Alpha GPC Benefits. HONEST Review of Alpha GPC Supplements of “NOW”
What is Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC)?
Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) or Gliatilin is a cholinergic compound that is used for its cognitive as well as athletic performance to increase power output.
Alpha GPC (Alpha-GPC, L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine) is a fatty acid (found in soy, liver, eggs, and meat) that helps focus, strengthen muscles, and stimulates hormone production.
Alpha GPC is a type of choline that is produced in our bodies in small amounts. Choline is needed for the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and for the formation of phosphatidylcholine, which is used to create cell membranes. Alpha GPC is a precursor to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that affects memory and learning.
Where does Alpha Gps (Glycerylphosphorylcholine) come from?
Alpha-GPC is a natural precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is important for memory and cognitive functions. This substance is choline, which is purified from soy lecithin and is a powerful nootropic supplement. Although the body naturally produces alpha-GPC, you can also take it from a variety of food sources (mainly soy milk) or sports supplements available on the market.
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What effect can you expect from taking this nootropic? Alpha GPC Benefits
- Improving the ability to memorize. Especially in stressful situations when cognitive abilities are declining;
- Relief of symptoms of depression and improvement of mood;
- Increased attention and stability
- Improves Iron Absorption: A comparative study found that 46 mg of alpha-GPC per day was more effective than 100 mg of vitamin C in helping us absorb non-heme iron (from vegetables).
- Increases physical performance: Daily doses of 250 mg have been shown to be effective in improving performance when lifting heavy weights, especially after starting one week of supplementation.
- Cognitive Improvement: High doses of 1,200 mg of Alpha-GPC per day helped significantly improve memory and cognitive performance 6 months after starting the supplement. However, it is unknown if the effect will persist at lower doses.
- Alpha-GPC protects and maintains overall brain health by promoting the development of new brain cells and increasing the body’s ability to repair damaged cell membranes.
Research suggests Alpha GPC may be beneficial for people with ischemic stroke. This is due to the ability of this compound to act as a neuroprotective agent and maintain neuroplasticity through nerve growth factor receptors.
Other positive effects of Alpha GPC. Alpha GPC Benefits:
- Increasing dopamine in the brain may help people with Parkinson’s disease.
- Accelerating the oxidation of fats in the liver helps to reduce their accumulation.
- Pre-workout energy boost.
- Increased libido.
What happens if there is a deficit of Alpha Gps in the body?
If there is not enough acetylcholine in the body, then the whole system starts to work badly. Imagine if our brain was a city inhabited by millions of inhabitants and at some point these people suddenly began to lack words to communicate with each other.
They stop trading, making friends with a friend and generally understanding what is happening at the moment. Such a neurophysiological tower of Babel.
In a perfectly functioning brain, this should not be, but under the influence of stress factors, a deficit can occur. This is where supplements such as Alpha GPC come to our rescue, which help to replenish stocks and establish normal operation.
As soon as it is possible to do this, the whole system begins to bounce back – the overload begins to subside, one feels lightness and an uplift in mood. As if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Separately, it is worth highlighting that acetylcholine is also involved in the processes of attention and concentration, since it regulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxing our body.
Mechanism of action Alpha GPC
Alpha GPC is composed of three elements, choline, glycerol and phosphate, and is the main source of choline. Due to its good water solubility, Alpha-GPC is rapidly absorbed in the intestine and crosses the blood-brain barrier (the membrane between the bloodstream and the central nervous system). Once the absorption process is complete, a combination of choline and a byproduct known as glycerophosphate is metabolized.
Choline is responsible for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a key transmitter that is associated with cognitive functions such as memory creation and recovery, learning, writing new information, and playing an important role in concentration.
Glycerophosphate strengthens the cellular membrane structure in the cerebral cortex. This outer layer of nerve tissue or “gray matter” is the brain’s information processing center. It controls intelligence, motor function, organization, personality, planning, and touch.
Alpha GPC also has a significant effect on the pituitary gland. Stimulation of the pituitary gland leads to an increase in the production of growth hormone. Hence the positive power effects.
Alpha GPC Benefits for Sportsmen
While traditionally Alpha-GPC supplements have been used to improve cognitive performance, they have recently also become part of the diet of many athletes looking to exercise better.
Alpha GPC is a water-soluble compound that has already generated public interest for its ability to enhance growth hormone production. This is one of the unique properties of Alpha-GPC and is different from other choline supplements.
Growth hormone is a vital anabolic peptide hormone and is especially valued in various supplements to increase its performance, especially in sports nutrition due to its properties of promoting muscle growth. It is also responsible for increasing protein synthesis, energy levels, and cell repair in your body. There have been studies conducted on users who take Alpha-GPC and have shown that it can increase energy levels by almost 200%, equivalent to nearly double the average post-workout growth hormone production.
For all coaches and athletes looking to increase the power and strength of their bodies due to the depletion of acetylcholine. Alpha-GPC helps strengthen the mind-body connection by improving the function of the nervous system in the brain, which allows your body to use more muscle fibers during exercise. Alpha -GPC quickly makes athletes more powerful and more resistant to fatigue, so training can last longer.
