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Cit6.0
Citicoline Research
Probably helps
117 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Probably helps
Citicoline helped in about half (4/6) of the studies that measured an effect — promising, but not unanimous.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1982–2026 with a typical study size of 55 participants.
Based on 117 studies · 13 meta-analyses · 88 RCTs · 3,607 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
4helped1unclear1didn't help· 111 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Stroke & cerebrovascular
Probably helps106 studies
Cognitive functionBetter memory formation and recall · 4-8 weeks
10Total symptomatologyMeta-AnalysisCited 10×n=50 · small study2025
Fornaro M et al. · Molecular psychiatry (2025)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Change (Standardized Mean Difference = SMD) in total symptomatology and acceptability (Risk Ratio = RR) were co-primary outcomes.
High heterogeneity (tau2 = 0.10, I2 = 55.9%) and global inconsistency (Q = 40.79, df = 18, p = 0.002) emerged without publication bias (Egger's test, p = 0.42).
11Neurocognitive effects in bipolar disordersSystematic Review2025
Specific nutraceuticals may offer pro-cognitive effects for BD.
Balanzá-Martínez V et al. · Psychiatry research (2025)
Specific nutraceuticals may offer pro-cognitive effects for BD.
However, the evidence is limited by the small number of included studies and substantial heterogeneity in populations, interventions, and cognitive assessments.
Future studies should examine whole-diet, physical activity/exercise and multimodal LBIs.
Overall, citicoline improved cognitive status, with pooled standardized mean differences ranging from 0.56 (95% CI: 0.37-0.75) to 1.57 (95% CI: 0.77-2.37) in different sensitivity analyses.
This review does not support the current prescription of cholinergic agents to treat PUD.
Salloum N et al. · Psychopharmacology (2024)
Only two studies on galantamine (AChEI) and citicoline, reported a significant reduction of cocaine consumption. «Proof-of-concept» laboratory trials showed no evidence of efficacy on the selected outcomes, notably on craving.
This review does not support the current prescription of cholinergic agents to treat PUD.
Replication clinical trials notably on galantamine or other AChEI, and proof-of-concept trials on comedown symptoms will be necessary to identify a potential therapeutic indication for cholinergic agents in PUD.
17Cognition, mood, and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's diseaseSystematic ReviewCited 20×2020
Limited evidence from pooled data of two observational studies suggests that CC used in adjunct with AChEIs in the treatment of AD was well-tolerated and showed improvement in cognition, mood, and behavioral symptoms compared to treating with AChEIs alone.
Piamonte BLC et al. · Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD (2020)
Limited evidence from pooled data of two observational studies suggests that CC used in adjunct with AChEIs in the treatment of AD was well-tolerated and showed improvement in cognition, mood, and behavioral symptoms compared to treating with AChEIs alone.
Functional outcomes were significantly improved by citicoline, but the positive role of this drug in neurological recovery, domestic adaptation, and cognitive outcomes is still a topic of discussion for future.
Agarwal S et al. · Indian journal of pharmacology (2017)
Noticeable harm
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
In neurological evaluation, domestic adaptation evaluation, and cognitive outcomes, there was no significant difference in both the citicoline and placebo groups (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04 [0.9-1.2, P = 0.583]; OR = 1.1 [0.94-1.27, P = 0.209]; OR = 0.953 [0.75-1.2, P = 0.691]).
In evaluation of functional outcomes, there was significant difference in both groups and OR was 1.18 (1.04-1.34, P = 0.01).
Functional outcomes were significantly improved by citicoline, but the positive role of this drug in neurological recovery, domestic adaptation, and cognitive outcomes is still a topic of discussion for future.