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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
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Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Choline: an essential nutrient for public health.
Steven H Zeisel1, Kerry-Ann da Costa
1Department of Nutrition at the Nutrition Research Institute, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. steven_zeisel@unc.edu
Nutrition Reviews
|November 13, 2009
Summary
Choline is an essential nutrient vital for metabolism and health, but many people don't get enough. Dietary guidance is needed to increase intake of choline-rich foods like eggs and meats.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Human Metabolism
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Choline recognized as essential nutrient by Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1998.
- Dietary choline requirements vary due to genetic polymorphisms.
- Choline deficiency linked to liver disease, atherosclerosis, and neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of choline in human metabolism.
- To address suboptimal choline intake in various population groups.
- To advocate for dietary guidance promoting choline-rich food consumption.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on choline's role in metabolism.
- Analysis of dietary choline sources and intake levels in North America.
- Comparison of population intake with established adequate intake levels.
Main Results:
- Choline plays critical roles in cell structure and neurotransmitter synthesis.
- Eggs and meats are significant dietary sources of choline.
- Mean choline intake is below IOM-established adequate levels for children, adults, and pregnant women.
Conclusions:
- Suboptimal choline intake is a public health concern.
- Dietary guidance is necessary to increase consumption of choline-rich foods.
- Ensuring adequate choline intake is crucial for preventing associated health issues.
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