Citicoline
Clinical data
Trade namesNeurocoline
Other namesCytidine diphosphate choline
AHFS/Drugs.comInternational Drug Names
Routes of
administration		oral
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability90% oral
Excretionrespiration (as CO2) and urine
Identifiers
  • 5'-O-[hydroxy({hydroxy[2-(trimethylammonio)ethoxy]
    phosphoryl}oxy)phosphoryl]cytidine
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.012.346 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC14H27N4O11P2+
Molar mass489.335 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • C[N+](C)(C)CCOP(=O)([O-])OP(=O)(O)OC[C@@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O1)N2C=CC(N)=NC2=O
  • InChI=1S/C14H26N4O11P2/c1-18(2,3)6-7-26-30(22,23)29-31(24,25)27-8-9-11(19)12(20)13(28-9)17-5-4-10(15)16-14(17)21/h4-5,9,11-13,19-20H,6-8H2,1-3H3,(H3-,15,16,21,22,23,24,25)/t9-,11-,12-,13-/m1/s1 ☒N
  • Key:RZZPDXZPRHQOCG-OJAKKHQRSA-N ☒N
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Citicoline (INN), also known as cytidine diphosphate-choline (CDP-Choline) or cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine is an intermediate in the generation of phosphatidylcholine from choline, a common biochemical process in cell membranes. Citicoline is naturally occurring in the cells of human and animal tissue, in particular the organs.

Use as a dietary supplement

Citicoline is available as a supplement in over 70 countries under a variety of brand names: CereBleu, Cebroton, Ceraxon, Cidilin, Citifar, Cognizin, Difosfocin, Hipercol, NeurAxon, Nicholin, Sinkron, Somazina, Synapsine, Startonyl, Trausan, Xerenoos, etc.[1] When taken as a supplement, citicoline is hydrolyzed into choline and cytidine in the intestine.[2] Once these cross the blood–brain barrier it is reformed into citicoline by the rate-limiting enzyme in phosphatidylcholine synthesis, CTP-phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase.[3][4]

Research

Memory and cognition

Studies suggest, but have not confirmed, potential benefits of citicoline for cognitive impairments.[5]

Ischemic stroke

Some preliminary research suggested that citicoline may reduce the rates of death and disability following an ischemic stroke.[6][7] However, the largest citicoline clinical trial to date (a randomised, placebo-controlled, sequential trial of 2,298 patients with moderate-to-severe acute ischaemic stroke in Europe), found no benefit of administering citicoline on survival or recovery from stroke.[8] A meta-analysis of seven trials reported no statistically significant benefit for long-term survival or recovery.[9]

Vision

The effect of citicoline on visual function has been studied in patients with glaucoma, with possible positive effect for protecting vision.[10]

Mechanism of action

The CDP-choline pathway; enzymes named in green.
Enzymes involved in reactions are identified by numbers. See file description.

Neuroprotective effects

Citicoline may have neuroprotective effects due to its preservation of cardiolipin and sphingomyelin, preservation of arachidonic acid content of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, partial restoration of phosphatidylcholine levels, and stimulation of glutathione synthesis and glutathione reductase activity. Citicoline's effects may also be explained by the reduction of phospholipase A2 activity.[11] Citicoline increases phosphatidylcholine synthesis.[12][13][14] The mechanism for this may be:

Neuronal membrane

The brain preferentially uses choline to synthesize acetylcholine. This limits the amount of choline available to synthesize phosphatidylcholine. When the availability of choline is low or the need for acetylcholine increases, phospholipids containing choline can be catabolized from neuronal membranes. These phospholipids include sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine.[11] Supplementation with citicoline can increase the amount of choline available for acetylcholine synthesis and aid in rebuilding membrane phospholipid stores after depletion.[16] Citicoline decreases phospholipase stimulation. This can lower levels of hydroxyl radicals produced after an ischemia and prevent cardiolipin from being catabolized by phospholipase A2.[17][18] It can also work to restore cardiolipin levels in the inner mitochondrial membrane.[17]

Cell signalling

Citicoline may enhance cellular communication by increasing levels of neurotransmitters.[19] The choline component of citicoline is used to create acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter in the human brain. Clinical trials have found that citicoline supplementation might improve focus and attention.[20]

Glutamate transport

Citicoline lowers increased glutamate concentrations and raises decreased ATP concentrations induced by ischemia. Citicoline also increases glutamate uptake by increasing expression of EAAT2, a glutamate transporter, in vitro in rat astrocytes. It is suggested that the neuroprotective effects of citicoline after a stroke are due in part to citicoline's ability to decrease levels of glutamate in the brain.[21]

