Choline

The discovery of choline dates back to 1862, and it was first chemically synthesized and reproduced in 1866. In 1998, choline was officially classified as an essential nutrient by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. The Food and Drug Administration now requires all baby formula to be made from bovine milk that has an adequate intake level of choline.

Function, Synthesis and Food Sources
This essential nutrient is a precursor of a number of component molecules for cell membrane structural integrity and function. These include phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin (phospholipids), acetylcholine (a major neurotransmitter) as well as the methyl donor, betaine. In turn, these compounds play all important roles in normal cellular membrane composition and repair, nerve impulse transmission and normal cardiovascular function.

Our bodies are capable of producing choline in small amounts by converting phosphatidylethanolamine (a phospholipid) to phosphatidylcholine. This is known as de novo synthesis of choline. Three methylation reactions are required with each utilizing the compound S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) as a methyl group donor. Because phosphatidylcholine can be independently synthesized and metabolized, choline was not previously considered an essential nutrient. However, recent research indicates that we can’t synthesize enough of it to meet our metabolic needs.

Despite the fact that our bodies can synthesize it in small amounts, foods rich in choline should be part of a balanced diet in order to maintain proper health and fitness. Choline can be found widely distributed in foods in the form of phosphatidylcholine as well as free choline. Phosphatidylcholine (also known as lecithin) is found in relative abundance in beef liver, egg yolks and soy while beef liver, iceberg lettuce, peanut butter, peanuts and cauliflower are a few foods that contain free choline.

Effects of Choline Deficiency

Cognitive Functioning and Memory
There is some evidence from animal trials that if choline is present in adequate amounts during pregnancy and breast feeding, it promotes healthy fetal rat brain development. These studies further suggest that adequate prenatal choline can have long-lasting positive effects on cognitive function, especially memory.

Human trials have yet to be conducted on choline's effects on the human fetus, but one researcher (as cited from the Developmental Neuroscience article “Choline, A Vital Amine”) concludes that there is hope that "optimal dietary choline early in life may improve human cognitive development and slow cognitive declines associated with aging."

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and it currently afflicts over 5 million people in the United States. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disorder of the brain with associated neuronal deterioration which results in memory loss among loss of other cognitive functions. Research points to the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and its deficit. There are preliminary findings that an increased presence of choline may have a positive impact on the maintenance of an adequate level of acetylcholine.

As you can see, it’s never too soon to start being proactive about your mental fitness and neurophysiological well being, especially if you have a family history of Alzheimer’s or dementia. This is where Brain Reload comes in. Complete with a balance of choline, DLPA, DMAE, ALCAR and phosphatidylserine, Brain Reload is a synergistic brain supplement complex which makes it more effective than commonplace vitamins for the brain. Make Brain Reload part of your regular supplement regimen to maintain attention and increase memory retention and recall (think of it as your very own memory pill). Order Brain Reload today and save when you buy more!