Choline Alfoscerate

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Choline Alfoscerate is L-a-glyceryl phosphorylcholine (GPC),a key brain cell membrane phospholipid and cholinergic precursor. It is a source of choline for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, with a greater ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier than conventional choline sources. More importantly, Choline alfoscerate has been experimentally demonstrated to reduce or reverse age-related structural changes in the frontal cortex and hippocampus and induced functional deficiencies of the cholinergic system. Research supports choline alfoscerates ability to support healthy brain function and the release of somatotrophin (hGH). The aging brain's cholinergic function is impaired at several points, all of which affect mental  performance:                                                                                                         • The ability of the brain to take in necessary raw materials. • The loss of balance in key cholinergic enzymes. • The loss of choinergic neurons.   Choline alfoscerate (al-FOSS-er-ate), or alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC), is a phospholipid - a complex fatty substance containing phosphorus, like phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine - and  is an important building block in the construction of nerve cell membranes. After completing an analysis of thirteen published clinical trials, involving over 4000 patients, a group of Italian scientists concluded that "The stated therapeutic usefulness of Choline Alfoscerate in the relief of cognitive symptoms, such as memory and attention impairment, differentiates [it] from cholinergic precursors used in former clinical  trials", such as choline, lecithin, or phosphatidylcholine. The reason, as evidence now suggests, is that  the effects of this versatile nutrient extend well beyond its role as a mere choline source: choline alfoscerate supports the restoration of a whole spectrum of youthful cholinergic functions.   Weak Link 1: Decreased Choline UptakeCholine alfoscerate is a rapidly absorbed source of choline, which easily enters the brain. GPC raises free plasma choline more rapidly than other uncharged choline precursors. Because it is a phospholipid - the same sort of material of which the brain and Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) are made - Choline Alfoscerate does not carry the electrical charge of regular choline, and so freely crosses the blood-brain barrier. The choline from Choline Alfoscerate is incorporated into brain phospholipids within 24 hours of absorption.   Weak Link 2: Enzyme ImbalancesThe brain makes acetylcholine using an enzyme known as choline acetyltransferase. As we get older, ChAT activity goes down, while the activity of enzymes that break  down chat goes up. As a result, aging brains make less acetylcholine from the choline available to them , while they tear acetylcholine down more quickly. Animal studies suggest that Choline Alfoscerate may  also improve the levels of ChAT.   Weak Link 3: Brain DrainThis is perhaps the most serious issue facing the aging brain: the cholinergic  neurons of the brain simply wither away with age. The number of neurons declines, and those neurons that remain literally shrink, becoming less well-connected to the rest of the brain. This decay is made all  the worse by the fact that the ability of the surviving cholinergic neurons to release and respond to ACh  is also impaired with age!   There are two main reasons for this loss of function. First, the composition of the nerve cell membrane  is altered with age, becoming less flexible and responsive. This makes it harder for the neuron which is sending the signal to release the ACh messenger, and harder for the receiving neuron to pick it up. Choline Alfoscerate restores membrane and fluidity responsiveness, both because having more Choline Alfoscerate in the membrane directly makes the membrane more fluid, and perhaps because Choline Alfoscerate inhibits an enzyme (lysophospholipase) that breaks down some brain phospholipids.   Second, some of the receptors to which ACh is designed to bind - the "mailbox" to which they are addressed - also decline with age. This is especially true of the muscarinic-type-1 (M1) receptors - the ones involved in higher mental function. While most other cholinergic receptors remain plentiful throughout life. Fortunately, Choline Alfoscerate selectively restores the number of memory-specific cholinergic receptors.   Even more incredibly, animal studies show that Choline Alfoscerate actually increases the number of cholinergic neurons as well. In addition, Choline Alfoscerate may reverse the atrophy of existing cholinergic neurons, since studies show that Choline Alfoscerate increases the number of receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF). Supplying NGF to old monkeys clearly reverses cholinergic neuron atrophy, restoring the number and size of these neurons to more youthful levels.   Controlled Trials: It Works In one controlled trial in victims of vascular dementia, greater improvements on several measures of cognitive function were seen amongst those patients treated with Choline Alfoscerate than in those given another choline precursor. The differences were statistically significant, and both patients and physicians rated the results with GPC more satisfactory.   Another controlled trial in Alzheimer's disease compared Choline Alfoscerate to acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), a nutrient already proven to slow the progression of AD in younger patients. Most behavioral and mental function test results showed improvement in the Choline Alfoscerate group - and the improvements were greater than those seen in the ALCAR group.   Yet another trial monitored the progress of 2044 patients who were being treated with Choline Alfoscerate after recent strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs - sometimes called "mini-strokes"). Statistically significant improvements were seen on several scales of cognitive performance, such that the Mini Mental State (MMS) score was found to be within the normal range, Chrichton Rating Scale (CRS) decreased by a significant 4.3 points, and the Global Deterioration Scale scores indicated "no cognitive decline" or "forgetfulness" rather than clinical mental impairment.   There is also a hint that Choline Alfoscerate may prove of use in Parkinson's disease (PD). PD  is characterized by reductions in the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine in an area of  the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a loss of motor control, typically manifesting in  facial ticks or tremors, dry mouth, and a "masklike" facial expression. In laboratory animals, measures of dopaminergic activity were enhanced by GPC treatment. 60 Vegi-Caps      100% Vegetarian ______________________________________________ SUPPLEMENT FACTS: Serving Size: 1 Capsule                   %DRI                                                                                                                                                                                          L-a-glyceryl phosphorylcholine ............. 250 mg            * ______________________________________________ *Dietary Reference Intake not established. Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose. Capsule: hypromellose, sorbitol, silicon dioxide, water. AOR guarantees that no ingredients not listed on the label have been added to the product. Contains no wheat, gluten, corn, nuts, dairy, eggs, fish or shellfish. Suggested Use Take two to four capsules daily, or as directed by a qualified health care practitioner. Main Applications As reported by literature: Support in Alzheimer's disease Cognitive support Infant brain development Source Purified from lecithin. Pregnancy / Nursing Safe at 1-2 capsules per day. Cautions None known. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product  is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Item Number: AOR08207 Manufacturer: Advanced Orthomolecular Research Manufacturer Part #: 624917082074 Add Your Product Review Rate This Product: or Create a Review (0 Ratings, 0 Reviews)

