DESCRIPTION/FUNCTION

• Choline is classified as a member of the B-vitamins. It is a component of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and of the phospholipids, sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine (PC); important to the structure of all cell membranes, plasma lipoproteins, and pulmonary surfactant.

DRI (RDA or AI for Adults)

• Males: 550 mg.
• Females: 425 mg.
• Pregnancy: 450 mg.
• Lactation: 550 mg.

MAJOR SOURCES

• Choline: liver, oatmeal, soybeans, cauliflower, and kale.
• Phosphatidylcholine: eggs, liver, soybeans, and peanuts.

MAINTENANCE/THERAPEUTIC RANGE

• 200 mg to 3,000 mg, depending on the form.

POSSIBLE THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

• Asthma
• Coronary heart disease
• Liver support (hepatitis B, C)
• Memory loss (CDP or GPC)
• Parkinson’s disease (CDP or GPC)
• Stroke (CDP or GPC)

COMMENTS

• Common forms of choline include: bitartrate, chloride, phosphatidyl. Less common forms are cytidine diphosphate (CDP-choline or citicholine) and alpha-glycerylphosphoryl (alpha-GPC-choline). Recent research involves mostly CDP and GPC. Choline is particularly important for fetal brain development. Some choline is metabolized to betaine (trimethylglycine or TMG). TMG is a methyl donor, and thus can help to reduce homocysteine levels. Soy lecithin contains primarily phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI).

CAUTIONS

• None significant, although a very small percentage of people (<1%) accumulate trimethylamine, a metabolite of choline. This can lead to fishy body odor.