Alpha GPC is a water-soluble Choline compound that is widely considered by users to be the best Acetylcholine precursor in the Nootropic supplement category.
Alpha Glyceryl Phosphorylcholine is found within the human body and in a number of other food and plant sources including milk and soy.
It is also a phospholipid, which is a major component of cell membranes in your cerebral cortex. As such, there are several different mechanisms of action by which Alpha GPC can improve your brainpower and enhance cognition and intellect.
Alpha GPC benefits range from an increase in memory, learning capacity, attention span, and focus to more mental energy and even mood enhancement.
What is the right way to take this supplement, and what size Alpha GPC dosage should you be using for the best results?



- Choline source to support memory function
- Increases attention, focus & energy
- Neuroprotective for brain cell health
How Does Alpha GPC Work?
Related Topics
- Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine
- What is Choline?
- Alpha GPC Choline Content
- Health Benefits
- Dosages to Take
- User Reviews
- Side Effects
- Uses for Memory
- Effects on the Brain
- Increasing Growth Hormone
- Using Alpha GPC Powder
- Where to Buy Online
- Best Supplement Sources
- Comparison to CDP Choline
- Choline Alfoscerate
- Stacking with Piracetam
Before addressing the proper usage guidelines for an Alpha GPC dose, let’s first try to develop an in-depth understanding of how it works.
Alpha GPC is a cholinergic nootropic which means it can increase activity of Acetylcholine neurotransmission in the brain.
While you can take Choline supplements to produce a moderate increase in memory capacity, Alpha GPC has a dramatically higher recorded potency in part because of its greater bioavailability.
Alpha GPC is a natural compound that is easily absorbed into the bloodstream and then crosses over the blood-brain barrier. This allows the supplement to reach its targets within the central nervous system in a rather fast-acting manner.
The first method of action for Alpha GPC powder involves increasing Acetylcholine synthesis. Acetylcholine is a powerful neurotransmitter within the brain that is thought to play a critical role in memory formation, learning, and a number of additional cognitive processes.
By raising levels of this neurotransmitter, you can effectively cause your brain to form more connections and increase the speed at which various thought processes are carried out.
Typically, the body gets choline from our diet in order to synthesize Acetylcholine in the brain. However, recent analysis has shown that only 10% of the population has a diet with sufficient levels of choline in it.
As such, supplementing with Alpha GPC is important to prevent cognitive impairment.
It also increases the blood flow, oxygen uptake, and even energy metabolism within the brain. This is thought to improve mental energy and stamina, promote greater alertness, increase the attention span, and help with overall focus and concentration ability.
The supplement also works to stimulate the development and synthesis of cell membranes throughout the body, especially the brain. Being a phospholipid itself, Alpha GPC may even help to repair damaged and worn out cells.
This leads to the brain working more efficiently since old cell membranes make it difficult for neurons to communicate with one another.
Scientific research on supplemental choline has been promising so far, however more research is still needed to full understand its effects. At this time, Alpha GPC is available as a health supplement only, and the FDA has not approved Alpha GPC as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.
Typical Alpha GPC Dosage
The following dosage recommendations are general guidelines only, and your personal dosage may be different. Proper dosage is dependent on many different factors including age, weight, sex, personal sensitivities, and the purpose for taking the supplement.
It is always recommended that you speak with your doctor before beginning any new supplements. Your doctor will be able to help determine the best dosage for your needs as well as determine if there may be any negative interactions with any supplements or medications you are currently taking.
There is some disagreement about the best Alpha GPC dosage to use among the many thousands of people who take this supplement. This may in part be due to the fact that there are no dosage guidelines provided by the FDA or other health organizations for this nootropic compound.
Most reviewers, however, will advise staying within the range of 400 to 1,200 mg per day. This dosage does not need to be taken all at once. In fact, it may even be better if it is spread out somewhat. Just keep in mind that you may not want to take this supplement after the early or midafternoon, since it can produce a strong energy increase.