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Methylcobalamin

AVAILABLE AT VITAMIN WAGON

Methylcobalamin ULTRA is an ultra-high dose formulation of methylcobalamin, the neurologically active coenzyme form of vitamin B12. Methylcobalamin supports the healthy structure and functioning of the brain and nervous system. Studies show that a person may not have optimal methylcobalamin for proper neurological function, even when vitamin B12 intake and status is normal. This higher-dose formulation is for persons for whom research supports supplementation at higher levels than in our standard Methylcobalamin formulation.

Methylcobalamin is the coenzyme form of vitamin B12 which supports the healthy structure and function of the nerves and brain. Several studies have found that people can have neurological signs and symptoms of a specific Methylcobalamin deficiency, even when serum B12, and blood tests which measure adenosylcobalamin acitivity, are perfectly normal. This is in large part because, while the body can store adenosylcobalamin (the other coenzyme form of vitamin B12) in the liver and mitochondria, Methylcobalamin is located in fluids like the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, and is urinated out rather than stored.

While healthy people need just a tiny trace of Methylcobalamin to avoid a frank deficiency, a massive body of evidence powerfully supports the conclusion that supplementing with megadose levels of Methylcobalamin - and not regular B12 - can protect brain and nerve cells against toxins, help the healing of damaged neurons, and even provide powerful nutritional support in neurodegenerative diseases.

