What are citicoline and citicoline sodium used for?

Citicoline is a brain nutrient that supports mental energy, focus, attention, and overall cognitive health. Experimental studies have revealed several mechanisms by which citicoline works. It acts by supporting phospholipid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, mitochondrial function, and neuroplasticity.

Citicoline is available in 2 forms: citicoline and citicoline sodium, citicoline sodium is a prescription medication used to treatneuro logical disorders in numerous countries, whereas citicoline free-base has been available
as a dietary supplement in the United States for more than 3 decades.

Citicoline vs Choline


Citicoline is a source of choline and, therefore, provides all of the benefits of choline. Both choline and citicoline support phospholipid metabolism, acetylcholine production, and cell signaling. But citicoline is also a source of cytidine. It is the cytidine component that gives citicoline the advantage over choline. The cytidine component of citicoline converts to uridine before crossing the blood-brain barrier. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrated that the uridine component is required for the rate-limiting step of phosphatidylcholine production and that uridine also promotes neuronal growth. Uridine is the molecule responsible for increasing brain levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, improving mitochondrial function, and boosting energy production in the brain.

The differences of citicoline and citicoline sodium.

Product name Citicoline(CDP-Choline)Citicoline Sodium(CDP-Choline Na)
CAS Number987-78-033818-15-4
Molecular formulaC14H27N4O11P2C14H25N4NaO11P2
Structural formula
Appearance ‎White crystalline powder,odoress ‎White crystalline powder,odoress
Purity≥99.0%≥98.0%
Assay of sodium0%4.70%
Effect differenceBiological activity and utilization Citicoline>Citicoline Sodium 
Cost  differenceRaw materials price Citicoline>Citicoline Sodium 
market occupancyCiticoline Sodium>Citicoline