Choline supplements can increase levels of the amino acid in the body, which is essential for cell formation and nerve function. Natural sources include soybeans, egg yolks, and liver. Choline plays a role in muscle control, memory, and removing fat from the liver. Deficiency is rare, but supplementation may help with certain health problems and fetal development. Consult a healthcare provider before taking supplements.
Choline supplements are a type of dietary supplement designed to increase the levels of the amino acid choline in the body. As an essential amino acid, choline serves as the building block for several other chemicals in the body, including those involved in cell formation and nerve function. The body makes some choline, while the rest usually comes from food. In either case, some people choose to use choline supplements. This may be due to a deficiency, a desire to improve certain health issues, or aid in fetal development, which some studies have shown choline supplements to be helpful.
Natural sources of choline include soybeans and other soy products, egg yolks, liver, and wheat germ. It can also be found in small amounts in other foods, such as milk, peanut butter, and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. In these natural forms, choline is usually derived from lecithin. As a supplement, it often comes in the form of choline bitartrate or choline chloride.
In the body, choline plays numerous roles. Helps form the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a role in muscle control and memory. Also, it helps to understand phosphatidylcholine, which plays a role in removing fat from the liver. Although choline is essential for the body’s functions, true medical deficiency is believed to be rare. One situation where deficiency may be seen is in people receiving nutrition through an intravenous (IV) tube.
Although deficiencies are thought to be rare, some people still choose to take additional choline. This is often due to the belief that choline supplementation can help with certain health problems. For example, some studies have shown that choline supplements can help lower cholesterol levels and improve mood. Other studies have shown that they can help with memory and learning.
There is also increasing interest in the role of dietary choline supplementation during pregnancy. Animal studies have revealed a link between choline taken in the prenatal period and increased cognitive performance in offspring. Some studies have also shown evidence that choline plays a possible role in reducing the risk of certain birth defects.
Anyone considering a choline supplement should generally speak with a health care provider. Supplements may not be beneficial for everyone. For example, some people have a disorder called trimethylaminuria that prevents them from breaking down one of the chemicals produced by the body when choline is ingested. In these people, choline consumption can cause a buildup of trimethylamine, which gives off an unpleasant fishy odor.
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