choline

[koh-leen, kol-een]

noun

1. Biochemistry.,  a quaternary ammonium cation, C 5 H 14 N + O, one of the B-complex vitamins, found in the lecithin of many plants and animals.

2. choline hydroxide, C 5 H 15 NO 2 , the viscous, strongly alkaline commercial form of this compound, usually synthesized, used as a feed supplement, especially for poultry, and in medicine in certain liver conditions.

3. choline chloride, C 5 H 14 ClNO.

choline

/ ˈkəʊliːn, -ɪn, ˈkɒl- /

noun

1. a colourless viscous soluble alkaline substance present in animal tissues, esp as a constituent of lecithin: used as a supplement to the diet of poultry and in medicine for preventing the accumulation of fat in the liver. Formula:[(CH 3 ) 3 NCH 2 CH 2 OH] ⁺ OH ^–

choline

1. A natural amine often classed in the vitamin B complex. It is incorporated into the structure of many other biologically important molecules, such as acetylcholine and lecithin. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₁₅ NO ₂ .

Word History and Origins

Origin of choline¹

First recorded in 1855–60; chol- + -ine ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of choline¹

C19: from _chole- + _-ine ², so called because of its action in the liver

Example Sentences

In pregnancy, women are recommended to take prenatal vitamins to ensure the body gets the right amount of folate, Omega-3 oils, and choline, among other vitamins like iron, vitamin D, and calcium.

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For example, nicotine is a drug that interacts with acetylcholine receptors, but so does choline, an essential nutrient that is not considered a drug.

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The study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition checked the amounts of choline and iodine in nonprescription and prescription prenatal vitamins.

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"We need to consume 400-500 mg of choline per day to support cell regeneration, gene expression regulation, and for sending signals between neurons."

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Luo explains that glycerol acts as a hydrogen donor and choline chloride acts as a hydrogen acceptor.

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