Choline bitartrate: a useful choline supplement

Introduction

Choline is a nutrient that is found in many foods. Choline supplements may lower blood pressure, boost memory, and treat Alzheimer disease. Choline may also enhance athletic performance. Choline may help prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy. For liver, Choline supplementation normalized cholesterol metabolism, which was sufficient to prevent nonalcoholic steatohepatitis development and improve liver function. Hence, choline can promote liver health by maintaining cholesterol homeostasis.

Choline bitartrate (CBT) is vital for fetal brain development and memory function. It is hygroscopic in nature which is associated with stability related problem during storage such as development of fishy odor and discoloration.

Choline bitartrate and Choline chloride

Choline bitartrate: It is a widely used choline supplement. It is often chosen to increase choline intake and is readily available in many over-the-counter products. Choline bitartrate is appreciated for its cost-effectiveness and ease of accessibility, making it a common choice for individuals looking to address choline deficiency or support their overall health.

Choline chloride: Choline chloride is a highly concentrated source of choline and is often used in animal feeds to ensure optimal growth and development in livestock. It is also available in some dietary supplements, offering a concentrated source of choline for those with specific dietary or health needs. Its supplement use is typically tailored to meet precise choline requirements.

The absorption of Choline bitartrate

Choline bitartrate contains 41.1% choline by molecular weight, and 2 grams of choline bitartrate administration provides 800 mg of choline action, similar to the ingestion of approximately 5 hard-boiled eggs or 250 g beef liver. The given amounts were well below the established 3.5 g recommended upper intake level for adults (Food and Nutrition Board of the US Institute of Medicine). Choline uptake peaks approximately thirty minutes after ingestion12 and acetylcholine levels in brains significantly raise after approximately forty minutes12 and remain high for at least ninety minutes11. In addition, choline bitartrate and lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) increase choline plasma levels in humans within one hour after ingestion.

References

[1] Jaiswal, Arpita et al. “Choline Supplementation in Pregnancy: Current Evidence and Implications.” Cureus 151 1 (2023): 0.

[2] D P Lippelt. “No Acute Effects of Choline Bitartrate Food Supplements on Memory in Healthy, Young, Human Adults.” PLoS ONE (2016): e0157714.

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