Citicoline

Citicoline, chemically cytidine 5-diphosphocholine, is a pyrimidine nucleotide occurring endogenously in every cell of the human body. It was first isolated by Kennedy and Weiss in 1955 during their study of the mammalian phospholipid biosynthesis pathway, later designated the Kennedy pathway. The molecule consists of a cytidine nucleoside linked through a pyrophosphate bridge to a choline residue; molar mass 488.32 g/mol; empirical formula C14H26N4O11P2. In the finished LUCID capsule, the compound is present as its stable disodium salt, an off-white hygroscopic crystalline powder standardised to a minimum 98 percent assay. It carries pharmacopoeial-grade specifications for identity by NMR, purity by HPLC, endotoxin, and residual solvent panels aligned with ICH Q3C limits. The dosing form used in LUCID is Cognizin, the branded citicoline of Kyowa Hakko Bio Japan, notified under EU Novel Food status in 2013.

We elected Cognizin over generic citicoline for one reason: identity of the tested article. The published academic record on citicoline in cognitive-task designs has been generated overwhelmingly with the Kyowa Hakko material (McGlade et al., 2012, Food and Nutrition Sciences; Yamaguchi et al., 2015, Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology). To include an alternate source would be to inherit an evidence base we cannot verify at the molecule level. The 350 mg calibration sits within the range studied in the referenced work, 250 mg to 500 mg per day for adult subjects, and was chosen at the upper-middle band because the LUCID ritual is a single morning administration, not divided across the day. Every milligram is declared. There is no proprietary blend concealing lower content behind branded language. The reader can read the certificate. The reader can compare it to the label. Both match.

Cognizin is manufactured by Kyowa Hakko Bio Co. Ltd. at its Japanese production site, from a fermentation-derived precursor. It holds EU Novel Food authorisation, US Self-Affirmed GRAS status, and Kosher and Halal certifications. Each shipment to LIMINATE is accompanied by a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis and cross-verified at Eurofins Antwerp before release. Documentation is retained under our EU food-supplement dossier for ten years.

Citicoline occupies the second line of the composition table, within the cognitive-foundations band. It is present alongside Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine and Uridine Monophosphate.