Vinpocetine Reference

Plain English

What it is

Vinpocetine is a lab-made compound based on a substance from the lesser periwinkle plant. It is not FDA-approved in the United States, and the FDA has said it does not count as a lawful dietary supplement ingredient. In some other countries, such as Hungary, it is approved as a medicine (sold as Cavinton) for poor blood flow in the brain.

What people use it for

People take it hoping to sharpen memory and thinking and to improve blood flow in the brain.

What the science shows

Most human studies come from Europe and looked at people with reduced brain blood flow, and any benefits seen were small. A major research review found the evidence inconsistent and could not confirm that it works. Support for boosting memory or thinking in healthy people is weak.

The catch

The FDA warns pregnant women, and women who could become pregnant, against using vinpocetine because it may cause a miscarriage or harm a developing baby. It is also not an FDA-approved drug here, and the agency has said it does not qualify as a lawful dietary supplement ingredient in the US, even though products are still sold.

Reference summary

Hungarian and other European clinical literature in cerebrovascular impairment. Effect sizes are modest.

Regulatory and posture

Categories

Nootropic, Cognitive

Aliases

Cavinton, Periwinkle alkaloid

Evidence posture

human - Not FDA-approved in the US. FDA has indicated vinpocetine is not a lawful dietary ingredient. Approved in non-US markets for cerebrovascular impairment.

Regulatory status

No FDA-approved vinpocetine drug label in the US. FDA has stated vinpocetine is not a lawful dietary ingredient because it was approved as a drug elsewhere before being marketed as a supplement. Sold despite the FDA notice. Approved in Hungary and several other non-US markets for cerebral blood flow / cognitive impairment.

Content review status

research reference