Paralyzing Viruses  Several groups of scientists have investigated the use of Methylcobalamin in Bell's palsy, and they have uniformly found that Methylcobalamin speeds the recovery of normal nerve function. In two separate human trials, patients were given either prednisone alone (a steroid anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to treat Bell's palsy), Methylcobalamin alone, or the drug and the coenzyme together. Both trials found that the time required for complete recovery was significantly shorter for people who took Methylcobalamin (whether in combination with prednisone, or even by itself) than for those who took the steroid drug alone.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS  )In a pilot trial, six people with degenerating MS received 60 milligrams of Methylcobalamin a day. The scientists compared the changes which took place in the patients' nerve function over the course of up to two years before the trial began, to the changes which happened during the six months in which the patients took Methylcobalamin. They found that there was a significant improvement in nerve function while patients took Methylcobalamin. Before Methylcobalamin, about one fifth of all measurements of nerve function suggested that the nerves were degenerating. While the patients were supplementing with Methylcobalamin, however, only half as many nerve measurements showed signs of degeneration. And while, in the time before the trial began, just 4% of the nerve measurements suggested that the nerve in question had improved, it was found that 18%, or four-and-a-half times as many nerve readings, showed signs of improvement while patients were taking Methylcobalamin.

Lou Gehrig's Disease  In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 24 patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, took megadoses of Methylcobalamin through intramuscular injection for just under a month at one of two doses (25 milligrams or 500 micrograms a day). While no results were seen in the lower dose, patients who took the higher dose of Methylcobalamin experienced increases in measurements of their nerves' ability to trigger responses in the muscles. Two patients' gaits were also noted to improve in the higher-dose group.

Alzheimer's Disease  Two trials have between them found that giving Methylcobalamin to people with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (like Pick's disease) leads patients to have better interaction with other people and with the world around them, while improving mood and relieving neurological symptoms. The evaluation by the patients' familes and physicians was also improved. The findings in these trials on intellectual functioning were inconsistent: some scales showed improvements, but others did not. Both of these trials, however, used relatively low doses of Methylcobalamin.

A Good Guess: Parkinson's Disease  There's good reason to believe that Parkinson's disease is caused and/or accelerated by "excitotoxicity" resulting from overstimulation by the neurotransmitter glutamate. Drugs which lower glutamate levels, or which "tune down" its receptor, improve many of the symptoms of the disease, while drugs which stimulate the receptor make them worse.
 

So if Methylcobalamin protects neurons from the toxicity of glutamate, might it provide support for people with Parkinson's disease? Unfortunately, no clinical trials have yet been run to test this idea. But granted how safe Methylcobalamin supplements have proven to be, and its clear benefits in other neurodegenerative diseases, this essential coenzyme holds out hope as a potential way to prevent, and perhaps even to treat, this debilitating disease.

Caramelized Nerves  A string of clinical trials have reported that Methylcobalamin improves nerve function in people with diabetic neuropathy as demonstrated by things like improvements in the ability to detect gentle vibration, reduced tingling, numbness, and pain in the extremities, less feelings of "heaviness" in the legs, and the restoration of neurons' ability to efficiently transmit a signal and to properly regulate the heartbeat. Trials which have looked at the overall improvement of patients' neuropathic symptoms and signs have also reported remarkably positive results.

Eyes Under Pressure  In a controlled study, 14 patients with normal-tension glaucoma were treated with Methylcobalamin, and their progress was compared with that of 22 other normal-tension glaucoma patients who did not take Methylcobalamin supplements. While 59% of the people not taking Methylcobalamin experienced worsening sight, 86% of patients taking Methylcobalamin experienced no loss of function.

The Squeezing Spine  Lumbar spinal stenosis is the compression of the nerves in the lower spine caused by arthritis, spinal degeneration, injury, or sometimes unfortunate genes. The squeezing of the nerves leads to pain on exertion in the lower back or buttocks, which is relieved by shifting position. In a single-blind, randomized controlled trial, 152 people with lumbar spinal stenosis were given the current standard care (physiotherapy, standard drugs, and education on managing their disease), and additionally either did or did not take Methylcobalamin. For whatever reason, the dose chosen for the trial was very low (half a milligram) compared to what has been used successfully in most trials pitting Methylcobalamin against nerve disease. At this low dose, there was no improvement in pain or in the doctors' evaluations of the appearance, sensation, or function of their nerves; however, despite the clearly inadequate dose, those people who took Methylcobalamin found themselves able to walk further distances without experiencing pains than people who were not taking it.

