Originally Posted by
Ross Davidson
First, let me start off by amending a previous statement.
I said that Alpha Brain has CDP choline, when in fact it has alpha gpc choline (hence Alpha Brain, I suppose). Both of these forms are supposed to have higher bio-availability than choline bitartrate. But they're much more expensive, for what's in my opinion, something that is a small hindrance for such a higher price.
Ok, so every form of choline is composed of two separate entities, either bonded together or as an ionic salt; it is composed of the positively charged choline molecular ion, and a negatively charged molecular ion of a differing variety. This is how they make it into a dry, manipulative powder/crystalline form to put into capsules.
There are three main supplemental types: alpha GPC, CDP, and choline bitartrate. Most studies that I've seen have tested either CDP or alpha GPC; I personally haven't read any using choline bitartrate. Both GPC and CDP seem to have high bio-availability, and supposedly are better than choline bitartrate. HOWEVER, choline is ESSENTIAL for many functions within the human body, so when you eat it, your body is going to want to NOT let any slip through the cracks. So any bio-availability issues, in my opinion, are insignificant, especially when considering that buying bulk powder allows you to super saturate your body with the stuff. As for what is most "natural", I'd personally say they all are, but I'm coming from the standpoint of the essential aspect of choline. It's naturally found in eggs and meats, but if you're looking for a higher order nootropic effect, your diet is going to be pretty heavy on raw eggs. So I'd say that choline, period, is good for you.
One of the issues though, I guess (hasn't happened to me), is that bitartrate (the chemical itself) can potentially cause gastrointestinal issues at first, using high dosages. Like I said, this hasn't happened with me, although I did slowly build up to the large amounts I currently take. I am unsure of the other forms and their potential for issues as such.
This leads me to the next point, which is that every form you take only has so much choline per serving. Choline bitartrate, for example, is 40% choline and 60% bitartrate, so when I say I take 1000-3000 mg of choline each day, I'm talking about strictly the choline. The actual value of the total mass of the powder I take is much larger (~7500 mg).
As for your second paragraph, I'd say that it doesn't stop after three weeks, your brain and body just become normalized to the state that hyper-saturation gives you. If you're in it to get high or something, this isn't for you. If you're in it to enhance learning ability, concentration, nervous system response, and cell membrane quality, etc, then this IS for you.
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