Although the human body synthesizes some choline, people must also consume this nutrient in the diet to maintain good health, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Choline and chemical compounds derived from choline are essential for several body functions. Consult with a qualified health care provider if you are considering choline supplements.
Functions
Choline is vital for all human cell membranes, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Most choline in the body is contained in phospholipids, which are specialized fat molecules. The most common type of phospholipid is phosphatidylcholine, also referred to as lecithin. In the brain, lecithin converts to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in muscle control and memory. Alzheimer's disease is associated with acetylcholine deficiency, although research has generally not found lecithin better than a placebo in treating patients with dementia, according to the LPI. Choline also can convert to betaine, which is important for lowering homocysteine levels in the blood. Elevated homocysteine levels are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Liver Effects
Phosphatidylcholine is an essential component of low-density lipoproteins that carry fat and cholesterol from the liver to other areas in the body that need them, notes the LPI. When phosphatidylcholine is low, fat and cholesterol build up in the liver. Patients fed intravenously with preparations lacking sufficient choline can develop fatty liver and other signs of liver damage, and choline supplementation resolves the problem, according to the LPI. Animal research indicates that choline deficiency is linked to increased risk of liver cancer.
Choline Intake
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has established an adequate intake level, or AI, for choline that prevents liver damage. Males 14 years and older should consume at least 550 mg per day, females 14 to 18 years old need 400 mg per day, and females 19 and older need 425 mg per day. Children need somewhat less, and pregnant and breast-feeding women slightly more. The tolerable upper intake level, or UL, for choline is 3.5 g per day for adults. The Journal of Nutrition website cautions that large doses of choline or phosphatidylcholine can lead to a fishy body odor, increased perspiration and salivation, diarrhea and low blood pressure, or hypotension.
Considerations
People who eat a variety of foods generally do not have choline deficiency, although certain individuals are more susceptible, according to Ray Sahelian, a medical doctor who specializes in natural supplements. You can obtain choline by consuming meat, seafood, eggs, milk, peanuts and green vegetables. Infants, pregnant and breast-feeding women, and persons with liver cirrhosis are more likely than others to be deficient in choline, as noted by Sahelian. Vegetarians who do not eat animal products might be at risk as well, explains the LPI.
Types
Different types of choline supplements are available, such as choline chloride and choline bitartrate. Supplements of phosphatidylcholine, or lecithin, contain about 13 percent choline by weight, according to the LPI. A supplement with 4.2 g of lecithin should technically provide 550 mg of choline, but the LPI cautions that lecithin supplements may contain as low as 20 percent phosphatidylcholine, making the choline content very low.
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