Citicoline is hydrolyzed into cytidine and choline in the intestines. After crossing the blood-brain barrier, it is resynthesized into citicoline. Citicoline is needed to synthesize phosphatidylcholine and ultimately acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels in the brain. Citicoline also increases glutathione production and opposes metabolic processes that promote cell death. The Kennedy pathway uses citicoline as an intermediary in the production of phospholipids. Phospholipids are found in the cell membranes of all cells in the body but are especially important for brain cells. Phosphatidylcholine makes up about 30% of the gray matter in the brain. Citicoline breaks down into choline and cytidine. Cytidine is converted to uridine. Uridine is required for the rate-limiting step in phosphatidylcholine production.