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Citicoline and psychomotor speed: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: Benefit.

C LimitedShort-term only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: C: one small RCT (n=75 adolescent males) plus one low-quality non-randomized study

One 28-day randomized placebo-controlled trial in 75 healthy adolescent males reported increased psychomotor speed on a finger-tapping test (p = 0.03); three of its seven authors are affiliated with the ingredient supplier. A 2-week single-blind study in 40 young adults reported improved psychomotor performance against baseline. No replication in adults by an independent group was found in this search.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)201520202025RCTPlacebo-controlle…McGlade 2019, 2019: RCT, n = 75, result not recordedAl-Kuraishy 2020, 2020: placebo-controlled study, 2 weeks, two groups of 20; randomization not described; described as double-blind in one place and single-blind in another, n = 40, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
McGlade 20192019RCT75result not recorded
Al-Kuraishy 20202020placebo-controlled study, 2 weeks, two groups of 20; randomization not described; described as double-blind in one place and single-blind in another40result not recorded

Citicoline Improves Human Vigilance and Visual Working Memory: The Role of Neuronal Activation and Oxidative Stress.

Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI. Citicoline Improves Human Vigilance and Visual Working Memory: The Role of Neuronal Activation and Oxidative Stress Basic Clin Neurosci, 2020. PMID 33613880

Result not recorded
Design
Placebo-controlled study, 2 weeks, two groups of 20; randomization not described; described as double-blind in one place and single-blind in another
Sample
n = 40
Population
Healthy volunteers aged 21-22
Funding
No grant funding (full text)

The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males.

McGlade E, Agoston AM, DiMuzio J. The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males J Atten Disord, 2019. PMID 26179181

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 28 days
Sample
n = 75
Population
Healthy adolescent males
Funding
not stated in PubMed record

Search and history

Search (): TITLE:(citicoline OR "CDP-choline") AND (ABSTRACT:"motor speed" OR ABSTRACT:psychomotor OR ABSTRACT:"reaction time")

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page