Pharmacokinetics

Citicoline is water-soluble, with more than 90% oral bioavailability.[16] Plasma levels of citicholine peak one hour after oral ingestion, and a majority of the citicoline is excreted as CO2 in respiration with the remaining citicoline being excreted through urine.[22] The pharmacokinetic profile of citicholine cannot be described by a single smooth exponential decrease over time.[22] However, the elimination half-life for citicholine has been reported as approximately 50 hours for citicholine removed via respiration and approximately 70 hours for citicholine removed via urine.[22] Plasma levels of choline peak about four hours after ingestion.[23]

Side effects

Citicoline has a very low toxicity profile in animals and humans. Clinically, doses of 2000 mg per day have been observed and approved. Minor transient adverse effects are rare and most commonly include stomach pain and diarrhea.[13][unreliable medical source?] There have been suggestions that chronic citicoline use may have adverse psychiatric effects. However, a meta-analysis of the relevant literature does not support this hypothesis.[24][25] At most, citicoline may exacerbate psychotic episodes or interact with antipsychotic medication.

Synthesis

In vivo

Phosphatidylcholine is a major phospholipid in eukaryotic cell membranes. Close regulation of its biosynthesis, degradation, and distribution is essential to proper cell function. Phosphatidylcholine is synthesized in vivo by two pathways

