Choline: Critical Role During Fetal Development and Dietary Requirements in Adults

Choline is an essential nutrient needed for the structural integrity and signaling functions of cell membranes; for normal cholinergic neurotransmission; for normal muscle function; for lipid transport from liver; and it is the major source of methyl groups in the diet. Choline is critical during fe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of nutrition 2006-01, Vol.26 (1), p.229-250
Main Author: Zeisel, S.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acetylcholine
adults
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - drug effects
Brain - physiology
choline
Choline - administration & dosage
Choline - biosynthesis
Choline - genetics
Choline - physiology
Choline Deficiency - genetics
Choline Deficiency - physiopathology
cholinergic agents
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Female
fetal development
Fetal Development - drug effects
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
genetic polymorphism
health promotion
Humans
literature reviews
Male
maternal nutrition
menopause
muscle physiology
neurotransmitters
nutrient requirements
Nutritional Requirements
nutritive value
organ function
Polymorphism, Genetic
Pregnancy
Sex Factors
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
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Summary:Choline is an essential nutrient needed for the structural integrity and signaling functions of cell membranes; for normal cholinergic neurotransmission; for normal muscle function; for lipid transport from liver; and it is the major source of methyl groups in the diet. Choline is critical during fetal development, when it influences stem cell proliferation and apoptosis, thereby altering brain and spinal cord structure and function and influencing risk for neural tube defects and lifelong memory function. Choline is derived not only from the diet, but from de novo synthesis as well. Though many foods contain choline, there is at least a twofold variation in dietary intake in humans. When deprived of dietary choline, most men and postmenopausal women developed signs of organ dysfunction (fatty liver or muscle damage), while less than half of premenopausal women developed such signs. Aside from gender differences, there is significant variation in the dietary requirement for choline that can be explained by very common genetic polymorphisms.
ISSN:0199-9885
1545-4312
DOI:10.1146/annurev.nutr.26.061505.111156