Research shows improved brain performance with citicoline

Healthy, middle-aged women taking supplements of citicoline, a naturally occurring brain health nutrient, saw improved attention, focus and recall, according to a peer-reviewed study conducted by University of Utah scientists. The study was published Wednesday in Food and Nutrition Sciences. 

The double blind, placebo-controlled study composed of 60 healthy women between 40 and 60 years of age. After 28 days of citicoline administration, the study participants taking 250 mg indicated improved performance on cognitive function tests, and those taking 500 mg showed improvement and made significantly fewer errors on the tests compared to those in the placebo group.

“Our study findings indicate that citicoline supplementation was associated with improved attention focus and inhibition in a group of healthy female adult volunteers,” says Dr. Deborah A. Yurgelun-Todd, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the U of U School of Medicine and one of the study’s authors. “Prior research has shown that citicoline administration improved attention in a variety of patient populations, including those with cognitive deficits associated with illness or injury, but this study included only healthy, middle-aged women.”

The study participants were divided into three groups; those taking a 250 mg dose and a 500 mg dose of citicoline under the brand name Cognizin®, and those taking a placebo. 

“To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effects of low doses of citicoline on cognitive performance in healthy female adults,” the authors concluded. “Practical applications of this research include the possible use of citicoline supplementation to improve cognitive deficits associated with normal aging, stress, and psychiatric disorders.”

View the citicoline study here.

About Cognizin
Cognizin® is a branded form of citicoline, a natural substance found in every cell of the body and especially vital to brain health. Cognizin is a highly stable, GRAS, ultra-pure and allergen free ingredient that is backed by science supporting its claims of improved attention, focus and recall.*

About KYOWA HAKKO USA
Kyowa Hakko is an international health ingredients manufacturer and world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and food products. Kyowa is the maker of branded ingredients including Cognizin® Citicoline, Lumistor® L-Hydroxyproline, Setria® Glutathione, Pantesin® Pantethine, as well as Sustamine™ L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine. Kyowa offers, manufacturers, and formulates one of the industry's most extensive lines of more than 50 amino acids and branch-chain amino acids, as well as nucleic acids, bio-products and fine chemicals.

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