Your brain acts as the control center for the regulation of your body. It is involved in temperature and internal clock regulation, stress response, appetite control, metabolism, movement, emotions and cognitive thought. A number of brain hormones allow for signaling within your brain and between body systems, sending the chemical signals that control these processes. Choline inositol, a supplement containing the compounds choline and inositol, can affect brain hormone levels and function.
Effect on Acetylcholine
One type of brain hormone affected by your choline intake is acetylcholine. Acetylcholine belongs to a family of proteins called neurotransmitters, which serve as signaling hormones and allow for communication between nerve cells. Acetylcholine plays a role in the formation and storage of memories, and depletion of acetylcholine in the brain has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to Williams College. Your brain uses choline to generate new acetylcholine in your nerve cells, and low choline levels in your body can hinder acetylcholine synthesis.
Effect on Dopamine
Choline also plays a role in the function of dopamine, another type of brain hormone and neurotransmitter. Dopamine helps to regulate a number of brain processes, including emotional control, memory formation and control over movement. Loss of dopamine signaling can lead to neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's. A chemical related to choline -- called citicholine -- acts as a precursor to dopamine, and the presence of this form of choline allows your brain to generate new dopamine molecules. As a result, citicholine may help treat Parkinson's and other disorders related to dopamine.
Effect on Serotonin
The inositol found in choline inositol supplements can also have an effect on your brain hormones, such as serotonin. Proper serotonin signaling proves important in mood regulation, and a lack of serotonin in the brain can lead to clinical depression and other neurological disorders. Inositol helps to make your nerve cells more sensitive to serotonin, and can boost the levels of serotonin signaling within your brain. This boost in serotonin levels makes inositol a potential treatment for serotonin-related disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Other Effects
In addition to their effects on brain hormones, choline inositol supplements have other roles in controlling your brain function. Each of your brain cells is encapsulated by a cellular membrane, made up of chemicals called phospholipids. Maintaining a healthy phospholipid membrane helps to stabilize the structure of each nerve cells, and allows for proper nerve function. The choline found in choline inositol supplements helps your brain to generate new membrane phospholipids, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This helps to keep your nervous system healthy, functional and properly responsive to hormonal signals within your brain.
References
- Williams College; Clinical Application: Acetylcholine and Alzheimer's Disease
- NYU Longone Medical Center; Parkinson's Disease; February 2011
- NYU Langone Medical Center; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); February 2011
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Effects of Drugs, Foods and Diseases on Brain Neurotransmitters and Behavior; Richard Wurtman M.D.
