According to one study, the range is 7–9.3 mcmol/L in fasting adults. In healthy adults, the concentration of choline in plasma ranges from 7 to 20 mcmol/L. Ĭholine status is not routinely measured in healthy people. The remaining fat-soluble phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) are absorbed intact, incorporated into chylomicrons, and secreted into the lymphatic circulation, where they are distributed to tissues and other organs, including the brain and placenta. Free choline, phosphocholine, and glycerophosphocholine are absorbed in the small intestine, enter the portal circulation, and are stored in the liver, where they are subsequently phosphorylated and distributed throughout the body to make cell membranes. When these choline-containing compounds are ingested, pancreatic and mucosal enzymes liberate free choline from about half of the fat-soluble forms and some water-soluble forms. The most common sources of choline in foods are the fat-soluble phospholipids phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin as well as the water-soluble compounds phosphocholine, glycerolphosphocholine, and free choline. When a diet is deficient in folate, a B-vitamin that is also a methyl donor, the need for dietary choline rises because choline becomes the primary methyl donor. Premenopausal women might need less choline from the diet than children or other adults because estrogen induces the gene that catalyzes the biosynthesis of choline. As a result, humans must obtain some choline from the diet. Humans can produce choline endogenously in the liver, mostly as phosphatidylcholine, but the amount that the body naturally synthesizes is not sufficient to meet human needs. Choline also plays important roles in modulating gene expression, cell membrane signaling, lipid transport and metabolism, and early brain development. In addition, choline is needed to produce acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter for memory, mood, muscle control, and other brain and nervous system functions. Therefore, all plant and animal cells need choline to preserve their structural integrity. The body needs choline to synthesize phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, two major phospholipids vital for cell membranes. Choline is a source of methyl groups needed for many steps in metabolism. IntroductionĬholine is an essential nutrient that is naturally present in some foods and available as a dietary supplement. For a general overview of Choline, see our consumer fact sheet on Choline. This is a fact sheet intended for health professionals.
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