FOCUS – Explanation of 2 of its ingredients
"We received a testimonial from a 39-year-old woman who has ADD and who, thanks to this supplement, can finally concentrate, moves less, and no longer has noise in her head... for the first time. How can I explain? She also takes 3 omegas/day.
To answer, Jean-Yves presents two of the ingredients of this supplement, good for both ADD and memory that is lost over time?
Do you know about citicoline?
Citicoline, also known as CDP-Choline, is a nootropic. A nootropic is a compound that may help improve cognition, or the ability to learn. 1
Citicoline helps make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is involved in memory. It is the major natural intracellular precursor of the membrane phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine. 2 Therefore, it may help protect the membranes of neurons, the cells in our brain.
In patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment, citicoline activated neuronal membrane repair, increased cerebral metabolism and central nervous system norepinephrine and dopamine levels, and had neuroprotective effects during hypoxia and ischemia (lack of oxygen to the brain). 3
In people who complained of slow intellectual performance, citicoline helped improve processing speed, working memory, verbal learning, verbal memory, and executive functions. However, no effect appeared in those who already had good speed. 4
It may also have a neuroprotective effect that could be useful in preventing brain damage following a stroke. 5
One interesting study looked at attention. A group of 60 women between the ages of 40 and 60 took either 250 mg of citicoline, 500 mg, or a placebo for 28 days. Both groups that took the product saw their number of errors on standardized assessment tests decrease compared to the placebo. 10
Interestingly, the 250 mg group made fewer omissions (forgetting or missing a response) than the 500 mg and placebo groups. 8
Similar results were obtained in a group of young men (13 to 18 years old). They had better attention, greater accuracy and an improvement in their psychomotor speed (reaction time). 9
Dosages: According to the literature, the dose ranges from 100 to 1,000 mg per day. 6,7
Side effects: Administered orally or by injection, citicoline is non-toxic and very well tolerated. 2
...and vinpocetine?
Vinpocetine is an alkaloid from periwinkle (Vinca minor). 1
It is a multi-action agent with many pharmacological targets that can be classified as a nootropic. It helps improve blood circulation to the brain and ease of nerve conduction. 2
It has a neuroprotective effect against hypoxia (lack of oxygen) by increasing blood flow. 1 In a clinical study conducted in Nigeria, vinpocetine improved symptoms of dementia. 3 It also has an antioxidant effect. 1 In a Chinese study of 610 patients after a stroke, patients took Vinpocetine (30 mg IV) combined with CDP Choline and ASA or Clodiprogel (469 patients) vs. the same substances without vinpocetine (141 pts) for 7 days. Vinpocetine improves cerebral blood flow, cognitive quality, neurological functions and quality of life. 5 For healthy and younger people, vinpocetine seems to help memory and reaction time (40 mg per day for 2 days). 6
Dosage: 10 to 40 mg per day.
Side effect: the only significant side effect is the appearance in some people of redness (flushing) without consequences. 1
References (citicoline):
1. wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootrope
2. Grieb P. Neuroprotective properties of citicoline: facts, doubts and unresolved issues. CNS Drugs. 2014 Mar;28(3):185-93. doi:10.1007/s40263-014-0144-8. PubMed PMID: 24504829; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3933742. .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933742/
3. Cotroneo AM, Castagna A, Putignano S, Lacava R, Fantò F, Monteleone F, Rocca F, Malara A, Gareri P. Effectiveness and safety of citicoline in mild vascular cognitive impairment: the IDEALE study. Clin Interv Aging. 2013; 8:131-7. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S38420. PubMed PMID: 23403474; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3569046. .doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S38420
4. Knott V, de la Salle S, Choueiry J, Impey D, Smith D, Smith M, Beaudry E, Saghir S, Ilivitsky V, Labelle A. Neurocognitive effects of acute choline supplementation in low, medium and high performer healthy volunteers. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2015 Feb 12;131C:119-129. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2015.02.004.
5. Putignano S, Gareri P, Castagna A, Cerqua G, Cervera P, Cotroneo AM, Fiorillo F, Grella R, Lacava R, Maddonni A, Marino S, Pluderi A, Putignano D, Rocca F. Retrospective and observational study to assess the efficacy of citicoline in elderly patients suffering from stupor associated with complex geriatric syndrome. Clin Interv Aging. 2012; 7:113-8. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S29366. PubMed PMID: 22654511; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3363302. .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3363302/
6. Hurtado O, Lizasoain I, Moro MÁ. Neuroprotection and recovery: recent data at the bench on citicoline. Stroke. 2011 Jan;42(1 Suppl): S33-5. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.597435. Review. PubMed PMID: 21164125.
7. García-Cobos R, Frank-García A, Gutiérrez-Fernández M, Díez-Tejedor E. Citicoline, use in cognitive decline: vascular and degenerative. J Neurol Sci. 2010 Dec 15;299(1-2): 188-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2010.08.027. Review. PubMed PMID: 20875651.
8. McGlade E, Locatelli A, Hardy J, et al. Improved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult Women. Food and Nutrition Sciences Sciences Vol.3 No.6, June 2012 doi: 10.4236/fns.2012.36103 PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=19921
9. McGlade E, Agoston AM, DiMuzio J, Kizaki M, Nakazaki E, Kamiya T, Yurgelun-Todd D. The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males. J Atten Disord. 2019 Jan;23(2):121-134. doi:10.1177/1087054715593633. Epub 2015 Jul 15. PMID: 26179181.
10. Patel K et al. CDP-choline. Examine.com October 6, 2021. https://examine.com/supplements/cdp-choline/
References (vinpocetine):
1. Vinpocetine. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 2002 Jun;7(3):240-3. Review. PubMed PMID: 12126465. https://altmedrev.com/blog/resource/vinpocetine/
2. Zhang YS, Li JD, Yan C. An update on vinpocetine: New discoveries and clinical implications. Eur J Pharmacol. 2018 Jan 15; 819:30-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.11.041. Review. PubMed PMID: 29183836; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5766389. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5766389/
3. Ogunrin A. Effect of vinpocetine (cognitol™) on cognitive performances of a Nigerian population. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2014 Jul;4(4):654-61. doi:10.4103/2141-9248.139368. PubMed PMID: 25221724; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4160700. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160700/
4. Patyar S, Prakash A, Modi M, Medhi B. Role of vinpocetine in cerebrovascular diseases. Pharmacol Rep. 2011;63(3):618-28. Review. PubMed PMID: 21857073. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21857073
5. Zhang W, Huang Y, Li Y, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Vinpocetine as Part of Treatment for Acute Cerebral Infarction: A Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled, Multicenter CAVIN (Chinese Assessment for Vinpocetine in Neurology) Trial. Clin Drug Investig. 2016 Sep;36(9):697-704. doi:10.1007/s40261-016-0415-x. PubMed PMID: 27283947. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27283947
6. Subhan Z, Hindmarch I. Psychopharmacological effects of vinpocetine in normal healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1985; 28(5):567-71. doi:10.1007/BF00544068. PMID: 3899677. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00544068
Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All information contained on this page is not intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their own health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is obviously recommended.
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