Alpha GPC: The Best Nootropic Newcomer?

When a supplement talks big game about its ability to turn your workout on its head and help you reach your fitness goals, you’re bound to be sceptical. The more discerning may even look at the active ingredients for their potential benefits and what clinical testing has been done on them.

If you are looking at supplements that say they can support gains and focus, then you may come across the ingredient Alpha GPC. A potent nootropic that can be found in supplements for exercise and focus-based activities like studying and gaming, you may wonder what potential benefits it could offer you. That's why we’ve looked at the most asked questions on Alpha GPC to provide you with everything you need to know about it in one place!

What’s Alpha GPC?

Alpha GPC is a nootropic that is found as an ingredient in a variety of supplements. It can provide a variety of benefits depending on what you are taking. If you are looking for it in your favourite supplements ingredient list, you may also find Alpha GPC listed as:

• Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine
• Choline Alphoscerate
• Glycerophosphocholine
• L-alpha-glycerophosphocholine
• L-alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine

These names give an indication of how Alpha GPC works and what exactly you are putting into your body.

Alpha GPC provides your body with the most bioavailable form of choline on the market, with each product being made of up to 40% choline. This form of choline is called phosphorylcholine and is the most metabolically active. Choline's main use in Alpha GPC is its support of cell messaging and cell membranes, aiding the nervous system through the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Acetylcholine sends messages across the body to your neurons, muscle cells and gland cells through the synaptic nerves in the central nervous system. These can have a number of potential benefits both in regards to physical and mental wellbeing. Mentally, acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter can aid brain function and recall of information. While on a physical level, it can aid in the area of endurance performance and the secretion of growth hormones.

Why take Alpha GPC?

Now you may be wondering what are Alpha GPC benefits to me? There are lots of reasons why you would want to supplement with Alpha GPC. Firstly, it supports choline levels and provides the aforementioned benefits for mental and physical performance. Another benefit is that Alpha GPC has a bioavailability that allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier, making it one of the only supplements of its kind to achieve this. Combine this with some positive results in clinical trials, and you may be looking to Alpha GPC for its benefits.

What Are The Benefits of Alpha GPC for Working Out?

Alpha GPC has a lot of potential benefits that can be added to your workout through supplements containing it as an ingredient. Alpha GPC can aid in replacing the choline that is depleted by exercise and by caffeine. This aid can help support an increase in endurance performance, and support muscle contraction and growth hormone secretion in individuals using high-stim workout supplements. There is also the factor of Alpha GPC having the ability to support mental focus with the release of choline. Because Alpha GPC supplements both the brain and muscle tissue, it could affect the psychological response to exercise, force development, strength, balance, agility and hand-eye coordination.

One of the reasons for the improvement of results when supplementing with Alpha GPC is that it stimulates the release of growth hormone, a powerful anabolic hormone. One study looked at a group of random men who trained in the gym regularly. This group were either given a placebo or 600ml of Alpha GPC and required to do a predetermined workout routine. They then had their blood growth hormone levels measured over 10 minutes intervals. The group given a placebo saw an increase of 2.6 from their average, whereas the group given Alpha GPC saw a massive growth of 44 times over the baseline.

Another study found that Alpha GPC, in conjunction with a pre-weight training session, increased the level of growth hormone in the body and also improved the force that the participants were able to exert during bench press.

A further study looked at the force and strength production in 13 healthy college-aged males. Not only did this note the effect of Alpha GPC on growth hormones, but also showed that exerted lower body force improved over six days of usage. This was compared to a placebo group and showed statistical significance. However, this study did not show similar results for upper body isometric strength. Another study also showed that 200mg of Alpha GPC improved vertical jump peak power by 8.5%. Studies have also shown benefits for incorporating Alpha GPC as a supplement for achieving a healthy weight, with one study noting that Alpha GPC had an impact on markers of fat oxidation, free fatty acids, growth hormones and ketone bodies.

Can I Take Alpha GPC for Studying And Focus?

Another reason given for the use of Alpha GPC is as a nootropic for studying and other tasks that require a high level of cognitive function and alertness. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that supports memory and learning functions, and, in theory, Alpha GPC supplementation should provide these benefits. There has been correlating research from clinical trials that have shown these benefits in both humans and other test subjects. With humans, there have been tests with placebos that have shown subjects who were given Alpha GPC had increased motivation to perform tasks. While in lab rats, there have been treatments with Alpha GPC that have shown increased memory and learning function. There have also been results in lab rats that have shown positive results for improving attention impairment. Alpha GPC has also had comparisons with caffeine for the potential benefits of focus. One clinical study found that young adults who were given Alpha GPC performed a Serial Subtraction Test 18% faster than a group who had been supplemented with caffeine. There was also the added benefit of lower scores of jitteriness compared to the caffeinated group.

Is Alpha GPC Safe?

