Choline and metabolic health, a missing link in a critical chain

Emerging evidence suggests that choline plays a significant role in mediating metabolic disease beyond the regulation of hepatic triglycerides. The aim of this article is to present a current, brief synthesis focused on the impact of choline intake on metabolic health and to identify future directions in this research space.

Recent work has linked low choline intake to obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), type 2 diabetes, and obesity-associated cognitive decline. A new methodology now enables more precise discrimination of choline intake in clinical populations. Emerging evidence reframes circulating trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) as a marker of metabolic dysfunction driven by obesity and a high-fat diet, rather than a direct consequence of dietary choline intake. Preclinical and clinical studies further suggest that adequate choline intake may be protective against obesity-related disease progression, particularly when established early in life.

Choline is emerging as an important mediator of metabolic health and disease progression. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms regulating choline metabolism is critical to tailor nutritional therapies and mitigate metabolic disease progression. The impact of new antiobesity medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, on choline requirements also warrants investigation.