What Are The Benefits Of Choline?

Choline is an essential nutrient that you must consume through the diet to maintain health. It plays a critical role in early development of the brain, especially memory function, according to a 2004 study published by Steven H. Zeisel in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition." Milk, eggs, liver and peanuts are rich sources of choline.

Function

Choline is used for the synthesis of cell membranes and for cell signaling, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. It is a precursor for acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in muscle control and memory. It's also needed to convert homocysteine to methionine. Without this conversion, homocysteine levels can rise in the blood, which is associated with increased risk of heart disease.

Deficiency

Choline is required for the transport of fat and cholesterol from the liver to body tissue. Fat and cholesterol have to be translated into lipoproteins to be transported through the blood to tissue, and choline is necessary to form lipoproteins. Diets deficient in choline can lead to fatty liver, liver damage, and/or muscle damage, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Men should have at least 550mg per day of choline, and women should have at least 425mg. Pregnancy often depletes maternal reserves of choline.

Cancer

Animal studies have found that choline deficiency is associated with increased risk of liver cancer. Researchers have suggested various reasons for the risk. Because choline deficiency results in liver damage, regenerating liver cells may be more vulnerable to carcinogens. Choline deficiency may cause abnormal DNA repair or increased oxidative stress in the liver. It may lead to changes in the planned cell death of liver cells. It's known that a deficiency stimulates the cell-signaling protein kinase C. Further research is still needed to determine if this activation leads to cancer.

Pregnancy

Choline may help protect against infant neural tube defects, but more research is needed, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. According to animal studies, it may also be required during prenatal development for optimal cognitive function. Human studies are needed to determine if the findings are applicable to us. Choline supplementation during pregnancy may lessen cognitive dysfunction in children with Down syndrome, according to a 2010 study published by J. Moon and colleagues in "Behavioral Neuroscience."

Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is associated with a deficit of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Choline is a precursor to acetylcholine. A deficit of acetylcholine may occur if choline can't be translated into acetylcholine in the brain. Choline has not been found beneficial in treating dementia. However, supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the child's chance of later cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, according to the "Behavioral Neuroscience" study.