Has brain fog left you in a confused haze? Do you feel your memory slipping? Is it harder to focus for long periods of time than it used to be? Or are you simply looking to give your cognitive powers a boost for that big meeting or conference coming up?

If you want to give your brain a boost, this IV is for you.

We start with Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) which forms part of all cell membranes and immediately increases levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine—the neurotransmitter that helps you feel attentive and focused.

We add taurine, an organic acid that plays antioxidant and anti-anxiety roles and a critical compound for proper brain and retina function. Then we throw in some B vitamins, minerals and vitamin C to enhance the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine and improve overall energy production.
And don’t forget that with our comprehensive testing, we can further personalize this IV to fully support your brain and give it that much extra computing power.

Ingredients

Science

Glycerophosphocholine (GPC also known at Apha-GPC) is a very well studied naturally occurring compound which is part of every cell as well as mother’s milk. It is a precursor to acetylcholine (Ach) and it crosses the “blood brain barrier”—in other words it can work in the brain itself to increase levels of acetylcholine almost immediately.

This is important because Ach is a key player in your autonomic nervous system the part that governs unconscious activities like heart rate, breathing, bowel, kidney and bladder function and even muscle contraction. In the brain Ach pathways also control arousal, plasticity of the brain, reward, sensory perception, and sustained attention. This neurotransmitter has also been shown to promote REM sleep (2). Damage to the cholinergic (acetylcholine-producing) system in the brain has been shown to be associated with the memory deficits seen in Alzheimer’s disease (1). Maintaining healthy levels of Ach is thus very beneficial for the overall healthy functioning of the entire body especially the brain and getting enough GPC helps you do just that.

Other neurotransmitters involved in reward, cravings, pleasure, energy and attention are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Vitamin C is important in the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. The manufacture and breakdown of these neurotransmitters also depends on methylation and energy production. Most of the B-vitamins but especially B2, B6 and B12 play a crucial role in both the production of energy in the TCA cycle and in the methylation cycle.

Taurine is classified by many as an amino acid, although, it is technically not one of the 22 amino acid building blocks of protein. It has a very broad role in the body. For example it helps with bile acid conjugation, membrane stabilization, inhibitory neurotransmission (think anti-anxiety) and neuro-protection. In one study taurine was shown to decrease the impulse to drink alcohol.(3) It also plays a role as an antioxidant, blood pressure regulator and in the regulation of dangerous cholesterol particles involved in atherosclerosis.

Glutathione is the master antioxidant in the body and has strong neuro-protective effects as well.

When put together in one IV, this coalition of brain protecting and boosting nutrients have the power to enhance your focus, improve your memory, and boost your energy.

References

1. Francis PT, Palmer AM, Snape M, Wilcock GK. The cholinergic hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease: a review of progress. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 66(2), 137-147.
2. Platt B, Riedel G. The cholinergic system, EEG and sleep. Behavioural brain research, 221(2), 499-504.
3. Olive, MF. Interactions between taurine and ethanol in the central nervous system. Amino acids, 23(4), 345-357.
4. Slattery J, Kumar N, Delhey L, Berk M, Dean O, Spielholz C, Frye R. Clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry and neurology: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.