting solution that is easy to administer to adults and children.

GPC is a safe, stable, and rapidly absorbed source of free choline, which easily enters the brain and has many functions in the body. It is important for the structural integrity of cell membranes, cholinergic neurotransmission, transmembrane signaling, methyl metabolism, and lipid-cholesterol transport and metabolism. Choline is a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, platelet-activating factor, betaine, and other phospholipids.

GPC is a nutrient present in all mammalian cells and other life forms. It is a rapidly absorbed source of choline, which easily enters the brain and has many functions in the body.

Choline is important for the structural integrity of cell membranes, cholinergic neurotransmission, transmembrane signaling, methyl metabolism, and lipid-cholesterol transport and metabolism [1]. Choline is a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, platelet-activating factor, betaine, and other phospholipids (Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) 1998). Choline speeds the synthesis and release of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter involved in numerous important functions in the body. Choline is an essential nutrient since the de novo synthesis of choline is not always sufficient to meet human requirements for choline.

The FNB established various Adequate Intake levels (AI) for choline based on gender/age groups. Table 1 lists the AI levels established by the Food and Nutritional Board.

The Adequate Intake for pregnancy and lactation was established as 450 mg/day and 550 mg/day, respectively (FNB, 1998).

Table 1 shows that the Adequate Intake of choline is about 550 mg/day for men and 425 mg/day for women. Choline in the diet is available as free choline or is bound as esters such as phosphocholine, GPC, sphingomyelin, or phosphatidylcholine.

It should be noted that foods that are good sources of choline and choline esters are typically higher in fat and/or cholesterol. Many Americans, in view of recommendations from various private and government public health organizations, are decreasing fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in their diet. The consumption of less fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol will lead to a concomitant decrease in choline intake.

The de facto intake of choline and choline compounds were examined during the Framingham Offspring Study in several thousand men and women and showed that the general dietary intake of choline as free form and as compounds is about 312 mg/day for men and 314 mg/day for women [2]. Total choline intake was calculated as the sum of intake from free choline, phosphocholine, glycerophosphocholine, phosphatidylcholine and lecithin. Thus, the addition of choline and choline precursors to certain foods may compensate for a possible deficit in choline.

Choline is a vitamin-like, essential nutrient. But free choline is poorly bioavailable and unstable in the water phase. GPC is a physiological form of choline in the body. Figure 2 shows the metabolic pathway of choline and GPC.

Figure 2: Metabolic pathway of GPC [3].

Cerebra GPC is water soluble and able to efficiently increase choline levels in the blood and the brain.

Cerebra GPC is recommended at 500mg to 1000mg of pure GPC per day, which is equivalent to 200 - 400 mg free choline.

Glycerophosphocholine is a natural, physiological, water-soluble and stable precursor of choline. It is part of the daily nutrition, and its levels are reduced on account of changed dietary composition. The fortification of different foods with GPC can supply GPC and choline as readily absorbed nutrients for enhancing cholinergenic metabolic functions such as neurological and mental performance.