When looking at Alpha GPC side effects, we have to go off a limited number of clinical studies and anecdotal evidence. As such, Alpha GPC has not been approved by the TGA for medical use for signs of vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease and amnesia, despite promising signs in early research. However, if you are wondering, “is Alpha GPC safe?” then it is important to note that it has been marked as safe for clinical trials. Various tests have shown limited short-term side effects, with trials that have used 1200 mg for a six-month period and 150 mg per kg of body weight over a prolonged period showing no effects at all. While other users have reported diarrhoea and heartburn. You may also have some reaction if you have a poor tolerance to soy, as most products are derived from soy lecithin, a common food allergen.

Long-term side effects have also been explored, with notable research into the potential negative effects on cardiovascular health. One clinical study stated that Alpha GPC can react to trimethylamine-N-oxide, which, when synthesised in the gut, can negatively affect people with cardiovascular disease, increased risk of strokes and other issues. It is however important to note that this study did have a conflict of interest with one of the researchers having investments in cardiovascular diagnostic tools and that these test subjects had an average age of 68.3.

Should I Take Alpha GPC?

In regards to Alpha GPC, there are lots of promising results for use in supplements as a nootropic boost to get every last second out of your workout or gaming session. With current research on Alpha GPC side effects, in short-term use, the only thing of note is the occasional uncomfortable stomach and heartburn. They are also usually combined with other nootropics and ingredients for a mix that is formulated to create a rounded experience that gets the best results for you.

If you are interested in learning more about nootropics, check out our article on the Top Nootropics in Australia. If you are looking to buy nootropics in Australia, at Nutrition Warehouse, we have a wide range of the most beloved brands to shop from. 

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Alpha GPC FAQs:

How much Alpha GPC should I take per day?

Different studies have shown results with different dosages of Alpha-GPC. We recommend taking the amount specified by the brand you purchased from.

Can Alpha GPC fail a drug test?

Alpha GPC is a legal substance that is not included in the World Anti-Doping Agency 2023 prohibited list or in police drug checks.

What is Alpha GPC made from?

Alpha GPC is derived from soy and sunflower lecithin.

What foods contain Alpha GPC?

Foods that contain Alpha GPC and large amounts of choline include eggs, chicken, fish, turkey, almonds, quinoa and soybean.

What is the relationship between Alpha GPC and GABA?

Alpha GPC and GABA are related in that the supplementation of Alpha GPC has been seen to cause increased levels of GABA. GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) supports healthy mental clarity and mood and enhances growth hormones, providing potential benefits for sports and study supplementation. When you supplement with Alpha GPC, GABAergic along with Dopaminergic and Serotonergic neurotransmitters are released. We have evidence of the correlation between Alpha GPC and GABA in the cortical slices of rats from clinical studies showing improved levels due to supplementation.

Is Alpha GPC a nootropic?

Alpha GPC is considered a nootropic because its main uses are to boost cognitive function and mental performance. It has been shown to surpass the blood-brain barrier and has positive effects in rodent studies, making it ideal for individuals looking to boost choline.

Is Alpha GPC the same as choline?

Alpha GPC is a phospholipid that contains choline.

When should I take Alpha GPC?

When looking for guidance on when to take Alpha GPC, whether on its own or in a supplement, it is best to follow the advice of the manufacturer.

Is Alpha GPC a stimulant?

Alpha GPC is not a stimulant. It is often combined with caffeine for that stimulant feeling.

Can Alpha GPC cause anxiety?

Some clinical studies on Alpha GPC have shown it to have a positive effect on anxiety, with some studies suggesting it as a way to increase motivation in healthy individuals.

Can Alpha GPC cause depression?

There are conflicting reports of whether depressive symptoms are common with Alpha GPC use. From research in current clinical trials, Alpha GPC has a monoaminergic effect, modulating the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in a similar way to what antidepressants are designed to do.

Where to buy Alpha GPC in Australia?

Nutrition Warehouse has Alpha GPC for sale in a variety of supplements. We have a variety of supplements with Alpha GPC for customers in Australia. From nootropic, pre workout mixes like Mental by Pharmalabs to fat burners like Ripp3d by Anabolix.

Does Alpha GPC increase testosterone?

Alpha GPC supports Growth Hormone (HGH), which is different to testosterone. Growth Hormone is produced in the pituitary gland and supports the growth of cells, particularly their reproduction and regeneration.

Does Alpha GPC keep you awake?

Alpha GPC supports choline which can increase alertness and clarity of thought in a similar way to caffeine. This is shown in one clinical study, where participants who supplemented with Alpha GPC were found to be less sleepy. However, it is not a stimulant and, in a different clinical trial, showed less jitteriness than a group that took caffeine. The group who took Alpha GPC were also faster in answering test questions, highlighting it more as a nootropic than a stimulant. There are also individuals who use Alpha GPC for sleep periods to insight lucid dreaming and sleep learning because of it being a precursor to the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine. However, there is no evidence of this being particularly effective.

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