1. Choline Roles in Brain Development

2. What is Choline? Essential Nutrient Not technically a vitamin Can be synthesized in the body in small amounts Used in synthesis of phospholipids Important structural component of cell membranes Water soluble

3. Choline is found in three forms in humans: Phosphatidycholine (lecithin), Acetylcholine (neurotransmitter synthesized from choline and acetyl coenzyme A ) Cytidine Diphosphocholine. Most of the choline in the body is found in specialized fat cells called phospholipids that are abundant in the membranes of cells.

4. Choline in used in the synthesis of three components in cell membranes; Phospholipids, Phosphatidycholine (lecithin) Sphingomyelin (membranes of nerve cells & RBC’s)

5. What does it look like?

6. Methyl Group Transfer Choline along with Folate, B12, and Riboflavin are involved in methyl group transfer. Their metabolism overlaps at the pathway of conversion of homocysteine to methionine.

7. Choline as a precursor Phospholipids Acetylcholine The Methyl donor Betaine

8. Food Sources Chicken liver Eggs Wheat germ Bacon Dried soybeans Pork

9. Choline in the brain Choline is critical in normal brain development In animal tests subjects given choline supplements in-utero had lifelong memory enhancement The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences set an adequate intake (AI) level for choline of 550 mg/day for men and 425 mg/day for women.

10. Choline and Pregnancy Laboratory tests have shown that in utero blood choline levels rapidly decline in the fetus. Fetus has significantly more choline than adults. Fetal brain extracts choline from the blood Large amount of choline needed for membrane biosynthesis.

11. Depression Memory Loss Alzheimer's Developmental Delay

12. Choline and Autism? ADHD? Anecdotal evidence shows supplementing choline causes improvements in focus and behavior. Including: Self injurious behavior

13. Too much? Too Little? Too much may cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Too Little may cause inadequate brain development and function

14. Works Cited Nutritional Importance of Choline for Brain Development http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/choline/ Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD Choline on the Brain?: A Guide to Choline in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome By Cort Johnson (Aug. 2005) http://phoenixrising.me/research-2/the-brain-in-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs/choline-on-the-brain-a-guide-to-choline-in- chronic-fatigue-syndrome-by-cort-johnson-aug-2005 Chemistry Explained Foundations and Applications http://www.chemistryexplained.com/A-Ar/Acetylcholine.html The Journal of Pediatrics Volume 149, Issue 5, Supplement, November 2006, Pages S131–S136 Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Tract Development and Function http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022347606006251 Age-related change in brain metabolite abnormalities in autism: a meta-analysis of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies. Aoki Y, Kasai K, Yamasue H. Source Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. yuaoki- tky@umin.ac.jp http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22832731