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What Is Choline?

Choline is an organic vitamin-like nutrient that aids the body in creating a number of important substances and compounds. Choline is regularly classified within the B vitamin family; as it embodies similar traits and operates in conjunction with them. Choline may also be referred to as CDP-choline, citicoline, phosphatidylcholine, polyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC), and tetra-methyl glycine.

  1. Significance

    • Choline plays a vital role in the health and maintenance of our body's systems and their functioning.

    Features

    • Choline is a lipotropic, promoting the liver to transport lipids and preventing it from storing excess fats and cholesterol that are hazardous to the body.

    Function

    • Choline plays a vital role in brain and nerve functions by assisting in the production of neurotransmitters; which influence appetite, behavior, memory, mood, muscle control and additional functions.

    Effects

    • Choline also helps enhance the central nervous system by increasing nerve impulse transmissions, cell communication and maintaining the structural regularity of cell membranes.

    Considerations

    • Humans are able to produce small amounts of choline (most of which is found in our phospholipids) but need to intake additional amounts. This can be either through food or in supplement form.

    Foods and Supplements

    • Examples of foods that are rich in choline include beef, broccoli, cod fish, eggs, milk, peanut butter, salmon, shrimp and wheat germ. Additionally, supplements like choline chloride and choline bitartrate may be taken.

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