Vinpocetine

What is Vinpocetine? 

It's a very powerful drug, also called ethyl apovincaminate, its lab-made derivative of

vincamine which is isolated from plant vinca, so you can say half natural and half synthetic

so let's go through this plant vinca from which vincamine is isolated, it is sold as its brand

name,Cavinton and Intelectol,(1),(2)

What is this vinca plant?

It's very common flowering plant, called by popular name periwinkle, and this vincamine is

extracted from seeds and leaves of this plant, and further in the lab this vincamine is converted

to this drugvinpocetine

lets see

                    nootropics facts, vinpocetine

Where this vinpocetine is used?

People use this for a variety of purposes such as

-improving memory

-improving thinking power

-boosting energy

-weight loss

but unfortunately, there is not much clear scientific evidence to support its uses, in fact, its a very controversial drug but in spite of all this it's used in supplements meant for nootropics, that

the real surprise, the medical community is highly divided whether it has any great usefulness

let's see what they think,(3).(4)

apart from its nootropics application, this drug is also promoted for the following health

 conditions again here also we don't have enough support from research data,(5),(6)

-age-related eye problem, AMD

-age-related hearing loss

-taking vinpocetine along with ginkgo improves memory

-reduces brain damage due to acute stroke

-for tinnitus,(ringing in the ears)

-for loss of bladder control,(urinary incontinence)

-Alzheimer disease

-Motion sickness

-Seizure disorder,(epilepsy)

-Menopause problems

It's status

It's used in Japan, Russia, and some European countries, but not in the US, Canada, Australia

, New Zealand but still sold as in supplements, where mostly it is used with ginkgo as a

 memory booster supplement

Where does it stand from the Nootropics Facts point of view?

Although it is used in many supplements meant for nootropics, but the problem is

that we don't have enough research data in the support of vinpocetine, at this situation

we feel very much reserved in recommending this drug for nootropics, after all, facts

should not be ignored

Nootropics and alpha-GPC

What is Alpha-GPC?

Its total exact name is L-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine or another most used name

cholinealfoscerate,a natural choline compound, occurs in the brain, and its role is to transfer

choline across the blood-brain barrier

It also happens to be a biosynthetic precursor for acetylcholine, in lay-man terms it 

converts itself to acetylcholine,in the bioprocess which is constantly going on in

the body, more particularly in the brain.

Today its made in a lab and can be used as medicine,(1)

What is the role of Alpha-GPC?

As discussed its role is to manage, regulate choline in the brain, because of its this role

it becomes very important as nootropics, by taking it as a supplement, provides more

acetyl-choline, and intern more benefits to brain problems,(2)

,

Production of Alpha-GPC

Mostly it is made by a chemical or enzymatic process from soya phospholipids, which also

occurs in lecithin, mostly from eggs and soya

Sources of Alpha-GPC

Its look like its widespread in most of food products but only in very small amounts, 

the sources maximum rich are only just follow

Wheat bread.....................................     4,93 mg/100 gram

Oat barn.............                                   33.25mg/100 gram

Cream cheese...........                             9.26 mg/100 gram

Yogurt..........               ..............          8-to-9-mg/100 gram

Bananas.........    .............                       5,60 mg/100 gram

Mushrooms..............         .............       5.11 mg/100 gram

Cabbage...........     ........            ........    3.47 mg/100 gram

Salmon..........     .............                      5.89 mg/100 gram

Comparison with other choline analogs

What reported is that Alpha-GPC works much better in compression with

other choline analogs means it needs only 46% dose to create the same effect

what 100% dose of CDP-choline provides, so definitely it is more better

the choice for choline related treatments

Alpha-GPC affects on Obesity and Fat- and Weight-reduction

As we already discussed, not much research data is available, but whatever we have

indicates that it works, it creates LIPOLYSIS, which means creates ketones and free fatty

acids, once it is taken in, a similar condition which is created by keto-diet.

lets see

                                  nootropics and alpha-GPC

It can affect physical performance

It is reported to increase about 14% more out-put, if it is taken about 45- minutes before

exercise

It improves the conditions of Ischemia and Stroke cases

Very significant improvements are reported in these cases, it's very important neuroprotective

in both cases

What are the other health benefits of Alpha-GPC?

There is not much research inputs about its benefits, whatever very primary research data

available indicates that it can provide some good benefits in the following areas,(3),(4)

Alzheimer disease

It is reported to work in this case, improve the symptoms in a very considerable way

Dementia

It improves the conditions, behavior, mood, and thinking areas

Improve memory

Improve thinking  process

Improve learning

What are the side effects or negative effects of alpha-GPC?

