Dr. Andy Galpin

It's not something that you need to do every day your entire life. Next on our list is choline. Now this has a handful of functions. First, it's helpful in preserving that blood brain barrier. because it wards off membrane breakdown. It's critical to that cell membrane, so it has a handful of effects there.

It's not something that you need to do every day your entire life. Next on our list is choline. Now this has a handful of functions. First, it's helpful in preserving that blood brain barrier. because it wards off membrane breakdown. It's critical to that cell membrane, so it has a handful of effects there.

The second big thing it does is it is the primary precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. You may remember that acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter. It's the signal, the molecular signal that goes from one neuron to the next that activates it. We talked about this in a little more detail in a previous episode on muscle. So you can go back to that to learn more.

The second big thing it does is it is the primary precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. You may remember that acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter. It's the signal, the molecular signal that goes from one neuron to the next that activates it. We talked about this in a little more detail in a previous episode on muscle. So you can go back to that to learn more.

But the third thing it does, it is a precursor to that important antioxidant glutathione. So a handful of functions here, both structural, damage, cellular communication and activation, as well as antioxidant.

But the third thing it does, it is a precursor to that important antioxidant glutathione. So a handful of functions here, both structural, damage, cellular communication and activation, as well as antioxidant.

We also know from a lot of research in the area of brain aging, dementia, Alzheimer's and so forth, that higher dietary intake of choline is strongly associated with decreases in several biomarkers that are associated with that Alzheimer's, dementia and other risk factors. So from a dietary perspective,

We also know from a lot of research in the area of brain aging, dementia, Alzheimer's and so forth, that higher dietary intake of choline is strongly associated with decreases in several biomarkers that are associated with that Alzheimer's, dementia and other risk factors. So from a dietary perspective,

from a molecular and mechanistic perspective, is starting to line up as a pretty important molecule for both TBI as well as long-term brain health. To summarize the collective evidence, it is well tolerated and safe. It's plausibly helpful, like I just described. And there's even some minor benefits in both physiological and cognitive domains following head trauma.

from a molecular and mechanistic perspective, is starting to line up as a pretty important molecule for both TBI as well as long-term brain health. To summarize the collective evidence, it is well tolerated and safe. It's plausibly helpful, like I just described. And there's even some minor benefits in both physiological and cognitive domains following head trauma.

The most common form of choline in the research is what's called acetylcholine or CDP choline, as you'll see it sometimes. And it's been tested in multiple TBI randomized controlled trials. In fact, a recent meta-analysis indicated that there's about a 20% likelihood of success or effectiveness with acetylcholine for TBI treatment. So it's not perfect, but 20% is pretty good, in my opinion.

The most common form of choline in the research is what's called acetylcholine or CDP choline, as you'll see it sometimes. And it's been tested in multiple TBI randomized controlled trials. In fact, a recent meta-analysis indicated that there's about a 20% likelihood of success or effectiveness with acetylcholine for TBI treatment. So it's not perfect, but 20% is pretty good, in my opinion.

Getting into the research just a little bit further, there's a handful of animal and human studies that are worth talking about at a very high level. The animal research looked at 100 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, and I'm bringing up those numbers intentionally. I want to put some context behind that, honestly, because I've just heard people misinterpret this paper a lot.

Getting into the research just a little bit further, there's a handful of animal and human studies that are worth talking about at a very high level. The animal research looked at 100 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, and I'm bringing up those numbers intentionally. I want to put some context behind that, honestly, because I've just heard people misinterpret this paper a lot.

So 100 milligrams per kilogram per day immediately after an injury, which resulted in significant improvements in what's called spatial memory performance. Now, you can't simply equate body weight here to humans. You'll get an absurd number that won't make sense. It doesn't actually work that way for details we don't want to talk about now.

So 100 milligrams per kilogram per day immediately after an injury, which resulted in significant improvements in what's called spatial memory performance. Now, you can't simply equate body weight here to humans. You'll get an absurd number that won't make sense. It doesn't actually work that way for details we don't want to talk about now.

But what this would equate to is something like 60 to 70 milligrams per kilogram in humans. And that is high. It's about three to five times the dosages used in human research, but it's not impossible either. So I do want to acknowledge that those numbers are, again, high, but it's not completely crazy either.

But what this would equate to is something like 60 to 70 milligrams per kilogram in humans. And that is high. It's about three to five times the dosages used in human research, but it's not impossible either. So I do want to acknowledge that those numbers are, again, high, but it's not completely crazy either.

In fact, some of the studies at 250 milligrams helped with the blood-brain barrier breakdown and edema were largely reduced in those trials and also had benefits in hippocampal neuronal death, for the seven days following injury. So pretty good mechanisms from the rat studies. In terms of the human, you will see that the studies are mixed, okay?

In fact, some of the studies at 250 milligrams helped with the blood-brain barrier breakdown and edema were largely reduced in those trials and also had benefits in hippocampal neuronal death, for the seven days following injury. So pretty good mechanisms from the rat studies. In terms of the human, you will see that the studies are mixed, okay?