Side-by-side comparison of mechanisms, dosing, interactions, and stacking potential.
| CDP-Choline (Citicoline) | Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Nootropics | Nootropics |
| Standard Dose | 250-500 mg/day | 500-1000 mg/day of standardized extract (35-45% triterpenes) or 750-1500 mg/day of whole herb extract |
| Timing | Morning or split morning/afternoon. With or without food. | Morning or split morning/afternoon. With or without food. Acute mood effects (alertness, reduced anger) noted within 1 hour of dosing. |
| Cycle Duration | Ongoing; no cycling required | Ongoing; traditional use suggests no cycling required. Clinical trials run 2-6 months. |
| Evidence Level | strong_human | moderate_human |
Prodrug that is hydrolyzed to choline and cytidine upon oral ingestion. Choline supports acetylcholine synthesis and phosphatidylcholine membrane repair. Cytidine is converted to uridine, which enhances synaptic membrane synthesis via the Kennedy pathway and upregulates dopamine receptor density. This dual mechanism — cholinergic support plus dopaminergic modulation — is unique among choline sources.
250-500 mg/day
Morning or split morning/afternoon. With or without food.
Ongoing; no cycling required
Pentacyclic triterpenes — asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid — provide neuroprotection through multiple mechanisms: inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity and enhancement of cholinergic transmission; reduction of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity to attenuate neuroinflammation; protection against beta-amyloid aggregation and tau hyperphosphorylation; and upregulation of BDNF to promote neuronal growth and synaptic plasticity. Asiaticoside enhances collagen synthesis and wound healing, while asiatic acid activates the MAPK/ERK pathway to promote neurite outgrowth.
500-1000 mg/day of standardized extract (35-45% triterpenes) or 750-1500 mg/day of whole herb extract
Morning or split morning/afternoon. With or without food. Acute mood effects (alertness, reduced anger) noted within 1 hour of dosing.
Ongoing; traditional use suggests no cycling required. Clinical trials run 2-6 months.
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