Phosphatidylcholine Benefits and Effects for your Brain

Phosphatidylcholine is a supplement with many different benefits for your brain.

This nootropic compound is used to boost memory, enhance intellectual skills, increase concentration, and improve overall brain health.

Phosphatidylcholine benefits are derived from the fact that it is a source of choline which is an essential nutrient necessary for proper brain function. Choline (in various forms) actually makes up a large part of the volume of your brain cells and is incorporated into all of your neuron cell membranes.

Unfortunately, most people do not get enough of this vital nutrient in their diet which is why using supplements like Phosphatidylcholine (or the higher quality supplements Alpha GPC or Citicoline) is so important.

Phosphatidylcholine is the generic term for a class of phospholipids that incorporate choline as a major part of their structure. They are also a major component of biological membranes, especially cellular membranes.

You may find these compounds in a number of different food sources such as egg yolks and soy beans (they can also be chemically extracted using hexane). Additionally, they are a member of the lecithin group of brownish fatty substances which occur in both animal and plant tissues.

Phosphatidylcholine is also the most abundant type of phospholipid in the body. It is found in the highest concentrations within the liver and the brain.

Phosphatidylcholine

Cholinergic Supplement

Memory

Brain Health

Cognition

How It Works:

• Increases acetylcholine levels in the brain
• Supports memory & cognition
• Promotes brain cell health

Dosage:

Between 400 - 1200 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Phosphatidylcholine Effects

When Phosphatidylcholine enters your brain, it is used to build and repair new cell membranes.

The same lipid structures present in Phosphatidylcholine are also present in your cell membranes, especially those in the brain.

By ensuring the integrity of your neuron membranes, you can make meaningful improvements to cognitive functioning and neuron communication.

Phosphatidylcholine may also aid in the transport and delivery of lipids throughout the body (controlled by the liver), help in membrane mediated cell signaling, and the activation of a number of other enzymes.

One of the most important effects of Phosphatidylcholine is to increase choline supply in the brain. Phosphatidylcholine can be broken down in the brain into choline and sphingomyelin. Sphingomyelin is thought to be essential in the development and protection of nerve cells.

Meanwhile, choline is a precursor to synthesize Acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that is used in a number of cognitive processes. It plays a vital role in the underlying processes involved in memory and learning to attention and sensory perception.

When choline levels are low in the body, phosphatidylcholine is cannabilized from the cell walls and used to make Acetylcholine. This can lead to a decrease in cognitive function over time. There is a theory that continued auto-cannabilization of cell membranes over time may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s.

In order to avoid this negative outcome, it is important to continuously supply your neurons with enough choline to meet its needs. This also has the effect of raising Acetylcholine levels so that your neuron signaling is more efficient and it is easier for new connections to develop between neurons. You will recognize this as increasing the plasticity of your brain.

We should quickly note that while Phosphatidylcholine is better than nothing, this supplement does face one critical stumbling block: when choline is ingested orally, it has to travel through the intestines before it reaches the liver and eventually makes it into the blood stream.

Studies have found that as much as 60% of the choline in Phosphatidylcholine supplements ends up being broken down and digested by bacteria in the gut. This means that the choline in this supplement has low bioavailability so you will need a larger amount to be effective.

Most nootropic users prefer some of the higher quality forms of choline available such as Alpha GPC, Centrophenoxine, and Citicoline (CDP) instead of Phosphatidylcholine due to the increased absorption rate. These supplements also have additional benefits beyond the limited effects of Phosphatidylcholine.

Research on choline supplements has been promising so far, however more research is still needed. At this time Phosphatidylcholine is available as a health supplement only, and the FDA has not approved Phosphatidylcholine as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

Phosphatidylcholine Benefits

What are the reported benefits of Phosphatidylcholine?

Most benefits arise from the fact that this supplement may increase the production of Acetylcholine in your neurons. This has the effect of improving memory and learning capacity as well as recall.

Higher levels of Acetylcholine are thought to improve overall cognition by contributing to enhanced concentration and focus and lengthened attention span.

It may also improve sensory perception and awareness, especially in terms of sight and hearing. You may notice more details and be able to remember this information more readily.

Phosphatidylcholine also helps to reduce inflammation and to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. There is also evidence that this supplement may boost the immune system and help to protect against infections and disease.

Additional Phosphatidylcholine benefits involve energy metabolism of fatty acids and the transportation of fats through cell membranes. This natural nootropic helps to avoid a build-up of fatty acids and other fat cells within the liver.

As the supplement is broken down into its various components, choline acts as a methyl donor which helps to support this metabolic process of transporting the fatty acids from the liver to other tissues throughout the body.

Phosphatidylcholine Dosage and Side Effects

Proper dosage is dependent on many different factors and it is recommended that you speak with your doctor to determine the best dosage for your needs. The below dosage recommendations are general guidelines only, and your dosage may be different.

Most Phosphatidylcholine preparations suggest taking 400 mg up to three times daily.

You may find that you need a different amount when using this supplement in a nootropic stack with other memory enhancers like Piracetam or Aniracetam. These nootropics are known to increase the demand for choline and will be more effective when combined in the right ratio.

Phosphatidylcholine is safe in large amounts up to 5 grams, though you should not need a dose this high.

Phosphatidylcholine has been rated by the Natural Medicines database as Possibly Safe when used orally and appropriately. It is generally well tolerated with a low risk of serious side effects. Some of the mild side effects associated with Phosphatidylcholine are excessive sweating, diarrhea, and stomach upset. These are generally only present when taken in higher dose levels.

Phosphatidylcholine Review

As a source of choline, Phosphatidylcholine has a lot of potential benefits. Using this supplement may improve long-term memory storage, learning capacity, fluid intelligence, reasoning and focus. Phosphatidylcholine also has a positive effect on brain cell health and can enhance neuroplasticity.

However, this supplement is considered less effective than other choline source such as Alpha GPC or Citicoline which have significantly higher bio-availability. You may find that Phosphatidylcholine works well in a beginner’s nootropic stack, but it may become necessary to switch to a higher quality choline supplement to optimize your results down the road.

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