Choline is an ingredient that’s often overlooked in the search for better mental health, but it’s just as important as any other. Choline plays a role in the production of acetylcholine neurotransmitters in the brain, a precursor to better mental function and cognitive health.

Natural foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy products are all good sources of choline, but they aren’t sufficient enough to satisfy the dietary and nutritional needs when it comes to powering your mental faculties. In order to produce enough lipids (Phosphatidylcholine in particular), you’ll need to consume 8 to 10 whole egg yolks, which could cause health complications when done regularly.

What you’ll need is a specific choline supplement to help you get the recommended amounts of choline in your diet. Not just any supplement will do- you’ll need an effective choline product that’s formulated to easily cross the blood-brain barrier to deliver the nutrient where it matters most. In short, you’ll need to look for a choline supplement that has an excellent acetylcholine precursor for the best results.

Those who have tried nootropics before will have developed an internal instinct of when and how much extra choline they need to get cognitive functions to 100%. Moreover, they know which choline source to use for their unique physiology. Stacking choline along with other nootropic supplements such as Racetam is not unheard of. In fact, those who wish to get maximum benefits should not be satisfied with nootropics alone and should seriously consider adding a good choline source to the mix.

That being said, there are good choline supplements and there are great choline supplements. You’ll need to brush up on the basics of choline, notably what the best source of choline is right for you. As of the moment, there are 3 major sources of choline- Choline Bitartrate, Alpha GPC, and CDP-Choline. Let’s take a look at what each one does.

Choline Bitartrate / Lecithin

Supplements that have lecithin as their main ingredient can be found everywhere. You can get them in supermarkets, drug stores, general health stores, etc. usually without needing prescriptions.

Choline bitartrate is 41 percent choline in terms of weight, but if you’re looking for choline supplements to boost cognitive functions then this supplement may not be enough to do the job. Rarely will you see a lecithin supplement being advertised as a nootropic product.

One benefit of choline bitartrate is that it’s easy to acquire and is relatively inexpensive as compared to the other two. This type of supplement goes well with Noopept, Aniracetam, and Piracetam in stacks.

CDP-Choline (Citicoline)

CDP-Choline is a common choline source in the nootropic user community. After all, it’s one of the best choline sources that improves mental cognitive functions when taken regularly. Choline is converted into usable nutrients in your intestinal area; the byproduct Citicoline then enters the brain and does its job. Moreover, CDP-Choline is a type of phosphatidylcholine, which makes it easier to be absorbed. You can get your body’s needs with enough Citicoline consumption.

This choline source is readily bioavailable and metabolizes pretty quickly. Essential brain neurotransmitters multiply with the consumption of acetylcholine in just a matter of hours.

Alpha GPC (Alpha-Glycerophosphocholine / Choline Alfoscerate)

Last but certainly not the least, we have Alpha GPC. This choline source is a high-concentration, manufactured ingredient that comes from soy lecithin, which is a type of Acetylcholine precursor. In simpler terms, when Alpha GPC is digested and metabolized by the body it quickly turns to Acetylcholine.

Alpha Glycerophosphocholine is made up of 3 types of matter- choline, glycerol, and phosphate. When Alpha GPC enters the system it’s quickly converted to 2 compounds, choline, and glycerophosphate. In terms of nutrient weight, Alpha GPC boasts a huge choline weight of 40% (a thousand mg dose transfers 400 mg of bioavailable choline). Alpha GPC is somewhat like CDP-Choline in that the choline byproduct is highly usable as a nootropic. The remarkable properties of Alpha GPC allow it to become available as soon as your body metabolizes the nutrient. Alpha GPC also boasts the highest concentrations of choline and is considered the best choline source among the nootropic community.

1. Nootropics Depot Choline L-Bitartrate

Bitartrate is a salt compound that assists with the metabolization of choline for better potency and efficacy. Choline supplements that use L-bitartrate ingredients introduce a host of health benefits aside from giving you a clearer mind. You can safely take choline L-bitartrate supplements in doses somewhere between 500 to 1000mg each day without worrying about side effects.

Nootropics Depot has a unique choline product that offers something different to nootropic users. The quality of their choline bitartrate is way better than other similar supplements. You may notice while reading choline labels their source is racemic. This means that the choline compound is composed of levorotory and dextrorotory enantiomers, and this presents a host of potential problems. For one, levorotory versions of enantiomer only exist in bio-active form, which leads to the racemic compound only being half as effective. Two, DL Choline Bitartrate has proved to be nephrotic in some case studies.

Supplements that use racemic versions of choline bitartrate are using cheaper versions of choline because the costs to synthesize it is lower. Nootropics Depot has made sure to deliver high-quality choline bitartrate by making it enantiopure, which means that users only get pure bioactive levorotory enantiomer and not a mixed compound of levorotory and dextrorotoy enantiomers. Each jar of Nootropics Depot may contain 90ct or 180ct choline L-bitartrate capsules which are rigorously tested under strict lab conditions for efficacy and potency. 250g versions of choline L-bitartrate powders are also available under the same brand.

Nootropic users will feel the synergistic effect when they use choline supplements provided by Nootropics Depot in conjunction with nootropics such as Oxiracetam. Some reviews included feeling wide awake and long-lasting cognitive effects such as concentration, memory retention, and learning. Choline may also offset common nootropic side effects such as headache crashes, etc.

2. Absorb Health CDP Choline

Experienced nootropic users frequently cycle their supplements with either Alpha GPC and CDP Choline. This kind of synergistic effect allows choline to work its best in preserving memory while boosting mental functions among users. In notable studies, CDP Choline has shown promise in preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s in elderly patients. Users can look forward to acquiring a powerful, laser-like focus to achieve any mental task.

