OLYMPICS DOPING SCANDALS BRING NOOTROPIC SUPPLEMENTS INTO MAINSTREAM NEWS

The Winter Olympics in South Korea has brought the issue of “doping” in sports back into the public eye. As mentioned in a recent article at Smithsonian magazine online, Olga Medvedtseva became the first athlete caught doping in that year’s games. It wasn’t steroids or amphetamines or other illegal or illicit substances the Olympian was caught using, rather it was the Russian designed nootropic Carphedon, better known in bio-hacking circles as phenylpiracetam. Carphedon was initially created in 1983 by Russian chemists to assist the cosmonaut program. Like phenibut and other substances, it was designed to help cosmonauts stay alert and stress free in space. It has been banned from the Olympics and other professional sports since the World Anti-Doping Agency added it to it’s list of prohibited substances in 2004. In the case of Mededtseva, phenylpiracetam turned out to be just one ingredient in a medication her doctor had prescribed her for a twisted ankle. Despite that she was stripped of her medal and barred from the Games.Bromantane powder

Each Olympics there seems to be at least a handful of doping scandals, this year has been no exception. 1,000 Olympic athletes failed due to using some sort of stimulant like phenylpiracetam or other substances like anabolic steroids. Stimulant medications like phenylpiracetam and modafinil are actually only banned in competition and can be used during training. Phenylpiracetam has been long used for cognitive enhancement as well as its neuroprotective benefits. It seems to be more stimulating than its parent compound piracetam, as well as being more suited to physical training, body building and sports. In addition to the typical racetam psychostimulant effect and cholinergic effect that may enhance learning and memory potential, phenylpiracetam possesses a battery of effects perfectly suited to enhancing physical fitness. In addition to being more physically stimulating, than piracetam it has the added potential benefit of improving loco-motor activity. Just don’t take it before you head to the Olympics or you could end up barred from the Games.

If you’re not a professional athlete, however, there are no restrictions on the use of such mental and physical performance enhancers. Nootropics are well known for improving cognitive performance, but many nootropic cognitive enhancers may also benefit bodybuilders, martial artists, amateur athletes and even gamers. As Smithsonian points out, piracetam and other nootropics have a history going back to the 1960’s but the Olympics and doping scandals have been one thing that actually thrust them into the mainstream news spotlight.

Smithsonian noted that modafinil, piracetam and noopept are three of the most talked about nootropic substances on Reddit and after analyzing 150,000 Reddit comments found they were associated with many people working in the field of technology. Nootropics like phenibut, picamilon and piracetam have their roots in research for the Soviet Cosmonaut program but were later extended to pharmaceutical application for those dealing with age related cognitive decline or issues arising from physical trauma and other causes. Performance enhancers, Alzheimers and dementia drugs as well as a popular “ace in the hole” for those working as entrepreneurs, in Silicon Valley or for university students, nootropics seem to be growing in popularity as they move from a niche communiity of neuro-science geeks to the general public.
For the most part, what’s good for the heart is good for the brain and often what’s good for the heart and brain is also good for overall health as well as building muscle mass, sports training and building speed and endurance. Choline, for instance, is an essential nutrient for brain and nervous system health. Choline supplementation is also vitally important if you plan on supplementing with cholinergics. Acetylcholine, by the way, is not only the learning and memory molecule, but is also closely tied to certain forms of muscle movement.

Bobby Sandage, PhD, Richard Wuronan, MD and LuAnn Sabounjian autbored the journal article, “Dietary Supplements: Effects of Choline on Athletic Performance and Fatigue.” In it they explore the effects of choline on performance, exercise endurance and fatigue by running a series of trials involving running and swimming. The results suggested that plasma choline levels were related to not only neurological functioning but “vigor” and reduced fatigue. Choline is a fatty substance that is an essential fatty acid, related to the B-vitamins and found in fish, eggs, soy and other dietary sources. It’s an excellent “brain food” but also most likely a good friend to anyone working on their physical performance as well.

Choline comes in many forms, the highly refined form of lecithin known as Alpha GPC possesses greater nootropic and physical performance enhancing benefits than your typical (choline bitrate or citrate) choline donor. A 2008 study in he Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition even found that it may augment growth hormone response and peak force production as well as having a positive effect on muscle gains and fat burning. A study from the Center for Applied Health Science Research found that Alpha GPC seemed to increase power output as well as Growth Hormone. Keep in mind, Alpha GPC and other naturally occurring forms of choline are perfectly allowable even in professional sports.

Oxiracetam and Huperzine-A (a constituent found in the Chinese clubmoss) are also “street legal” performance enhancers. Phenylpiracetam, (piracetam with a phenyl chain added) increases physical endurance and cold resistance alongside being a cholinergic cognitive enhancer, but if you’re planning on competing in the Olympics make sure it’s not still in your system come competition time. In place of phenylpiracetam, Rhodiola rosea is another choice that has similar effects on strength, endurance and cold resistance without being banned by the WADA.