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    Pregnancy & Newborns

    Choline

    Other name(s)

    choline bitartrate, choline chloride, choline dihydrogen

    General description

    Choline is a part of many chemicals within the body. It’s water-soluble. All of the jobs of choline are not yet known. It may be needed for your liver and kidneys to work well. Choline is also a part of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This is a chemical that passes messages between nerves. It also passes messages between nerves and muscles.

    Choline is also the building block of lecithin and sphingomyelins. Lecithin is a part of cell walls, plasma, and lipoproteins. Sphingomyelin is the insulating material of brain and nerve tissue.

    Medical uses

    You can get all the choline you need from your diet. Choline deficiency happens only in rare cases. For this reason, the use of choline supplements is limited. Choline doesn’t have an established use as a supplement in healthy people.

    Unproven claims

    There may be benefits that have not yet been proven through research.

    Choline supplements may help treat neurological issues due to the cholinergic system. But studies show that these supplements don’t affect brain metabolism.

    Choline is claimed to help treat these conditions:

    • Tardive dyskinesia

    • Huntington chorea

    • Tourette syndrome

    • Friedreich ataxia

    • Presenile dementia

    • Fatty liver and cirrhosis

    Choline supplements are said to reduce cholesterol, control mood swings, and protect the liver from damage due to alcohol. They also may lower blood pressure, boost memory, and treat Alzheimer disease. Choline may also enhance athletic performance.

    Choline may help prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy. It also aids in fetal brain development.

    Recommended intake

    The Adequate Intake (AI) is the level needed to ensure nutritional adequacy. Most people in the U.S. don't get enough choline in their diet.

    Group

    Adequate intake

    Birth to 6 months

    125 mg

    7 to 12 months

    150 mg

    1 to 3 years

    200 mg

    4 to 8 years

    250 mg

    9 to 13 years

    375 mg

    Men 14 to 18 years

    550 mg

    Women 14 to 18 years

    400 mg

    Men 19 years or older

    550 mg

    Women 19 years or older

    425 mg

    Pregnant people

    450 mg

    Breastfeeding people

    550 mg

    About 9 in 10 to 19 in 20 pregnant people don't meet the AI for choline. Prenatal vitamins usually contain little or no choline. Some studies suggest that low choline levels in pregnancy are linked with an increased risk for neural tube defects. But other research found no such link.

    Foods that contain choline include meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, egg yolks, soybean, wheat germ, peanuts, broccoli, cauliflower, and liver.

    Food source

    Nutrient content

    Beef liver, 3 oz.

    365 mg

    Egg, 1 large

    147 mg

    Soybeans, ½ cup

    107 mg

    Chicken breast, 3 oz.

    72 mg

    Potatoes, red, flesh and skin, 1 large

    57 mg

    Milk, 1 cup

    43 mg

    Broccoli, ½ cup

    31 mg

    Peanuts, ¼ cup

    24 mg

    Cauliflower, ½ cup

    24 mg

    Choline deficiency in animals may lead to liver problems and kidney damage. These liver problems have led to liver cancer in laboratory animals. But this has not yet been found in humans.

    People being fed by IV may have low serum levels of choline, which may require them to need choline supplements

    Side effects, toxicity, and interactions

    Choline may cause a stomachache, diarrhea, or loose stools. This can happen at normal doses. Large amounts (about 20 g) of choline may cause other side effects. These can include dizziness, low blood pressure (hypotension), and fishy body odor. They can also include depression and heart rhythm problems.

    Choline may cause depression in some people. You should not use choline if you have bipolar disorder.

    People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their healthcare providers before taking any supplements.

    There are no known interactions between choline and any food or medicine. People with low folate levels may need more choline.

    Online Medical Reviewer: Bianca Garilli MD
    Online Medical Reviewer: Chris Southard RN
    Online Medical Reviewer: Jessica Gotwals RN BSN MPH
    Date Last Reviewed: 8/1/2023
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center

    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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