Choline

Recommended Daily Allowance: Not established

Physiological Effects: Important to normal nerve transmission.  Aids metabolism and transportation of fats.  Aids regulation of liver and gallbladder.  Synthesizes certain hormones (thyroid and epinephrine). Protects against poor growth, fatty liver development, and kidney damage in many experimental animals.  Functions with inositol as the base seek constituent of lecithin.  Associated primarily with the utilization of fats and cholesterol in the body. Essential for the health of liver and kidneys and of the myelin sheath of the nerves.  Inhibits cancer growth in certain animals.

Deficiency Disorders: Cirrhosis of the liver, hemorrhages of the kidneys, high blood pressure, infertility in certain animals, atherosclerosis, heart and muscle lesions. Eczema, hypertension, myasthenia gravis and other neurological diseases, muscular weakness, loss of memory.

Natural Sources: Lecithin, soybeans, egg yolks, liver, Brewer's yeast, wheat germ, leafy vegetables.

Synergistic Substances: Vitamin A, B complex, folic acid, inositol, linoleic acid.

Antagonistic Substances: Coffee, sugar, cola drinks, alcohol, sulfa drugs, estrogen, water, food processing.