Choline is a little-known but essential and vital micronutrient in Europe, recognized as such by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) since 1998. Due to its low level of awareness, choline is so far only sporadically recommended as a dietary supplement in Europe, unlike in the USA. This powerhouse also shares similarities with the B-complex vitamins.
For a long time, it was debated whether choline is an essential nutrient (i.e., vital for humans and not produced by the body itself) or not. The body can produce small amounts of choline (it is synthesized in the liver), but this amount usually is not enough to meet the total requirement. Moreover, deficiency symptoms of choline were long unknown because it is present in many foods.
Meanwhile, several studies have examined the consequences of low choline levels. For example, this deficiency during pregnancy can lead to elevated homocysteine levels (look it up!) and thus to premature births, low birth weight, or preeclampsia (pregnancy toxemia). Elevated homocysteine levels can also increase the risk of heart and vascular diseases (for those interested in more detailed professional information, see the sources).
What can choline do?
In human metabolism, choline is converted into acetylcholine. This is an important neurotransmitter, i.e., a carrier of nerve signals, and controls nerve processes, memory functions, moods, emotions, and behavior. The transmission of stimuli to muscles also requires acetylcholine, so it influences vital functions such as breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure regulation, and metabolic processes. Choline contributes to normal fat and homocysteine metabolism and supports normal liver function.
When choline is deficient, fat accumulates in the liver because this metabolic process is disturbed (a liver with a high fat content, also called “fatty liver,” can only detoxify the body to a limited extent because liver functions are impaired). Choline transports fatty acids (triglycerides) out of the liver and delivers them to the required sites in the body.
Where is choline found?
The most important dietary sources of choline are beef, pork, and chicken liver as well as eggs. But it is also found in small amounts, for example, in meat, fish, whole grain products, soybeans, nuts, vegetables, and fruits. Therefore, besides pregnant women and people exposed to high physical stress, vegetarians and vegans should also pay special attention to sufficient choline intake.
Besides foods, this powerhouse is also found in dietary supplements and in preparations against liver damage (fatty liver).
Plenty of reasons why we have included this powerhouse ingredient – along with other valuable nutrients, vitamins, and minerals – in the sophisticated formula of vabon fierce . And by the way – vabon fierce is 100 percent vegan, free of doping-relevant substances, and, last but not least, produced in Austria.
Sources:
US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health: Choline – an essential nutrient for public health; Pregnancy and lactation are associated with diminished concentrations of choline and its metabolites in rat liver; Homocysteine and atherosclerosis
