Category: nucleotide
Aliases: Citicoline, Cytidine-5'-diphosphocholine
Hydrolysed in the gut to cytidine + choline — both absorbed and each crosses BBB (cytidine converts to uridine in circulation). Reassembled intracellularly to CDP-choline, the rate-limiting substrate in the Kennedy pathway for phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Raises brain acetylcholine, dopamine, and noradrenaline levels. Largest clinical use: post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation (evidence mixed but more favourable than for alpha-GPC on stroke endpoints).
PO: 56h