Although it's very much tolerated, still some side effects are reported and most of

them are very mild in nature, they are heartburn, headache, dizziness, and in prolonged

use skin rashes

There is not much research information available so be on the very safe side and don't use

if you are pregnant or breast-feeding

What is the status and doses of this Alpha-GPC?

Most of the time it is available on the counter, which means you don't need prescription

about doses not much clear although its also depends on a lot of other conditions may be age

and health, follow the instructions provided by the supplier, mostly safe dose is 1000mg per day

in divided doses of 500mg.

Does Alpha-CPC is a very good nootropic?

Alpha-GPC is only working, in the area of the brain, as it is controlled and regulate the choline

it can be the safest choice for nootropics, and in fact, it is already used in a large scale for

this purpose only, and also the truth is it is used in a number of supplements meant for

nootropics.

Where does it stand from a nootropics-fact point of view?

When we see a lot of drugs for nootropics, this alpha-GPC just stands out as something very

special, at least it is safest and very active for brain functions, we think it can be and should

be considered as most important choice as nootropics

Nootropics and glutamic acid

Glutamic acid

Glutamic acid is an amino acid used by almost all living species, it contributes as an

 important part of biosynthesis for proteins, the human body makes it for its needs,

 it involves in the functions of the nervous system, the very interesting part is that

 it occurs in protein gluten which also happens to be the major protein of wheat,

 so it's plenty around us,(1)

It is manufactured by either hydrolysis of the protein gluten, or from wastewater

 of beetroots, or by fermentation

What is the connection of glutamic acid with the brain?

This is an amino acid that is involved between nerve cells and brain cells, which means

 it involved in sending and receiving information, so its very key amino acids involved

 with brain functions,(2)

let's see

                               nootropics and glutamic acid

Does MSG, monosodium glutamate has the same acid?

Yes, its the same acid, only here it is used as the sodium salt, MSG has a lot of controversy

and some people working with the health system regard this as a little unsafe, although

the FDA says it's very safe. Its food additive also called as number E621 used very widely

as a flavor enhancer in processed foods

MSG contributes in a very big way as a flavor enhancer mainly for savory, meaty, and

 umami foods, here umami is referred to as the fifth taste along the line of salty, sour,

 bitter, and sweet today daily intake of MSG in the US and UK is about 0.55-to-0.58

 gram per day, while the same in Japan and Korea is about 1.2-to-1.7 gram per day

Why MSG regarded by some people as a little unsafe?

There is not much research support for this, of course, very large doses of MGS can raise

glutamic acid levels in the blood, which means increased glutamate activity in the brain and 

can harm, but who eats that kind of high amounts

Glutamic acid health benifites

Although not much research has been done, whatever very little information we have it is

helpful in a number of health conditions

-may be helpful in treating childhood behavioral issues

-maybe helpful in personality development, mainly to Childs

-may be helpful for the treatment of epilepsy and muscular dystrophy

-maybe helpful in managing intellectual disorders

-may be helpful in the treatment of low blood sugar,(hypoglycemia) in diabetics

-maybe in preventing nerve damage in cases of chemotherapy

Glutamic acid side effects, toxicity, and possible interactions

In practice glutamic acid is not taken as a signal item most of the time it is used

in formulations along with either other amino acids or with vitamins, and again

in the formulations pinpointing side effects is a little difficult, but again what

research says,(3)

no high dose for a long lime

no for women, pregnant or breastfeeding

no for someone who has maple syrup urine disease, or MSUD, a kind of metabolic disorder

no for cystinuria, its a kidney disorder

Why glutamic acid is important as nootropics?

There is very little research information we have about its direct role as nootropics

but as it is a very important part of the glutamine cycle which really involved in high

levels of nootropics activity, it might be thought that this acid may also be useful

in nootropics activity.

let's see

                           nootropics and glutamic acid

Is glutamic acid is used as a nootropic in formulations?

Yes, and that is the reason we are trying to cover its all facts so that it should be more 

clear, whether it should be used or not, as for as commercial information is concerned

glutamic acid is a part of formulations that are marketed as supplements meant for

nootropics

So, what is a recommendation from Nootropics Facts, as already you see it does have

indirect relation with glutamine, but whether glutamic acid also works in a very good way

is not very clear, there is not much research support on this

How to buy nootropics? 

Most of the nootropics which are natural type and some drug type you can purchase from any pharmacy on the counter or you can buy from online suppliers. before buying the most important  is to make sure that you are buying the correct stuff for this,(1)

Let's see 

                                      How to buy Nootropics

Read the labels very thoroughly

Read the reviews  about products 

If possible  discuss with your doctor 

Use the product very strictly  according to  instructions 

You can also buy supplements,  they have formulated mixtures of more than one nootropic and some of them are very successful, you can again buy them from online suppliers, like Amazon