Absorb Health CDP Choline is a great addition to when you’re trying to stack nootropic supplements of the racetam class, i.e., aniracetam, pramiracetam, etc. because each supplement enhances the other. What’s more, you can be free of any crashing effects after the nootropic has worn off, for example, migraines and nausea. Absorb Health’s product contains 100 CDP Choline capsules with each cap containing 250 mg choline. Among the other ingredients include silica, maltodextrin, and CDP choline.

The company itself provides great discounts when you buy in bulk; the quality of their supplements is outstanding in general. You can read about how Absorb Health has posted 3rd party lab reports about their products with positive results. One way to save even more money is to buy at least $75 worth of supplements to get free shipping within the U.S.

Orders come with a money back guarantee and the product ships within the day if you’re in the U.S. It’s an all-in-one shop because you can also get stack supplements such as Noopept, Aniracetam, Sulbutiamine, Pramiracetam, Adrafinil and Alpha GPC.

3. Natural Stacks Acetylcholine Brain Food

Looking for a great choline supplement that’s done right inside the United States? Look no further than Acetylcholine Brain Food by Natural Stacks. The product is manufactured right in America and in a cGMP facility. The company touts only the freshest and most organic ingredients go into each package of Acetylcholine Brain Food. Instead of hiding artificial fillers and additives inside “special proprietary blends”, Acetylcholine Brain Food lists all the ingredients in each product on the label and the website. Natural Stacks believes that transparency is the best way to let people know what they’re getting whenever they take Brain Food. It’s all open source and disclosed to the public, which says a great deal about the integrity of the company.

Ingredients include Acetyl L-Carnitine, White Peony Extract, Pantethine, Vitamin B1, Alpha GPC, silica, ascorbyl palmitate, vegetable capsule composed of water and cellulose.

Let’s break down each ingredient according to how it can help choline. Alpha GPC is most notable for its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and quickly become biomatter to brain neurotransmitters. Vitamins B5 and B1 improve the functions of the nervous system for quicker reactions. Moreover, B5 helps in the synthesis of neurotransmitters that are part of the overall brain process. Acetyl L-Carnitine is an amino acid that works in the precursor process to create acetylcholine.

Natural means that vegans and those with allergies can take this choline supplement without worrying about adverse reactions and side effects. It’s easy to start taking Acetylcholine Brain Food- 2 to 4 capsules per day with a meal for the best possible effect. Do not take more than eight or you risk overdosing. Buying from the official website allows you to get possible refunds within 30 days if you’re not happy with the results. The website also gives out invaluable advice and tips for maximizing both physical and mental performance.

4. Douglas Labs Choline Bitartrate

One of the best choline supplements of the past few years and with good reason. Each capsule contains 235mg of pure choline bitartrate. The easy-gel capsule comes in a convenient bottle that you can take anytime, anywhere. The purity of the brand is uncontested; in the website, Douglas Labs mentioned that their products do not have yeast, gluten, soy, sodium, starch, artificial coloring, flavoring, preservatives, corn, dairy products or wheat.

5. Double Wood Supplements CDP Choline

CDP Choline supplements by Double Wood are pharmaceutical grade and come in 300mg variants. The product itself is made in the United States, which proves its great efficacy. Every time you buy a bottle you’re given a money back guarantee if you’re not totally satisfied. The manufacturer goes out of its way in assuring you that the potency is excellent and that you’ll be getting your money’s worth every time.

The active ingredients include magnesium stearate, cellulose, gelatin, Choline in Citicoline form and CDP Choline. Since each pill has more choline content it’s not advisable to take more than 4 pills per day.

6. Bulk Supplements Choline L-Bitartrate Powder

Choline L-Bitartrate Powder supplement by manufacturer Bulk Supplements doesn’t contain any filler ingredients. Plus, the choline percentage by weight is impressive at 40 percent. The supplement comes in a resealable packaging; directions include storing the product away from heat, light, and moisture.

Purity is ensured whenever you get a pack of choline supplement from this company. The ingredients are free of additives, gluten, corn, yeast, dairy products, soy, and sugar. If you take a look at the official website you’ll see that their choline source is pharma-grade with Tartaric acid attachments that increase the efficacy and rate of absorption into the body. This type of choline is easily dissolved in both water and alcohol.

Stack Choline L-Bitartrate Powder with Piracetam or Aniracetam to get the best results. This combination eliminates pesky side effects such as crashing headaches and gives you a prolonged mental cognitive effect. If you intend to take it as a dietary supplement then the label suggests 600mg of choline in 1/4 teaspoon once or twice per day, preferably with a meal. Be careful not to exceed 8g as this is considered as overdosing.

7. Nature’s Way Choline

Rounding out the list is Nature’s Way Choline supplement. You get a massive 500mg dosage of choline bitartrate with each serving. There are absolutely no fillers, additives and artificial ingredients so you get the best bang for your back. You won’t have to worry about allergies either as the ingredients are gluten-free.

Nature’s Way Choline contains silica, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, hypromellose, titanium oxide, maltodextrin, medium chain triglycerides, talc, riboflavin, polydextrose, croscarmellose, and cellulose. It’s quite easy to get your recommended choline intake very quickly so the manufacturer recommends taking only one serving per day.

Final Verdict

Nowadays it’s considered a wise move to stack nootropic supplements with choline products in order to get an excellent synergistic effect. Not only will you get improved brain functions and clearer memory, you’ll also experience it for far longer time than just relying on nootropics alone. Choline is versatile in that it can be used by athletes to improve their physical performance.