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Vitamins & Acetylcholine

Jul 21, 2011 | By Louise Tremblay

Acetylcholine is one of many chemicals your nerve cells use to communicate. Your nerves release acetylcholine to signal to their neighbors, triggering an electrical impulse within the neighboring cell. This acetylcholine signaling proves important for a number of neurological processes, including memory formation and learning, mood regulation and general homeostasis.

Vitamin B-5

One vitamin that contributes to acetylcholine signaling is vitamin B-5, or pantothenic acid. Your nervous system relies on the ability to synthesize new acetylcholine molecules to maintain a sufficient level of acetylcholine signaling. Vitamin B-5 contributes to new acetylcholine production, according to the Franklin Institute. You can consume adequate vitamin B-5 each day, and support acetylcholine signaling in your brain, by consuming cauliflower, corn, kale, lentils and egg yolks as sources of vitamin B-5.

Vitamin C

Consuming vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, might also help boost your acetylcholine levels. Like vitamin B-5, vitamin C contributes to the formation of new acetylcholine within your brain, as well as the synthesis of other neurotransmitters such as serotonin. In addition, vitamin C aids in the signaling of newly produced acetylcholine and helps acetylcholine control blood vessel dilation. You can consume vitamin C by eating strawberries, red bell peppers, oranges or orange juice, or a range of other fruits and vegetables.

Choline

Another vitamin essential for proper acetylcholine production is choline, also called vitamin B-4. Vitamin B-4 represents one of the three precursors required for proper acetylcholine production, and boosting your choline intake can directly increase your brain's acetylcholine levels. In addition, choline can regulate acetylcholine release within your nervous system, controlling the level of acetylcholine signaling within your brain. Consume organ meats, fish, Brussels sprouts and broccoli as sources of choline.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E also appears to have a regulatory effect on acetylcholine within your brain, and this regulation can play a role in disease. Many patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease develop abnormal acetylcholine signaling in their brain, due to the overactivity of specific brain enzymes. A study published in "Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology" in 2010 found that vitamin E supplementation could help restore normal acetylcholine signaling in animal studies. Though vitamin E's beneficial effect on regulating acetylcholine has not yet been confirmed in humans, the vitamin might eventually present a treatment for acetylcholine-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.

References

Article reviewed by Eric Lochridge Last updated on: Jul 21, 2011

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