Why is it worth supplementing choline from nikalab?

Choline is a compound associated mainly with egg yolk (although it is contained in many more products). There is not much talk about its benefits for the human body. It is also rarely mentioned on the list of essential supplements. Quite wrong, because according to population studies, as many as 90% of people may "not consume" enough choline in their diet. ¹ . And that means shortages. What risks do they carry? And why is choline so important for our body? You will find out in this article.

Choline – what is its function in the body?

Choline supports key processes and biochemical reactions in the human body. Every cell in our body needs choline to shape and repair membranes ² . And the cell membrane not only "closes" cells and separates them from each other, but also serves to absorb nutrients, remove waste from cells, and transmit signals between cells. In a situation of choline deficiency, these basic functions cannot function properly .

In addition, choline, together with folic acid and vitamin B12, influences DNA synthesis . This compound also helps metabolize fats and supports liver health, and regulates the functioning of the nervous system, brain, heart, blood vessels, muscles and respiratory system . It is also a very important ingredient in the peri-pregnancy period ³ .

Choline during pregnancy and lactation.

Every human body secretes small amounts of choline . During pregnancy, under the influence of hormones, this amount increases, but it is still too small to cover the needs of the developing fetus and the mother ⁴ . At the same time, scientific research shows that even in well-developed countries, pregnant women do not consume enough choline in their diet ⁵ .

Choline is necessary for the maintenance and proper course of pregnancy . The fetus needs it for the development of the nervous system and brain . This compound is also needed for the placenta to perform its basic function - to transfer nutrients to the baby ⁶ .

Scientific research shows that choline during pregnancy is as important as folic acid because it helps reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defects. ⁷ . And even though every gynecological office talks about the need to supplement folic acid, choline still remains in the shadow. However, it is quite possible that in the near future this compound will also be on the list recommended to all pregnant women, says Prof. Ph.D. n. med. Jarosław Kalinka, gynecologist-obstetrician, perinatologist, president-elect of the Polish Society of Perinatal Medicine:

"Choline supplementation during pregnancy is undoubtedly beneficial. Future mothers often lack this ingredient, but it is necessary for the proper development of the fetus. However, it may take several years before this ingredient appears on the list of official recommendations, like folic acid, for example."

In addition to preventing nervous system defects, choline supplementation during pregnancy alleviates the destructive effect of stress on the fetus ^8,9 , which may reduce the risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes in the child after birth ^10,11 . Choline supplementation during pregnancy has a long-term impact on the child's intellectual development . A cohort study proved that the offspring of women who supplemented choline in the second trimester of pregnancy had better memory and learning ability at the age of 7. ¹² (read more about supplementation during pregnancy in this article ). In turn, choline deficiency in the body of a pregnant woman is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the offspring ¹³ .

Choline is equally important during lactation . Breast milk contains very large amounts of this compound, which scientists explain by the needs of the child - choline is necessary for the development of the infant's brain and its cognitive functions , and can also support the development of the toddler's immunity . ¹⁴ .

Choline for adults and mature people.

Choline is important at every stage of human life, but its role increases even more in mature people. Deficiencies of this nutrient increase the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and lead to muscle damage - especially in postmenopausal women, but not only in them. ¹⁵ (read more about the changes that occur in a woman's body during menopause in a separate article ). Increasing choline intake allows you to both prevent these diseases and improve the health of people who already have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and muscle degeneration due to choline deficiency. ¹⁶ .

Choline also has a neuroprotective effect - it helps in the transmission of nerve impulses, efficient memory functioning and supports other cognitive functions ¹⁷ . From choline, our brain produces acetylcholine - the main neurotransmitter, which is also responsible for good mood. Acetylcholine levels are reduced in dementia and Alzheimer's disease . Therefore, scientists are developing methods to help people affected by these diseases using higher doses of choline ¹⁸ .

Aren't choline-rich foods enough?

It might seem that choline is very easy to supplement in the diet, because it is contained in widely available products such as eggs, liver, chicken, beef, fish, dairy products, legumes, yeast and wheat germ. However, statistics show that even by consuming these products, we are not protected against deficiencies ¹⁹ . 

Moreover, from a health point of view, WHO recommends limiting the consumption of animal products , which contain the most choline. We often encounter poor quality meat and offal. As a result, it is difficult to eat enough choline without exposing your body to the risks associated with high consumption of animal products.

Additionally, the situation is complicated by the fact that about 50% of people may have genetic mutations that lead to faster consumption of choline. ²⁰ . This means that every second person must provide themselves with this compound in even larger amounts , because they are more exposed to deficiencies. The solution is choline supplementation, which helps reduce the risk of deficits and related health problems.

What distinguishes the choline contained in Nikalab Everyday Bases?

Most choline dietary supplements available on the market are of animal origin , which also raises questions about the quality of the eggs or fish from which they are made. At nikalab, we focused on 100% natural choline of plant origin obtained from grapes. It is in the form of bitartrate and is bioavailable, absorbed very well. It comes from the Italian company Balchem ​​and is manufactured in accordance with the highest European standards . You will find such choline in every Nikalab Daily Base.

Choline in our dietary supplements supports liver function and fat metabolism ²¹ , protects heart health and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke ²² , supports memory and cognitive functions ^23,24,25 . In pregnant women, it has a beneficial effect on the development of pregnancy and the fetal brain ²⁶ .

Bibliography:

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6. As above.
7. Shaw G.M. Choline and risk of neural tube defects in a folate-fortified population. Epidemiology.2009, 20, 714-719.
8. Jiang C, Yan J, West AA, [et al.]. Maternal choline intake alters the epigenetic state of cortisolregulating genes in human. FASEB J. 2012, 26, 3563-3574.
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18. Little A, Levy R, Chuaqui-Kidd P, Hand D. A double-blind, placebo controlled trial of high-dose lecithin in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1985 Aug;48(8):736-42.
19. Wallace, Taylor C., op.cit.
20. Zeisel SH, da Costa KA. Choline: an essential nutrient for public health. Nutr Rev. 2009 Nov;67(11):615-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x. PMID: 19906248; PMCID: PMC2782876.
21. Vaneeghen Functional Ingredients, VitaCholine, 2021.
22. Heather R. Millard et al. Protection against atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. Eur J Nutr. 2018 Feb;57(1):51-60. Dietary choline and betaine; associations with subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease risk and incidence of CVD, coronary heart disease and stroke: the Jackson Heart Study.
23. Vaneeghen Functional Ingredients, op. cit.
24. Maria De Jesus Moreno Moreno. Clin Ther. 2003 Jan;25(1):178-93. Cognitive improvement in mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia after treatment with the acetylcholine precursor choline alfoscerate: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
25. Derbyshire E., Obeid R.,”Choline.Neurological Development and Brain Function: A Systematic Review Focusing on the First 1000 Days.” Nutrients, June 2020.
26. Drews K., op.cit.