Full-Text Excerpt of Smart Drugs & Nutrients - Section 5 - Xanthinol
How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries In Neuroscience
VOLUME 1 in the Smart Drugs Series
by Ward Dean, M.D. & John Morgenthaler
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Sec 5: Other Cognitive Enhancers
Xanthinol Nicotinate
Xanthinol nicotinate is a form of niacin that can pass easily through the cell membrane into the cell much more readily than niacin. Once inside the cell, xanthinol nicotinate causes an increase in glucose metabolism and a corresponding increase in ATP, the universal energy molecule.
Xanthinol nicotinate is a vasodilator and is used as an agent to lower serum cholesterol. The drug has been used to treat insufficient blood flow to the brain, arteries, and the extremities (Anderson, 1987).
A double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted comparing 1500mg of xanthinol nicotinate with 425.1mg of niacin (1500mg of xanthinol nicotinate contains 425.1mg of niacin chemically bonded to xanthinol). Xanthinol nicotinate was found to improve performance of normal, healthy elderly people on a variety of short-term and long-term memory tests (Loriaux, 1985). We previously cited the study by Loriaux in the section on niacin. It shows the remarkable short-term memory improvements in young and middle aged people using niacin. Xanthinol nicotinate also significantly improved reaction times in the elderly subjects of this study.
Precautions: Xanthinol Nicotinate may cause flushing or a sense of warmth. It can also cause heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, headache, muscle cramps, or blurred vision. These effects often disappear with continued usage. Some people may experience itchy skin, rash, or changes in skin color. Xanthinol Nicotinate may cause postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up from a sitting position) because of its vasodilation effect. Safety in pregnant women and nursing mothers has not been established. Xanthinol nicotinate should not be used by people with peptic ulcers, congestive heart failure, severe hypotension, or liver problems or by people who have had a recent myocardial infarction.
Dosage: 900 - 1800mg per day in divided doses taken with meals. Maximum dosage is 3000mg.
Sources: Xanthinol nicotinate can be purchased in Europe or Canada or by mail order from the sources listed in Appendix A (see page 165). Other names include: Androgeron, Angiomanin, Angiomin, Cafardil, Circulan, Clofamin, Complamex, Complamin, Dacilin, Emodinamin, Jupal, Landrina, Niconicol, Sadamin, SK 331 A, Vasoprin, Vedrin, Xanidil, Xavin, and Xavin.
References:
Anderson, K., Anderson, L. Orphan Drugs. Los Angeles, CA: The Body Press, 1987.
Loriaux, S.M., Deijen, J.B., Orlebeke, J.F., De Swart, J.H. "The Effects of Nicotinic Acid (Niacin) and Xanthinol Nicotinate on Human Memory in Different Categories of Age, a Double Blind Study." Psychopharmacology. 1985, Vol. 87, pp. 390?395.