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Moderate evidenceBrain & cognition

Citicoline (CDP-Choline)

The best-evidenced choline donor for memory, with a positive RCT in healthy older adults and supportive dementia meta-analysis data. Its most heavily funded application, acute stroke recovery, largely failed in the definitive trial.

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What the science says

  • Memory in healthy older adults Moderate evidence

    A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial gave 500 mg/day citicoline to healthy adults aged 50-85 and found significant improvement in an episodic memory composite versus placebo. This is one of the few clean supplement trials in cognitively normal people, but it is a single study with industry involvement and needs replication.

  • Dementia and mild cognitive impairment Moderate evidence

    A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis concluded citicoline was associated with better cognitive scores and slower decline in people with MCI or dementia, at doses commonly around 500-1,000 mg/day. Included trials were heterogeneous in design, duration and diagnostic criteria, so the pooled estimate should be read cautiously.

  • Acute ischaemic stroke recovery Limited evidence

    Despite promising early trials, the large ICTUS trial of citicoline 2,000 mg/day after acute ischaemic stroke found no benefit on the global recovery endpoint versus placebo. This is the clearest negative result in the citicoline literature and should temper enthusiasm about "neuroprotection" claims.

  • Glaucoma and optic neuropathy Limited evidence

    Small trials of oral and intraocular citicoline report improvements in visual evoked potentials and retinal function in glaucoma patients on top of pressure-lowering therapy. Sample sizes are small and surrogate endpoints dominate; no trial has shown preserved visual field over the long term.

Dosage & safety

Studied dose250-2,000 mg/day. Healthy-adult memory trials used 500 mg/day for 12 weeks; dementia and neurological trials used 500-2,000 mg/day. Doses above 500 mg are usually split morning and midday, as it can be mildly alerting.
SafetyWell tolerated in trials lasting up to a year; the most common effects are headache, insomnia, nausea and diarrhoea, generally at rates close to placebo. Because it increases dopamine availability, it may potentiate levodopa and should be discussed with a neurologist in Parkinson's disease. Citicoline is a prescription drug in Japan and parts of Europe and a dietary supplement in the US. Not studied in pregnancy.

How to take it

TimingMorning, or split morning and midday for doses above 500 mg, since it can be mildly alerting.
With food?With or without food.
Worth knowingIt is a prescription medicine in Japan and parts of Europe — worth mentioning to any doctor treating you, not just filing under 'supplement'.

Interactions

With medications

  • levodopa

    Citicoline increases dopamine availability and has been used as an adjuvant allowing lower levodopa doses. do not add it in Parkinson's disease without your neurologist's involvement

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does citicoline improve memory?

Citicoline has moderate evidence for memory: a 12-week trial in healthy adults aged 50-85 found 500 mg/day improved episodic memory versus placebo. It is a single study with industry involvement, so it needs replication.

Does citicoline help with dementia or mild cognitive impairment?

A 2023 meta-analysis linked citicoline, commonly at 500-1,000 mg/day, to better cognitive scores and slower decline in MCI or dementia, with moderate evidence. The included trials varied widely, so the pooled result should be read cautiously.

Does citicoline help recovery after a stroke?

No clear benefit: the large ICTUS trial of citicoline at 2,000 mg/day after acute ischaemic stroke found no improvement in global recovery versus placebo. This is the clearest negative result for citicoline.

When should I take citicoline?

Take citicoline in the morning, or split morning and midday for doses above 500 mg, since it can be mildly alerting; food does not matter. If you have Parkinson's disease, involve your neurologist, because citicoline may potentiate levodopa.

Scientific references

Where to buy

Jarrow Formulas, Citicoline, CDP Choline, 250 mg, 120 Capsules

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