You must read and accept the disclaimer to use this site. Updated when a question is received about this page.

CHOLINE

Choline is necessary for brain development!

Choline has recently been approved as an official vitamin by the Food and Nutrition Board in its latest set of RDAs. Choline is involved in fatty acid metabolism and transport. Choline functions as part of lipid bilayer membrane fats, called phosphatidyl choline. "Because of the body's capacity to generate methyl groups is limited, choline under many circumstances is a dietary essential and has been classified as a vitamin." [Metzler, Biochemistry] It can be converted to betaine, which will reduce the level of homocysteine, which is harmful! As mentioned below, it also helps preserve carnitine, which is essential for fat transport and metabolism.Dodson WL, and Sachan DS, "Choline supplementation reduces urinary carnitine excretion in humans", Am J Clin Nutr 1996 Jun; 63(6):904-10, 1996AB - Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of supplementary choline and/or pantothenate on the carnitine and lipid status of free-living humans. Analyses of carnitine and cholesterol fractions, triacylglycerols, and creatinine were determined in serum and/or urine. In experiment 1,adults receiving 13.5 mmol choline plus 1.4 mmol pantothenate/d had a significant decline in urinary carnitine excretion and renal clearance with nonesterfied carnitine (NEC) declining the most dramatically, 84%. Additionally, serum NEC and total carnitine concentrations decreased significantly.No changes were observed in any of the serum lipids examined.In experiment 2, subjects took 0.20 mmol and 0.02 mmol/kg choline or pantothenate, respectively. Choline, but not pantothenate, supplementation significantly decreased urinary carnitine excretion, renal clearance, and fractional clearance of NEC. We conclude that supplementary choline maintained serum carnitine concentrations by conserving urinary carnitine. Moreover, these observations merit additional investigation to determine metabolic and functional consequences of choline and carnitine interactions in humans.