Alpha GPC - Benefits for All

What is Alpha GPC?

Alpha GPC or Alpha-glycerophosphocholine (aGPC), as the name implies, is a choline-containing phospholipid isolated from soy. A wealth of research on this compound supports a role for enhancing cognitive function, increasing strength and stimulating the release of growth hormone.

Alpha GPC contains a lipid tail that permits the uptake and incorporation into neuronal cell membranes. The membrane-bound choline molecule supplies the necessary and rate limiting compound for acetylcholine neurotransmitter synthesis.

Though found both within the central and peripheral nervous system, cholinergic neurotransmission is the cornerstone for memory formation that takes place in a specialised brain region known as the hippocampus.

The Benefits Of Regular Alpha GPC Intake

Studies in animals and humans taking place since the 1990’s have shown administration of Alpha-GPC improves memory performance. One of the early human studies on Alpha GPC attempted to replicate trials performed previously in animals.

The study gave subjects ten days of Alpha GPC or placebo before inducing temporary amnesia with a potent drug called scopolamine. A-GPC supplementation reduced the scopolamine-induced memory impairments as measured by subjects performed on memory and attention tasks.

Since this study, A-GPC has become a focus of research age-related memory decline as well as other causes of memory dysfunction. An interesting study that added A-GPC to commonly prescribed memory drug most similar in effect to Huperzine A (another Game ONNingredient) showed the additional benefit wasn’t with the drug alone.

Recent studies on A-GPC have shown a potential benefit to athletic performance. A Japanese study investigated the effects of a single dose of A-GCP on hormone release in healthy young males. Surprisingly a single dose of Alpha-GCP resulted in a substantial change in growth hormone release within one hour.

At 60 minutes, growth hormone levels acute increased by 290% from the baseline hormone level and returned to baseline by the second hour. Also observed, was the growth hormone’s actions of increasing fatty acid oxidation, as indicated by rises in free fatty acids and ketone bodies. The authors proposed that the increase in circulating choline may briefly block the negative feedback mechanism governing Growth Hormone release.

Short supplementation periods of 6 days have been shown to improve strength in college-aged athletes directly. A study conducted at the University of Louisianna used a crossover design that measured the force generated in deadlift and bench press style movements.

The study found a significant increase of 3% improvement in lower body strength with Alpha-GPC supplementation. The study cited the previous research of cholinergic transmission at neural-muscular as a potential mechanism, however, did not have direct evidence for the mechanism leading to improved strength.

The cumulative evidence from animal model and human studies support the role of Alpha-GPC as a well tolerated cognitive enhancing compound with ergogenic properties. The soy lecithin isolate contains a phospholipid that permits incorporation into neuronal cell membranes and utilisation as a cholinergic neurotransmitter precursor.

Associated with the increase in circulating choline levels was a transient elevation in growth hormone. Even a short period of supplementation with aGPC proved to be beneficial to muscle strength

Recommended Usage & Natural Sources Of Alpha GPC

Alpha GPC is approximately 40% choline by weight, and as such 1,000 mg Alpha-GPC confers about 400 mg of dietary choline. A standard dosage of Alpha-GPC is 300-600 mg, according to the most common label doses.

This dose is following the study using Alpha-GPC to enhance power output and the two studies noting an increase in growth hormone secretion and is likely a good dose to take for athletes.

Game ONN contains a dosage of 300mg per 3 Capsule serving.