L-α-Glycerophosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC, choline alfoscerate, sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) is a natural choline compound found in the brain. It is also a parasympathomimeticacetylcholine precursor[1] which has been investigated for its potential for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease[2] and other dementias.[3]
Industrially, alpha-GPC is produced by the chemical or enzymatic deacylation of phosphatidylcholine enriched soya phospholipids followed by chromatographic purification. Alpha-GPC may also be derived in small amounts from highly purified soy lecithin as well as from purified sunflower lecithin.[5][6]
Alpha-GPC metabolizes to trimethylamine n-oxide in the gastrointestinal tract, which has implications for cardiovascular health. In one study, risk of stroke over a ten-year period was increased by about 40% in users of alpha-GPC.[7]
^De Jesus Moreno Moreno M (January 2003). "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". Clinical Therapeutics. 25 (1): 178–93. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(03)90023-3. PMID12637119.
^ abParnetti L, Mignini F, Tomassoni D, Traini E, Amenta F (June 2007). "Cholinergic precursors in the treatment of cognitive impairment of vascular origin: ineffective approaches or need for re-evaluation?". Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 257 (1–2): 264–9. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2007.01.043. PMID17331541. S2CID34661218.
^Traini E, Bramanti V, Amenta F (December 2013). "Choline alphoscerate (alpha-glyceryl-phosphoryl-choline) an old choline- containing phospholipid with a still interesting profile as cognition enhancing agent". Current Alzheimer Research. 10 (10): 1070–9. doi:10.2174/15672050113106660173. PMID24156263.
^Scapicchio PL (July 2013). "Revisiting choline alphoscerate profile: a new, perspective, role in dementia?". The International Journal of Neuroscience. 123 (7): 444–9. doi:10.3109/00207454.2013.765870. PMID23387341.
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