Alpha-GPC is considered effective for both athletes who need to exert effort where speed prevails and athletes who require isometric strength such as weightlifting. Data shows that taking this supplement within 3-6 days of training can improve physical performance by up to 14%.
Alpha in conjunction with other Nootropics
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Alpha-GPC is already a good supplement on its own, but it works to its fullest when combined with other supplements. The three most effective options are:
Caffeine – gives extra energy and fuse in order to load yourself with new skills and knowledge.
DMAE – helps the body synthesize acetylcholine even more efficiently.
Huperzine A – blocks acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that dissolves acetylcholine.
The most ideal option is when all four supplements are collected in one product .Pay attention to this fact if you want to get the maximum effect and result.
Attention! Improper Use of Alpha-GPC Supplements
Many years ago, when Alpha-GPC supplements began to gain a foothold in the market, scientists conducted various studies trying to find out if they had various additional benefits. While many of these purported benefits were dismissed, some of them became myths that persist to this day.
For the sake of clarity, it is helpful to remember 2 things that Alpha-GPC supplements will not do:
- Increased growth hormone levels: Consuming more than 600 mg of alpha-GPC before exercise causes an increase in growth hormone concentration, but this effect is short-lived and easily reversed within a few hours.
- Increased focus: Unfortunately, research shows that Alpha-GPC’s nootropic functions only help memory, as even 500 mg of this supplement is not enough to improve our concentration or mental alertness.
Alpha GPC in natural food
Alpha GPC is naturally found in certain foods such as cod, red meat, oats, eggs, milk, and liver. But its content does not matter, since it does not exceed 100 mg per 100 g of food. It is not naturally pharmacologically active. Therefore, Alpha-GPC supplements, which are made synthetically from egg or soy lecithin, were created to take advantage of this interesting function in athletes. In the amount of 300 mg per dose.
Alpha-GPC the Recommended dosage
The recommended dosage for athletes and bodybuilders is 300-600 mg. It is recommended to use Alpha-GPC in the morning, before your workout, and take about an hour before your next workout.
When it comes to specific conditions, such as age-related memory problems, the dosage is usually higher. When it comes to cognitive decline, the typical dose in research is 1200 mg divided by three throughout the day.
To increase physical endurance and strength, the most common dosage is 600 mg 90 minutes before training.
Other Ingredients of Alpha-GPC of “NOW”
- Cellulose (capsule), cellulose powder, silicon dioxide, stearic acid (vegetable source) and magnesium stearate (vegetable source).
- Contains: Soy (alpha-GPC from soy lecithin).
- Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Manufactured in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens
Alpha GPC Side effects
Most of the side effects of Alpha-GPC Combination are dosage increases. This can be avoided or eliminated by switching to a lower dose. If you experience symptoms including dizziness, migraines, and heartburn, this is a sign that your dosage is decreasing or that you are not using the supplement. If you follow the standard dose, most people will not experience any side effects and are suitable for athletes and bodybuilders of all skill levels.
Analogs of Alpha GPC
When we are talking about analogs of Alpha GPC, they all can not be of the same quality, medicines differ in the level of purification of their constituent chemicals, the amount of medicinal components. A number of supplements may have the same therapeutic effect, but the side reaction may vary.
1.Choline Bitartrate. Choline supplementation with a higher concentration of choline than food. It has one significant drawback – it is not as effective at overcoming the blood-brain barrier, therefore the cognitive effects are noticeably weaker than that of Alpha-GPC.
2.Centrophenoxine. Although not a source of choline, it has similar benefits. Can be taken as a standalone supplement that has a positive effect on acetylcholine production.
3.Citicoline (Ceraxon, Diphosphocin, Neuroxon). Promotes the formation of phosphatidylcholine from choline. Improves attention and memory.
Personal Experience of Alpha GPC of “NOW”
As for me ,Alpha GPC improved learning and memory, increased endurance And Growth Hormone Secretion.
The best thing I like a lot about Alpha GPC supplement is that it is a vegetarian / vegan product and therefore can be taken by anyone. More importantly, I appreciate that the supplement is free of wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, fish, and nuts.
Therefore, it is also suitable for consumption by people with allergies. However, if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you should first talk to your doctor.
For me personally, the first effect of Alpha GPC supplement was around after 6 days of usage.
For me, the effect of Alpha Brain lasts around 6 hours. But, according to some independent reviews by Alpha Brain, the effect can last more than 7-8 hours.
Alpha GPC was well tolerated when taken in recommended doses.
They say that based on clinical trials and Alpha Brain data, there are no reported side effects of the supplement. From this Alpha Brain supplement me personally did not have any side effects.
However, you may experience minor side effects when interacting with medications or taking more than is required. This is why you must adhere to the recommended dosage and should consult your doctor before taking any nootropic supplements.
Curious about our Top 3 List? Check This Review Out:
The 3 Best Brain Health Supplements
