Having trouble focusing? Are you distracted? Alpha GPC comes to the rescue. What is this relationship? How to use it? Can it really help in learning, playing and exercising? I invite you to read the next article in the “Brain Cheering” series.
I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the two previous materials:
- Brain doping – Fundamentals of supplementation of the player, people learning and working mentally
- Brain doping – Caffeine and Theanine
Full Badger Workout
All supplements can be purchased at http://www.muscle-zone.pl/. With the promo code BORSUK05 you will receive a 5% discount on your entire order. In addition, I encourage you to like my fanpage Full Borsuk Workout.
What is Alpha GPC?
Alpha GPC (Choline alfoscerate) is a choline compound that contains phospholipid compounds. It is a precursor to the synthesis of acetylcholine and phospholipids in the brain. Naturally, this relationship is present in in offal, fish and cereals, but its content in them is quite modest when it comes to a significant impact on the functioning of our brain, which is why supplementation in this case seems justified.
Action
- It improves focus and reaction time when working under pressure.
- It has a positive effect on cognitive functions and learning ability and can improve memory skills.
- It can increase the concentration of acetylcholine in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex Unfortunately, no increase in choline concentration in the hippocampus was observed ; this fact can be explained by an indirect effect, which is manifested by an improvement in the expression of acetylcholine receptors.
- It affects the concentration of dopamine neurotransmitters and improves their functioning at the level of cell membranes. As a result, we may feel slightly agitated. Thanks to this mechanism, Alpha GPC works well in synergy with other substances affecting the dopamine system, e.g. caffeine.
- To a lesser extent, it also affects the concentration of serotonin (commonly known as the happiness hormone).
- In higher doses, it may affect strength performance during training.
- Alpha GPC can be used in Alzheimer’s patients who metabolize choline too quickly, which unfortunately has a negative effect on cell membranes.
- Supplementation affects the release of growth hormone even in oral supplementation, unfortunately, this effect lasts a maximum of 2 hours, which, as in the case of arginine, does not give measurable profits in this aspect.
How to dose?
Alpha GPC easily crosses the blood-brain barrier in oral supplementation. After 1-3 hours from taking the supplement, the so-called “peak” occurs, i.e. the moment when the impact on our brain will be the greatest, however, the half-life is recorded up to 24 hours.
In the case of improving cognitive functions, we use a dose of 300 mg, which we take from 2 to 4 times a day, although most studies show significant effects from doses of 600 mg per day.
If we want to influence the so-called “power output” and improve the results in strength training, we take 600 mg about 1 hour before training.
It has a synergistic effect with caffeine, theanine, omega 3, uridine and phosphodylserine. It also has a positive effect on the absorption of non-heme iron from food
Where to buy?
- Apollo – Alpha GPC – with code BORSUK05 – 5% off
