Association of L-α Glycerylphosphorylcholine With Subsequent Stroke Risk After 10 Years (Alpha-GPC, used to help memory - stroke risk up 46%)

JAMA Network Open ^ | November 24, 2021 | Gyeongsil Lee, MD, MSc; Seulggie Choi, MD; Jooyoung Chang, MD; et al

[ConservativeMind]

Question

Is L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine (α-GPC), a choline analogue, associated with stroke after long-term use?

Findings

In this cohort study of matched cohorts including more than 12 million individuals aged 50 years or older without underlying stroke, Alzheimer disease, or cerebrovascular disease, α-GPC use was significantly associated with a 10-year incident stroke risk in a dose-responsive manner. Individuals using vs not using α-GPC had a 46% higher risk of stroke.

Meaning

The results of this cohort study suggest that the decision to use α-GPC must be carefully weighed with the consideration of potential stroke risk associated with α-GPC.

Abstract

Importance L-α glycerylphosphorylcholine (α-GPC, choline alphoscerate) is used globally by individuals older than 50 years based on its potential function as a precursor of acetylcholine. However, choline has previously been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease via trimethylamine-N-oxide, a metabolite of choline by microbiota.

Objective

To investigate the association between α-GPC use and subsequent 10-year stroke risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A population-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea. Participants included men and women aged 50 years or older without underlying stroke or Alzheimer disease (N = 12 008 977).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, use of α-GPC was associated with a higher 10-year incident stroke risk in a dose-response manner after adjusting for traditional cerebrovascular risk factors. Future studies are needed to determine the possible mechanisms behind the potential cerebrovascular risk–elevating effects of α-GPC.

[ConservativeMind]

My wife and I use Alpha-GPC and Citicoline to help keep our brains sharp. They are two forms of choline that specifically get past the blood-brain barrier.

The study mentions the concern might be with gut bacteria creating TMAO, which can cause atherosclerosis issues, but ConsumerLab says the creation of TMAO only lasts a few hours, which has seemed to limit any choline-TMAO issues in other studies.

I would submit that this study reviewed patients of doctors who prescribed Alpha-GPC, in South Korea. Consequently, the prescriptive use may have been throughout the day, rather than all at one time, which would very much raise TMAO levels, overall.

The Cleveland Clinic has published studies showing that compounds i balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil actually block the gut bacteria that makes the detrimental conversion, if taken at the same time. Whether or not that addresses this newly found stroke issue is just not known.

We will stop out Alpha-GPC use when we finish up our bottle.

[ConservativeMind]

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[ProtectOurFreedom]

Wow, EVOO + Balsamic Vinegar is the antidote? Could there be any better antidote in all of creation?

[packagingguy]

Could you try egg yolk lecithin? It is high in choline.

[ConservativeMind]

Yes, we eat eggs with the yolk, and each large egg yolk has 147 mg of cholinr.

[Magic Fingers]

Yes, we eat eggs with the yolk, and each large egg yolk has 147 mg of cholinr.

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Fried or scrambled? I’ve read that too much heat destroys choline, and recommendations were for fried or at minimum soft-scrambled.

[ConservativeMind]

I am not aware of any heat breaking down choline.

[Magic Fingers]

I am not aware of any heat breaking down choline.

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Seems I read that a good while back on Mercola’s site, but couldn’t readily find it again. Other sites I just scanned have mixed opinions, but most come down on the side of negligible-to-no damage to choline (and one mentioned a study that actually showed a slight increase in choline content from cooking vs. raw...speculation was that the heat triggered some choline precursors to convert to choline).