The Question of Dose  In general, most trials in which Methylcobalamin has been used to help people with various forms of diabetic neuropathy, non-diabetic neuropathy associated with uremia, peripheral facial paralysis (including Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome), normal tension glaucoma and dementia (including Pick's disease and Alzheimer's disease) have used doses ranging from1.5 to 5 milligrams. On the other hand, trials involving victims of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and multiple sclerosis (MS) have used much higher doses, such as 25 milligrams per day for ALS and 60 milligrams daily for MS.
 

Note that in some cases only one trial has ever been performed, with only a single dose used, and the results are often preliminary; it's therefore possible that higher (or lower) doses might be more effective. Because of the well-established safety of Methylcobalamin, many nutritionally-oriented physicians are working with their patients using doses considerably higher than those used in the relevant trial. There are some cases where this has seemed especially prudent to some physicians.
 

For instance, the evidence suggests that Methylcobalamin is much more effective against Bell's Palsy when taken within days of the initial attack; at later times, a higher dose might be more appropriate. Likewise, the only trial of Methylcobalamin in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis used only 0.5 milligrams per day - and achieved only very minor results. It seems reasonable to speculate that a higher dose might have been more effective, granted the fact that nearly all successful trials in other neurological disorders have used minimum doses of 1.5 milligrams, and many have been higher. Discuss these issues with your doctor.

There are also several neurological disorders in which there is reason to believe that Methylcobalaminmight make a good supplement choice if your physician approves, but in which no clinical trial has been performed. These would include Parkinson's disease, tinnitus, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and people suffering with environmental illnesses who suffer with neurological signs and symptoms. In such cases, because we don't have formal human trials to use as a guideline, your physician will have to rely all the more strongly on his or her judgement.

A range of Methylcobalamin sublingual supplements are now available, making customizing your dose more convenient and affordable than at any time in the past.

METHYLCOBALAMIN ULTRA
60 Lozenge
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SUPPLEMENT FACTS:
Serving Size: 1 Lozenge %DRI
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Methylcobalamin ......................... 15 mg *
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*Dietary Reference Intake not established.
Other ingredients: sorbitol, fructose, natural cherry, magnesium stearate, citric acid, stearic acid.

AOR guarantees that no ingredients not listed on the label have been added to the product. Contains no wheat, gluten, corn, nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, fish or shellfish.

Suggested Use
Dissolve one to three tablets under the tongue in the morning, or as directed by a qualified health consultant.

Main Applications
As reported by literature:
Neuroprotection.
Nutritonal support in neurological disorders.

Source
Pharmaceutical synthesis.

Pregnancy / Nursing
Safe at one half of one tablet daily.

Cautions
None known.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

The information and product descriptions appearing on this website are for information purposes only, and are not intended to provide medical advice to individuals. Consult with your physician if you have any health concerns, and before initiating any new diet, exercise, supplement, or other lifestyle changes.

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Superior B12 with Folic Acid Sublingual Tablets

Available at Vitamin Wagon

 

 

 

Superior B12 with Folic Acid Sublingual Tablets 

 

80% of Vitamin B12 in plasma is in the methylcobalamin form. Methylcobalamin is the active form of B12. Sublingual B12-MC is absorbed through the mouth thus by-passing the need for the intrinsic factor in the stomach. This is especially important for the elderly as the intrinsic factor declines with age. B12 also benefits vegetarians who are often deficient due to dietary inadequacy.*   

Take 1 tablet daily by dissolving under tongue.

Each tablet contains:
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) . . . . . .1000 mcg
Folic Acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 mcg

 

Other ingredients: mannitol, sorbitol, natural cherry flavor, cellulose, vegetable stearate, silica.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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