Full profile
| Also known as | CDP-choline, Cytidine diphosphate-choline |
|---|---|
| Best for | Focus · Mental energy · Attention on demanding days |
| Evidence grade | Grade B — Moderate — several human trials, some mixed results |
| Studied dose range | 250–500 mg per serving in many studies. |
| Time to effect | Some acute studies; often positioned as daily-use over weeks. |
| Best form | Cognizin is a commonly referenced branded citicoline form. |
Evidence, honestly graded
Several human trials in various populations report attention and memory measures. Dose and population differences make direct comparison difficult. In the interest of transparency, both principal supporting trials (McGlade 2012; Nakazaki 2021) are tied to Cognizin's manufacturer, Kyowa Hakko Bio — a sponsor-dependence caveat behind this grade; independent replication would strengthen it.
See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.
96 licensed natural health products in Health Canada's LNHPD list Citicoline as a medicinal ingredient.
That makes Citicoline a recognized, licensable medicinal ingredient in Canada — regulated by Health Canada's Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, which issues each licensed natural health product a Natural Product Number (NPN). Search the LNHPD to verify.
Side effects
- Generally well tolerated
- Occasional headache or GI discomfort reported
Who should avoid it or check first
- Pregnant or breastfeeding without clinician guidance
Interactions
- Discuss with a clinician if taking medications affecting acetylcholine pathways
Stacks well with
Use caution stacking with
- Redundant to combine multiple high-dose choline sources without rationale
What to look for on a label
- Check the elemental citicoline dose per serving.
- Branded forms should be named and dosed transparently.
References
- McGlade E, Locatelli A, Hardy J, et al. (2012). Food and Nutrition Sciences, 3(6):769–773Fewer commission errors on a sustained-attention test versus placebo at both doses.
- Nakazaki E, Mah E, Sanoshy K, et al. (2021). The Journal of Nutrition, 151(8):2153–2160Improved episodic memory measures versus placebo in a healthy older sample.
Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.
Revision history
Every change to this ingredient's evidence status, dated and explained. The full cross-library log lives at Evidence Updates.
- 2026-07-04New profile
Initial profile published at Grade B: several human trials report attention and memory measures, though both principal supporting trials are tied to the branded-form manufacturer — a sponsor-dependence caveat behind the grade.
See how Citicoline compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.