This has led to a number of user reports stating they had difficulties getting to sleep after a late dosing of Alpha GPC. For best use, you might want to take one dose with breakfast in the morning and a second with lunch.
If you are just starting out with Alpha GPC, most users recommend beginning with 400mg per day, split into two dosages.
It is difficult to find Alpha GPC tablets in this dosage size so you will likely need to buy the powdered version of this supplement to measure more precise doses. You can then mix the powder into juice or water or even make your own pill capsules to avoid having to measure every time you use this product.
An Alpha GPC dosage of 400 mg might not seem like very much in comparison to the dose sizes for other nootropics, but it is actually quite a significant amount.
Alpha GPC is considered to be 2.2 x stronger than the next best Choline source – CDP Choline – so you can get a solid effect even from this small amount. It is also worth noting that Alpha Brain by Onnit Labs only contains 60 mg of Alpha GPC in its formula and reviews for this stack are very positive.
Higher Alpha GPC Dosages
As you gain more experience taking these cognitive enhancing supplements, it may be possible to move up to a dosage of 800mg per day. At this level, you will definitely want to split the Allpha GPC dosage into 2 administrations.
This is considered a good level for weight training athletes to use. Simply take 400mg upon waking or with breakfast, then the second 400mg dose about 15 to 30 minutes before working out. Studies have shown that this will produce maximal strength, focus, and attention 45 minutes after ingestion, so plan accordingly.
You may also want to increase the benefits by using a few different nootropics with complimentary actions together. Any of the Racetams or Noopept work very well with Alpha GPC and there are a number of herbal nootropics that you may want to try as well.
Some people do decide to increase further to a 1200 mg Alpha GPC dose per day, but you may find this to be too stimulating and not suitable for daily use.
While there have not been any cases of overdose on Alpha GPC recorded, there may be greater risk of negative side effects at this quantity. Typical side effects can include headaches, nausea, indigestion, fatigue, insomnia, and restlessness.
You can usually mitigate these side effects by reducing to a smaller dosage.
In some clinical applications, 1200 mg may be considered a suitable dose for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other forms of cognitive decline. If this applies to you then you should speak to a doctor first before taking this or any other nootropic supplement.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the Alpha GPC dosage that you take really depends upon what specifically you are looking for.
A beginner, for example, should almost certainly start with a low dose and only work their way up as tolerance builds or it becomes necessary. Athletes could probably start with a higher dose, taking one administration as a pre-workout supplement.
There really is no “right” or one-size fits all dosage level of Alpha GPC. You should also consider the other supplements that you plan to stack with Alpha GPC when designing a stack ratio.
You can buy Alpha GPC over the internet in most countries around the world, though it may be difficult to find this supplement in stores like Walmart or GNC.
Contrary to some rumors, this supplement is legal and unregulated in the USA and you do not need a prescription to order it. The same is the case for residents of the UK where you can purchase Alpha GPC locally or import it from overseas.
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Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
4 Comments
How much time can I keep taking daily? There’s a right time to end or begin a cycle? Thank you.
Hi Antonio,
Thanks for your question – Alpha GPC is a supplement that can be used daily and should not need to be cycled unless you are experiencing adverse effects. There have not been long-term studies on the safety of this supplement, but it is GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe).
Hello,
If acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that the brain uses to send signals of sexual arousal, to the genitals, and Alpha-GPC choline increases acetylcholine, why don’t you mention this with its benefits?
I am a male, age 58. Is this true? Would this help me to sense more sexual arousal if I took Alpha-GPC choline? Or do I need to take something else to increase sexual arousal?
Please reply. Thank you very much.
Hi Randy,
Thanks for your comment! There hasn’t been any research into the effects of Alpha GPC on libido that I am aware of. While acetylcholine is involved in sexual function, research studies need to be conducted to demonstrate whether or not supplementing with Alpha GPC can support libido.
If you are looking for supplements that can reliably support sexual arousal, Horny Goat Weed is one with a lot of evidence behind it.