Choline is an essential nutrient that 90% of Americans fail to get adequate amounts of — making it one of the most widespread nutritional deficiencies. Our research shows it is critical for liver function (preventing NAFLD), brain development, and acetylcholine synthesis. A 2019 analysis found that choline supplementation during pregnancy increased infant cognitive processing speed by 12%. The TMAO concern (cardiovascular risk from gut bacteria converting choline) is real but must be weighed against the established harms of deficiency.
Choline serves four critical roles: (1) it's the precursor to acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter essential for memory, muscle control, and attention; (2) it provides methyl groups for DNA methylation and homocysteine metabolism; (3) it's a structural component of cell membranes as phosphatidylcholine; and (4) it's needed for VLDL synthesis in the liver — without it, fat accumulates and you get fatty liver disease. The brain demands are especially high during fetal development, making it critical during pregnancy.
No critical drug interactions have been identified.
Reviewed by the Scan Dose Research Team and Clinical Advisory Board | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.