Alpha‑GPC Research on PubMed Central

Alpha‑glycerylphosphorylcholine (α‑GPC), also called choline alfoscerate, is a cholinergic precursor used in dietary supplements, sports nutrition and pharmaceutical preparations. The following page collates open‑access research articles from PubMed Central (PMC) exploring the effects of α‑GPC in humans, animals and cell models. Each entry links directly to the full‑text article and provides a short description of the study and its key findings.

Cognitive and Psychological Effects

• Acute Alpha‑Glycerylphosphorylcholine Supplementation Enhances Cognitive Performance in Healthy Men (Nutrients 2024) – 20 healthy men took 315 or 630 mg α‑GPC in a double‑blind crossover study; the supplement improved Stroop test scores but did not alter other cognitive measures or physical performance.
• Alpha‑Glycerylphosphorylcholine Increases Motivation in Healthy Volunteers (Nutrients 2021) – single‑blind randomised trial showing that α‑GPC supplementation increased motivation scores compared with placebo.
• Activity of Choline Alphoscerate on Adult‑Onset Cognitive Dysfunctions: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis (J Alzheimers Dis 2023) – pooled analysis of clinical trials reporting that α‑GPC combined with donepezil improves cognition, functional outcomes and behaviour more than donepezil alone; α‑GPC alone also improves cognition compared with placebo.
• Effect of Choline Alphoscerate on the Survival of Glioblastoma Patients (J Clin Med 2022) – retrospective study of 187 glioblastoma patients; long‑term α‑GPC use (≥12 months) was associated with longer median overall survival (38.3 vs 24.0 months) and lower hazard for death compared with shorter use.
• Effect of Choline Alfoscerate in Older Adult Patients with Dementia: An Observational Study (BMC Geriatr 2024) – analysis of claims data showing that approximately one‑fifth of older dementia patients used α‑GPC; use was not clearly linked to dementia progression but was associated with a reduction in all‑cause mortality.
• Choline Alphoscerate: A Therapeutic Option for the Management of Subthreshold Depression in the Older Population (Geriatrics 2025) – narrative review suggesting that α‑GPC’s neuroprotective and cholinergic properties may alleviate subthreshold depression symptoms and prevent progression to major depressive disorder.
• Choline Alphoscerate: Insights Between Acquired Certainties and Future Perspectives (Front Aging Neurosci 2025) – review summarising evidence for α‑GPC in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia and discussing emerging neuroprotective roles and research directions.
• The Effects of a Multi‑Ingredient Cognitive Formula on Alertness, Focus, Motivation, Calmness and Psychomotor Performance (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2014) – conference abstract reporting that a stimulant‑free formula containing α‑GPC, tyrosine and acetyl‑L‑carnitine improved alertness, focus, motivation, cognition, memory and calmness compared with placebo.

Sports Performance and Neuromuscular Function

• The Effect of 6 Days of Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine on Isometric Strength (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2015) – double‑blind crossover trial where 600 mg/day α‑GPC for six days significantly increased isometric mid‑thigh pull peak force compared with placebo.
• Evaluation of the Effects of Two Doses of Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine on Physical and Psychomotor Performance (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2017) – participants received 250 mg or 500 mg α‑GPC for seven days; the lower dose improved jump power and increased serum free choline, while the higher dose depressed thyroid‑stimulating hormone without enhancing performance.
• Effects of Branched Chain Amino Acids, L‑Citrulline, and Alpha‑Glycerylphosphorylcholine Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Trained Cyclists (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2023) – 30 cyclists supplemented with BCAAs, L‑citrulline and 300 mg α‑GPC for seven days; peak power output and time to fatigue in a 20‑km time trial increased compared with placebo.
• Stimulant‑Free Pre‑Workout Formula Containing Alpha‑GPC (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2014) – the same multi‑ingredient formula listed above also improved vertical jump power and cognitive parameters without caffeine.

Vascular and Metabolic Effects

• The Nutritional Supplement L‑Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine Promotes Atherosclerosis (Int J Mol Sci 2021) – in Apoe^−/− mice, dietary α‑GPC elevated trimethylamine‑N‑oxide levels, altered gut microbiota and increased atherosclerotic lesion area, suggesting caution with long‑term supplementation.
• Association of L‑α Glycerylphosphorylcholine With Subsequent Stroke Risk After 10 Years (JAMA Netw Open 2021) – large Korean cohort (>12 million adults) showing that α‑GPC users had higher risk of total, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke compared with non‑users, with a dose‑response relationship.
• l‑Alpha‑Glycerylphosphorylcholine Can Be Cytoprotective or Cytotoxic in Neonatal Rat Cardiac Myocytes (Mol Cell Biochem 2019) – short‑term α‑GPC exposure (15 min to 3 h) was cytoprotective against simulated ischemia/reperfusion, whereas 24 h exposure caused cell death and increased oxidative stress, underscoring potential risks of chronic high doses.
• Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction with L‑Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine (PLOS One 2016) – in a rat liver ischemia/reperfusion model, α‑GPC improved mitochondrial complex I respiration and reduced inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, suggesting a role in protecting mitochondria.

Inflammation, Radioprotection and Wound Healing

• Choline and Choline Alphoscerate Do Not Modulate Inflammatory Processes in the Rat Brain (Nutrients 2017) – rats receiving intraperitoneal choline or α‑GPC for two weeks showed no changes in brain cytokines or adhesion molecules, indicating that α‑GPC does not provoke inflammation.
• l‑Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine as a Potential Radioprotective Agent in Zebrafish Embryo Model (Zebrafish 2016) – zebrafish embryos pre‑treated with α‑GPC were more resistant to gamma‑irradiation, showing higher survival and reduced expression of pro‑inflammatory markers (NF‑κB and IL‑1β).
• Alpha‑Glycerylphosphorylcholine and D‑Panthenol Eye Drops in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery (J Ophthalmol 2022) – topical drops containing α‑GPC and D‑panthenol improved corneal re‑epithelialisation and nerve repair after cataract surgery compared with hyaluronic acid drops.

Lifespan and Aging Research

• The Endogenous Metabolite Glycerophosphocholine Promotes Longevity and Fitness in Caenorhabditis elegans (Metabolites 2022) – supplementation with 50 mM glycerophosphocholine extended mean and maximum lifespan of nematodes, improved motor activity, reduced lipofuscin accumulation and enhanced stress resistance without impairing fertility.

This page is intended for educational purposes and summarises findings from open‑access research. Readers should consult the full articles for detailed methods and interpretations.