choline bitartrate

What Does Choline Bitartrate Do?

Choline bitartrate is a supplemental form of choline, an essential nutrient that serves as a precursor to acetylcholine, often referred to as the "learning neurotransmitter." By increasing the available pool of choline in your system, this ingredient helps you maintain mental clarity and physical coordination during the most grueling parts of your workout.

• Acetylcholine Synthesis: It provides the raw building blocks for acetylcholine, which is crucial for signal transmission between neurons and from nerves to muscles.
• Enhanced Mind-Muscle Connection: By optimizing neurotransmitter levels, it helps you better "feel" the muscle fibers contracting, leading to more effective and intentional sets.
• Cognitive Clarity: It helps stave off the "brain fog" that often accompanies high-volume training sessions or workouts performed in a caloric deficit.
• Lipid Metabolism: Beyond the brain, choline plays a vital role in transporting fats out of the liver, supporting overall metabolic health while you train.

Clinical vs. Gym Bro Dosing

Key Insight: Choline bitartrate is roughly 41% choline by weight and has lower bioavailability compared to Alpha-GPC or CDP-Choline. Because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier as efficiently as its more expensive counterparts, you generally need a higher dose (at least 500mg) to achieve a significant "locked-in" feeling during your session.

Side Effects & Warnings

• Digestive Distress: High doses can lead to bloating, cramping, or diarrhea in sensitive individuals as the body processes the salt.
• Fishy Body Odor: Excessive choline intake can sometimes result in a "fishy" smell in sweat or breath (trimethylaminuria) due to the breakdown of choline by gut bacteria.
• Headaches: Some users report mild tension headaches, particularly if they are already consuming high amounts of choline through whole foods like egg yolks.

Tip: If you experience a fishy odor or stomach upset, try lowering your dose or switching to a more bioavailable form like Alpha-GPC, which requires a lower total weight to achieve the same cognitive effect.