What classification is choline?

Choline appears to be an essential nutrient for a number of animals and microorganisms that cannot synthesize… Choline, which is usually classified with the B vitamins because of similarities in function and in distribution in foods, is abundant in wheat germ, soybean oil, egg yolk, and nervous and glandular tissues.

What is choline and why is it important?

Choline is an essential nutrient that regulates vital bodily functions, such as forming cell membranes and aiding communication between neurons. The body does not produce enough choline on its own, so people need to get it from food sources, such as meat, eggs, and vegetables.

What is the main source of choline?

The richest dietary sources of choline are meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. Many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain choline as well, so there are plenty of options for people on vegetarian or plant-based diets.

Is choline a vitamin or mineral?

Choline is an organic, water-soluble compound. It is neither a vitamin nor a mineral. However, it is often grouped with the vitamin B complex due to its similarities. In fact, this nutrient affects a number of vital bodily functions.

Is choline a phospholipid?

The majority of the body’s choline is found in specialized fat molecules known as phospholipids, the most common of which is called phosphatidylcholine (1).

What are the symptoms of choline deficiency?

Symptoms and risks of choline deficiency include:

Feeling anxious or restless.
Fatty liver, otherwise known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Muscle damage.
Hyperhomocysteinemia.
Hemorrhagic kidney necrosis.
Cancer.

How do you get enough choline?

You can get recommended amounts of choline by eating a variety of foods, including the following:

Meat, eggs, poultry, fish, and dairy products.
Potatoes and cruciferous vegetables such as brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Some types of beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

What happens if you don’t have enough choline?

One reason might be that our bodies can make some choline. However, if a person’s choline levels drop too low, he or she can experience muscle and liver damage as well as deposits of fat in the liver (a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that can damage the liver).

How do you know if you have a choline deficiency?

Symptoms and risks of choline deficiency include: Feeling anxious or restless. Fatty liver, otherwise known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Muscle damage.

Where is choline found?

Although foods rich in choline—liver, egg yolks, and red meat—tend to be higher in saturated fat, choline can also be found in foods lower in saturated fat including salmon, cod, tilapia, chicken breast, and legumes.

Why is choline not considered a vitamin?

Made by the body in small amounts, choline isn’t a true vitamin, as it doesn’t function as a coenzyme. Rather, it’s a vitaminlike compound that provides building material for several important compounds with diverse functions and interacts with folate and other nutrients.