Alpha‑GPC to boost thinking, mood, and athletic performance

A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on the Effects of Alpha-Glycerophosphocholine (α-GPC) on Cognitive Function and Sports Performance in Adults

This study tests whether taking 350 mg of Alpha‑GPC each day for six weeks can improve thinking, mood, and athletic performance in healthy adults aged 25–55.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 25 Years to 55 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio-tech Co., Ltd. (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Cork, County Cork)
• Trial ID: NCT07267845 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial will give healthy adults aged 25–55 either 350 mg of Alpha‑GPC or a matching placebo daily for six weeks. Cognitive performance will be measured with tests including the Stroop Test, Go/No‑Go, SART, and DSST, while sports performance will assess upper‑ and lower‑body measures. Participants will self-report mood, energy, and motivation, and the study will monitor safety and tolerability compared with placebo. The trial is sponsored by Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio‑tech and conducted at Atlantia Clinical Trials in Cork, Ireland.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy, recreationally active adults aged 25–55 with BMI 18.5–32 kg/m2 who are not highly trained competitive athletes and can follow diet/exercise restrictions and attend study visits.

Not a fit: Highly trained competitive athletes, pregnant or breastfeeding people, or those outside the specified age, weight, or BMI ranges are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, daily Alpha‑GPC could modestly improve short‑term attention, perceived energy/motivation, and measures of strength or power in recreationally active adults.

How similar studies have performed: Small prior studies of Alpha‑GPC have reported some improvements in power output and certain cognitive measures, but results are mixed and larger confirmatory trials are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Be able to give written informed consent.
* Be in good health as determined by the investigator.
* Age between 25 and 55 years (inclusive).
* Body Mass Index of 18.5-32.0 kg/m2 (inclusive).
* Body weight of at least 54 kilograms.
* Muscle strengthening activities 2-3 time per week or participation in recreational or local level moderate intensity activity for at least 2 years.
* Normotensive (resting systolic blood pressure \<140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure \< 90 mm Hg).
* Willing to duplicate their previous 24-hr diet, refrain from alcohol and caffeine for 24-hr prior to each visit, refrain from exercise 48-hr prior to each visit.
* Refrain from consuming beef liver, chicken liver, eggs, fish, wheat germ and soybeans, butter beans 24-hrs prior to Visit 2 and Visit 3.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Highly trained or competitive athletes.
* Participants who are pregnant or wish to become pregnant during the study or who are lactating and/or currently breastfeeding.
* Female participants who are currently breastfeeding.
* Female participants who are planning to become pregnant during the study period.
* Female participants who test positive on a pregnancy test at screening or prior to first administration of the study product.
* Participants with history of drug and/or alcohol abuse at the time of enrolment. (Drinks more than nationally recommended units per week (\>11 units for women; \>17 units for men); alcohol/substance abuse disorder).
* Caffeine intake of three or more cups of coffee or equivalent (\>400 mg) per day.
* Current smokers or users of any nicotine products in the past 4-weeks.
* Has food allergies or other issues with foods that would preclude intake of the Study Products.
* Has any significant acute or chronic coexisting health conditions that would prevent them from fulfilling the study requirements, put the Participant at risk or would confound the interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator on the basis of medical history and routine laboratory test results.
* History of malignancy in the previous 5 years except for non-melanoma skin cancer.
* Diagnosed, uncontrolled psychiatric disorder.
* Hepatorenal, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, or neurologic disease.
* Prior gastrointestinal bypass surgery (excluding appendectomy).
* Gastrointestinal or metabolic diseases that might impact nutrient absorption or metabolism.
* Chronic inflammatory condition or disease.
* History of severe or chronic musculoskeletal pain or injury.
* History of diabetes, asthma, gout, fibromyalgia or clinical diagnosis of IBS/IBD.
* Current or recent use of a medication that the investigator believes would interfere with the objectives of the study or pose a safety risk or confound the interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator.
* Use CNS stimulants or anxiety or ADHD medication.
* Use corticosteroids (oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or transdermal only).
* Use testosterone replacement therapy (ingestion, injection, or transdermal).
* Current or recent use of prohibited nutritional or non-nutritional supplements that the investigator believes would interfere with the objectives of the study or pose a safety risk or confound the interpretation of the study results as judged by the investigator.
* Use creatine, BCAA, HMB, betaine, beta-alanine, in the past 2 weeks.
* Use choline supplements (e.g. choline bitartrate, phosphatidylcholine, citicholine) in the past 4 weeks.
* Use omega-3, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, L-theanine, Lion's Mane, ashwagandha in the past 4 weeks.
* Individuals who, in the opinion of the investigator, are considered to be poor attendees or unlikely for any reason to be able to comply with the study.
* Participants may be participating in other clinical studies.

Where this trial is running

Cork, County Cork

• Atlantia Clinical Trials — Cork, County Cork, Ireland (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Nontokozo Yusuff, MBChC

Conditions: Healthy Participants, Alpha-Glycerophosphocholine, α-GPC, cognitive function, sports performance, Dietary Supplement, safety