SYS ONLINE
SUPPLEMENT_SCHOLAR
evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Nootropic

Citicoline (Cognition)

Intermediate in phosphatidylcholine synthesis; boosts focus.

Brain & Cognitive

Overview

Intermediate in phosphatidylcholine synthesis; boosts focus.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Forms & variants of Citicoline (CDP-Choline)

      Different chemical forms of Citicoline (CDP-Choline) behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

      Parent
      Citicoline (CDP-Choline)

      Phospholipid precursor with cytidine bonus — supports membranes and dopamine.

      Mechanism of action

      Provides choline and cytidine (→ uridine) for membrane synthesis and dopaminergic tone.

      Pathways

        Effects on the body

        Organ system effects

        Evidence-based benefits

        Improves attention in healthy women

        Moderate evidence

        Potential side effects

        Common
        • · Headache
        Rare
          Serious

            Drug interactions

            No notable interactions reported.

            Safety & non-supplemental interactions

            Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

            Avoid if you are
            • ·Pregnant or breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
            • ·Children under 18 (unless directed by a clinician)

            Supplement interactions

            Pairs well with

            None listed.

            Avoid combining with

            No specific avoidances listed.

            Dosing & bioavailability

            Typical dose
            250–500 mg
            With food?
            Morning

            Where to buy

            Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

            Nootropic
            Citicoline (…
            Amazon
            Wide selection · fast shipping
            Nootropic
            Citicoline (…
            iHerb
            Global delivery · curated brands
            Nootropic
            Citicoline (…
            Thorne
            Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

            Scientific evidence (8)

            RCTFood Nutr Sci · 2012

            Citicoline on attention in healthy adults

            McGlade E, et al.

            28-day DB-RCT in 60 women.

            Key findings

            Improved attention on Ruff 2 & 7 vs placebo.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Citicoline (Cognition) — Improves attention in healthy women

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Citicoline (Cognition) Improves attention in healthy women" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citicoline (Cognition) and "Improves attention in healthy women". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Citicoline (Cognition) — randomized controlled trial

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Citicoline (Cognition) randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citicoline (Cognition) and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Citicoline (Cognition) — meta-analysis

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Citicoline (Cognition) meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citicoline (Cognition) and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Citicoline (Cognition) — pharmacokinetics

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Citicoline (Cognition) pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citicoline (Cognition) and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Citicoline (Cognition) — safety adverse events

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Citicoline (Cognition) safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citicoline (Cognition) and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

            PubMed: Citicoline (Cognition) — dose response

            Live PubMed search

            Live results for "Citicoline (Cognition) dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

            Key findings

            Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Citicoline (Cognition) and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

            Open study
            Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

            Google Scholar: Citicoline (Cognition) — clinical evidence

            Live Scholar search

            Cross-database citation index for Citicoline (Cognition) as it relates to "clinical evidence".

            Key findings

            Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

            Open study
            Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.