Choline: Supporting Cells, Nerves and the Liver

Animal liver and eggs are rich natural food sources of choline. Whether and how often to include them should be considered in the context of the overall diet, individual blood lipid levels and health needs. [1]

Removing egg yolks or avoiding organ meats reduces intake from these particular sources, but choline can also be obtained from other foods. This does not mean that everyone needs to eat more eggs or organ meats.

Choline, Folate and Vitamin B12

Choline participates in the body’s central one-carbon metabolism and methylation cycle, and it works in close metabolic cooperation with folate (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12.

Folate and vitamin B12 participate in the conversion of homocysteine back to methionine.

Choline can be oxidised to form betaine, which participates in the remethylation of homocysteine through a separate pathway. [1]

Both pathways ultimately influence the formation of methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). SAM is one of the body’s principal methyl donors.

Methylation is involved in DNA and gene-expression regulation, neurotransmitter metabolism, phospholipid synthesis and numerous cellular metabolic reactions. Folate, vitamin B12 and choline therefore do not work in isolation. When one source of methyl groups is insufficient, the body may to some extent become more dependent on the other pathways.

1. Helps Build and Maintain Cell Membranes

Almost every cell in the human body needs a cell membrane to maintain its normal structure and function.

Phosphatidylcholine is an important phospholipid in cell membranes. It helps maintain membrane structure, cell signalling and lipid transport.

Choline is one of the important raw materials used to make phosphatidylcholine. If choline is severely deficient over a prolonged period, normal phosphatidylcholine synthesis may be affected, with consequences for cell membranes and other related physiological functions. [1]

2. Supports Neural Signalling

When we think, learn, remember or react quickly, neurons must continually transmit signals to one another.

Acetylcholine is an important neurotransmitter, and choline is its direct precursor. [1]

Acetylcholine participates in attention, learning, memory formation, neuromuscular transmission and regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Choline is therefore closely related to the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system.

3. Helps the Liver Transport Fat

The liver processes large amounts of fat every day. Rather than remaining in liver cells, this fat needs to be packaged and transported to other tissues for use. Phosphatidylcholine is also necessary for this process.

Phosphatidylcholine is an important component in the normal assembly and secretion of lipoproteins. In particular, it helps the liver package triglycerides into very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) for transport to peripheral tissues.

If choline is severely deficient and phosphatidylcholine synthesis becomes limited, the liver’s ability to export fat may decrease, making triglycerides more likely to accumulate in liver cells. [1]