See also

References

  1. ^ Single-ingredient Preparations (: Citicoline). In: Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [ed.by Sweetman S], 35th Ed. 2007, The Pharmaceutical Press: London (UK); e-version. .
  2. ^ Wurtman RJ, Regan M, Ulus I, Yu L (Oct 2000). "Effect of oral CDP-choline on plasma choline and uridine levels in humans". Biochemical Pharmacology. 60 (7): 989–92. doi:10.1016/S0006-2952(00)00436-6. PMID 10974208. S2CID 18687483.
  3. ^ Alvarez XA, Sampedro C, Lozano R, Cacabelos R (Oct 1999). "Citicoline protects hippocampal neurons against apoptosis induced by brain beta-amyloid deposits plus cerebral hypoperfusion in rats". Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. 21 (8): 535–40. doi:10.1358/mf.1999.21.8.794835. PMID 10599052.
  4. ^ Carlezon WA, Pliakas AM, Parow AM, Detke MJ, Cohen BM, Renshaw PF (Jun 2002). "Antidepressant-like effects of cytidine in the forced swim test in rats". Biological Psychiatry. 51 (11): 882–9. doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01344-0. PMID 12022961. S2CID 21170398.
  5. ^ Gareri P, Castagna A, Cotroneo AM, Putignano S, De Sarro G, Bruni AC (2015). "The role of citicoline in cognitive impairment: pharmacological characteristics, possible advantages, and doubts for an old drug with new perspectives". Clin Interv Aging. 10: 1421–9. doi:10.2147/CIA.S87886. PMC 4562749. PMID 26366063.
  6. ^ Warach S, Pettigrew LC, Dashe JF, Pullicino P, Lefkowitz DM, Sabounjian L, Harnett K, Schwiderski U, Gammans R (Nov 2000). "Effect of citicoline on ischemic lesions as measured by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Citicoline 010 Investigators". Annals of Neurology. 48 (5): 713–22. doi:10.1002/1531-8249(200011)48:5<713::aid-ana4>3.0.co;2-#. PMID 11079534. S2CID 196343635.
  7. ^ Saver JL (Fall 2008). "Citicoline: update on a promising and widely available agent for neuroprotection and neurorepair". Reviews in Neurological Diseases. 5 (4): 167–77. PMID 19122569.
  8. ^ Dávalos A, Alvarez-Sabín J, Castillo J, Díez-Tejedor E, Ferro J, Martínez-Vila E, Serena J, Segura T, Cruz VT, Masjuan J, Cobo E, Secades JJ (Jul 2012). "Citicoline in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke: an international, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled study (ICTUS trial)". Lancet. 380 (9839): 349–57. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60813-7. hdl:10400.10/663. PMID 22691567. S2CID 134947.
  9. ^ Shi PY, Zhou XC, Yin XX, Xu LL, Zhang XM, Bai HY (2016). "Early application of citicoline in the treatment of acute stroke: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". J. Huazhong Univ. Sci. Technol. Med. Sci. 36 (2): 270–7. doi:10.1007/s11596-016-1579-6. PMID 27072975. S2CID 25352343.
  10. ^ Roberti G, Tanga L, Michelessi M, Quaranta L, Parisi V, Manni G, Oddone F (2015). "Cytidine 5'-Diphosphocholine (Citicoline) in Glaucoma: Rationale of Its Use, Current Evidence and Future Perspectives". Int J Mol Sci. 16 (12): 28401–17. doi:10.3390/ijms161226099. PMC 4691046. PMID 26633368.
  11. ^ a b Adibhatla RM, Hatcher JF, Dempsey RJ (Jan 2002). "Citicoline: neuroprotective mechanisms in cerebral ischemia". Journal of Neurochemistry. 80 (1): 12–23. doi:10.1046/j.0022-3042.2001.00697.x. PMID 11796739.
  12. ^ López-Coviella I, Agut J, Savci V, Ortiz JA, Wurtman RJ (Aug 1995). "Evidence that 5'-cytidinediphosphocholine can affect brain phospholipid composition by increasing choline and cytidine plasma levels". Journal of Neurochemistry. 65 (2): 889–94. doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.1995.65020889.x. PMID 7616250. S2CID 10184322.
  13. ^ a b Conant R, Schauss AG (Mar 2004). "Therapeutic applications of citicoline for stroke and cognitive dysfunction in the elderly: a review of the literature". Alternative Medicine Review. 9 (1): 17–31. PMID 15005642.
  14. ^ Babb SM, Wald LL, Cohen BM, Villafuerte RA, Gruber SA, Yurgelun-Todd DA, Renshaw PF (May 2002). "Chronic citicoline increases phosphodiesters in the brains of healthy older subjects: an in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy study". Psychopharmacology. 161 (3): 248–54. doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1045-y. PMID 12021827. S2CID 28454793.
  15. ^ Rao AM, Hatcher JF, Dempsey RJ (Dec 1999). "CDP-choline: neuroprotection in transient forebrain ischemia of gerbils". Journal of Neuroscience Research. 58 (5): 697–705. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19991201)58:5<697::aid-jnr11>3.0.co;2-b. PMID 10561698. S2CID 1159795.
  16. ^ a b D'Orlando KJ, Sandage BW (Aug 1995). "Citicoline (CDP-choline): mechanisms of action and effects in ischemic brain injury". Neurological Research. 17 (4): 281–4. doi:10.1080/01616412.1995.11740327. PMID 7477743.
  17. ^ a b Rao AM, Hatcher JF, Dempsey RJ (Mar 2001). "Does CDP-choline modulate phospholipase activities after transient forebrain ischemia?". Brain Research. 893 (1–2): 268–72. doi:10.1016/S0006-8993(00)03280-7. PMID 11223016. S2CID 37271883.
  18. ^ Adibhatla RM, Hatcher JF (Aug 2003). "Citicoline decreases phospholipase A2 stimulation and hydroxyl radical generation in transient cerebral ischemia". Journal of Neuroscience Research. 73 (3): 308–15. doi:10.1002/jnr.10672. PMID 12868064. S2CID 17806057.
  19. ^ Secades JJ, Lorenzo JL (Sep 2006). "Citicoline: pharmacological and clinical review, 2006 update". Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. 28 (Suppl B): 1–56. PMID 17171187.
  20. ^ Tardner P (2020-08-30). "The use of citicoline for the treatment of cognitive decline and cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis of pharmacological literature • International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology". International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  21. ^ Hurtado O, Moro MA, Cárdenas A, Sánchez V, Fernández-Tomé P, Leza JC, Lorenzo P, Secades JJ, Lozano R, Dávalos A, Castillo J, Lizasoain I (Mar 2005). "Neuroprotection afforded by prior citicoline administration in experimental brain ischemia: effects on glutamate transport". Neurobiology of Disease. 18 (2): 336–345. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2004.10.006. PMID 15686962. S2CID 2818533.
  22. ^ a b c Dinsdale JR, Griffiths GK, Rowlands C, Castelló J, Ortiz JA, Maddock J, Aylward M (1983). "Pharmacokinetics of 14C CDP-choline". Arzneimittel-Forschung. 33 (7A): 1066–1070. PMID 6412727.
  23. ^ Lopez G-Coviella I, Agut J, Von Borstel R, Wurtman RJ (January 1987). "Metabolism of cytidine (5?)-diphosphocholine (cdp-choline) following oral and intravenous administration to the human and the rat". Neurochemistry International. 11 (3): 293–297. doi:10.1016/0197-0186(87)90049-0. PMID 20501174. S2CID 25557979.
  24. ^ Tardner P (2020-08-28). "Can Citicoline Cause Depression?: A review of the clinical literature • International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology". International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  25. ^ Talih F, Ajaltouni J (2015). "Probable Nootropicinduced Psychiatric Adverse Effects: A Series of Four Cases". Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience. 12 (11–12): 21–25. PMC 4756795. PMID 27222762.
  26. ^ Fernández-Murray JP, McMaster CR (Nov 2005). "Glycerophosphocholine catabolism as a new route for choline formation for phosphatidylcholine synthesis by the Kennedy pathway". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280 (46): 38290–6. doi:10.1074/jbc.M507700200. PMID 16172116.
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