Choline

Choline is an essential nutrient that the body can only partly make itself. Eggs, meat, fish and pulses are rich in choline. It is measured in urine together with SAM, SAH and betaine.

What choline does in the body

Choline is a building block of phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and sphingomyelin, the main components of cell membranes and nerve sheaths. The liver needs phosphatidylcholine to release fat into the blood in the form of lipoproteins (VLDL). Choline gives rise to the messenger acetylcholine, which controls muscles, memory and gut movement, and to betaine, which provides methyl groups.

Low choline – what happens in the body?

When choline is lacking, the liver can release fat less well and it accumulates there; studies with low-choline diets have also observed muscle damage. Less betaine is formed, so methylation metabolism also receives less supply.

High choline – what does it mean?

High levels usually reflect plentiful intake. Gut bacteria convert part of the choline into trimethylamine, from which the liver forms TMAO – which is why choline is considered together with TMAO.

The interpretation is given in your report.