Vinpocetine - Supplements, Benefits, Uses & Dosage
Updated Mar. 03rd, 2026 | Read Time: 2 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- What is Vinpocetine?
- What is Vinpocetine Used For?
- How Does Vinpocetine Work?
- How Do You Use It?
- Nutritional Information
- Reader Comments (4)
Did you know that there's another, even better option than Ginkgo Biloba for brain health and memory? Vinpocetine improves metabolism and blood flow to the brain, similarly to Ginkgo, but it can be even more effective in a shorter period of time. People who use it say it helps you focus, clear your mind, and more easily retrieve thoughts and memories.
What is Vinpocetine?
Vinpocetine is a phytonutrient isolated from the Periwinkle plant and is protective to the brain. It was first discovered in the 1960's and has been prescribed as a drug in Eastern Europe since the 1970's for blood vessel problems in the brain and age-related memory impairment. In Canada and the U.S., this phytonutrient is sold as a supplement in health food stores and online.
What is Vinpocetine Used For?
In Eastern Europe and Japan, vinpocetine is prescribed by doctors to enhance memory, to improve cognition and to improve cerebral circulation. It is also used to improve dementia, hearing impairment, concentration, mental attention and macular degeneration.
This phytonutrient is best known for treating cerebral disorders of vascular origin, meaning it works for conditions that are characterized by reduced blood flow to the brain, like vascular dementia. Vascular dementia can result after a stroke, because a stroke can cause reduced blood flow and damage to some parts of the brain. In Eastern Europe and Asian countries, it is often prescribed after a stroke to improve blood flow and protect the brain. Vinpocetine may even help with TIA's (Transient Ischemic Attacks).
How Does Vinpocetine Work?
Vinpocetine has neuroprotective effects on the brain. It relaxes blood vessels in the brain, which allows for an increase in blood flow. This means more nutrients like oxygen and glucose can get to individual brain cells. Both oxygen and glucose are in high demand by a busy brain because they are needed in all of the chemical and electrical reactions that occur every moment within our brain. Glucose is the only fuel our brain uses, and studies show that vinpocetine actually increases the amount of glucose metabolized by the brain. Vinpocetine also increases the production of ATP in the brain, which is an energy molecule. Clearly, it is an energy booster for your brain!
Vinpocetine can also help macular degeneration, and it is thought to work through increased brain blood flow too, because the blood vessels of the eye are in direct connection to the cerebral circulation.
How Do You Use It?
You will find vinpocetine available in capsules or softgels, and you can safely take 10-45mg daily with food. Many people report that when they take vinpocetine, they feel that their mind is clear and that thoughts and memories come easily.
The only thing that relieves my tinnitus is vinpocetine. It is a matter of checking whether the active ingredients of the supplement have any scientific evidence, as well as the quality of the product. For example, I only get relief from one brand of vinpocetine (intelectol) that I've tried. I suppose that with other supplements the same will happen.
Hello, Louis,
Thank you for sharing. We're glad you found a natural solution to support your health concern and have learned more about its benefits through our article. Indeed, each brand has a different formulation or potency that will work better for some, we're happy you have found one that works best for you.
Stay healthy & well!
No, I did not know that there's "another, even better option than Ginkgo Biloba for brain health and memory". My first thought was, "What's the catch?" because the idea of a more efficacious Ginkgo Biloba that I had never heard of before seemed too good to be true. The blood thinning inteaction risk may not be too much of a disuading factor for most people but for me it is sadly a big red flag-I have issues with clotting already! That said, I'll be looking into this periwinkle plant powehouse component more: maybe it can help me enegize my brain!
Hello Rachel,
Vinpocetine isn't well-known; therefore, we're happy we could introduce you to this nutrient so you could learn about all its miraculous health benefits. Indeed, Ginkgo is a great supplement to take to increase brain health, but for those that can take Vinpocetine, there's another contender that may supply equal or more benefits for concentration and memory. With the fast paced world we live in, social media scrolling and short form video, now is as good as time as any to protect your memory and cognition. If you'd like to compare this to ginkgo more, check out our article on Ginkgo Biloba too, https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/supplements/ginkgo-biloba/
Have a healthy day