Product Review

Vitacost Neurocholine with Cognizin Citicoline is a specially formulated brain-health supplement to help protect neurons and nourish the brain with essential nutrients required for optimal function.

Cognizin Citicoline is a patented, proprietary form of the B vitamin citicoline. Citicoline is the generic name for synthetic cytidine diphosphate choline (CDP-choline), an organic molecule produced endogenously and found in all living cells.

Citicoline is broken down in the body into choline and cytidine. These compounds are used by neurons to build and repair phospholipids, the main structural components of cell membranes. Phospholipids are fatty acid compounds that help repair and maintain the structure of neuronal cell membranes as well as modulate fluidity and function. Because cell membranes have a very high turnover rate, phospholipids must be continuously synthesized to ensure adequate function of cells.

CDP-choline is a precursor for the synthesis of cell-membrane phospholipids including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. Phosphatidylcholine is required for cell division and growth, with subsequent effects on brain structure and function. Phosphatidylcholine levels in brain cell membranes are known to decline with age, potentially leading to poor cognitive health.

Besides enhancing the brain's ability to synthesize phospholipids, citicoline is also used to produce neurotransmitters, including dopamine, noradrenaline and acetylcholine (crucial for memory and cognitive function).*