Choline Bitartrate

Choline Bitartrate

Choline bitartrate is a form of the nutrient choline, which is one of the B-complex vitamins naturally produced in the liver. Choline is present in various food groups including liver meat, muscle meat, wheat germ, fish, beans, nuts, spinach, peas, and eggs. Choline bitartrate is the combination of choline and a salt of tartaric acid. It has better absorption rate and is more potent than pure choline.

Benefits of Choline Bitartrate

Adding choline bitartrate to your supplement regimen can provide a broad range of health benefits:

Boosts Cognitive Function

Studies suggest that choline supplementation can help prevent cognitive decline especially in the elderly. One study found that patients with early Alzheimer-type dementia who took choline bitartrate at varying doses for 2 weeks performed better in a series of cognitive tests including auditory and visual word recognition.^[1]

Helps Lose Weight

Choline bitartrate can help you lose a significant amount of weight. According to a 2014 study conducted on 22 professional female martial arts athletes, subjects who took choline tablets for a week lost an average of 10% of their body fat without any side effects.^[2]

Detoxifies the Liver and Prevents Liver Disease

Your liver uses choline for transporting very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDLs). This process enables fats and cholesterol to move within the bloodstream. Studies suggest that people with low choline diets are at higher risk for fatty liver and liver damage.^[3]

Maintains a Healthy Pregnancy

Adequate intake of dietary choline or supplements is important for optimal fetal outcomes. Studies show that choline is crucial for proper development of the brain and spinal cord.^[4]

Helps Stabilize Mood

According to a large population-based study, low levels of choline were significantly associated with high anxiety levels.^[5] This clearly suggests that choline supplementation can help treat mood disorders and improve one’s quality of life. Interestingly, one study found that patients with bipolar disorder who were given choline bitartrate experienced a marked reduction in all mood symptoms during the treatment.^[6]   

Fights Inflammation

Elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with chronic inflammation, which in turn leads to a wide array of life-threatening conditions including stroke, heart disease, diabetes and autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, one study revealed that choline bitartrate supplementation in postmenopausal women decreased the circulating levels of homocysteine in the blood, indicating a lower risk for wide array of diseases.^[7]    

Prevents Cancer

Loading up on choline can help lower your risk for various types of cancer. In fact, one study found that people with lower choline intake are at higher risk for liver cancer.^[8] This is because choline deficiency is associated with abnormalities in protein kinase C-mediated signalling pathway. Additionally, abnormalities in this signalling pathway are linked with progression of cancer.^[9]    

References:

1. Fovall P, Dysken MW, Lazarus LW, et al. Choline bitartrate treatment of Alzheimer-type dementias. Commun Psychopharmacol. 1980;4(2):141-5.
2. Elsawy G, Abdelrahman O, Hamza A. Effect of Choline Supplementation on Rapid Weight Loss and Biochemical Variables Among Female Taekwondo and Judo Athletes. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2014;40:77-82.
3. Corbin KD, Zeisel SH. Choline Metabolism Provides Novel Insights into Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and its Progression. Current opinion in gastroenterology. 2012;28(2):159-165.
4. Zeisel SH. Choline: Critical Role During Fetal Development and Dietary Requirements in Adults. Annual review of nutrition. 2006;26:229-250.
5. Bjelland I, Tell GS, Vollset SE, Konstantinova S, Ueland PM. Choline in anxiety and depression: the Hordaland Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90(4):1056-60.
6. Stoll AL, Sachs GS, Cohen BM, Lafer B, Christensen JD, Renshaw PF. Choline in the treatment of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder: clinical and neurochemical findings in lithium-treated patients. Biol Psychiatry. 1996;40(5):382-8.
7. Wallace JM, Mccormack JM, Mcnulty H, et al. Choline supplementation and measures of choline and betaine status: a randomised, controlled trial in postmenopausal women. Br J Nutr. 2012;108(7):1264-71.
8. Zeisel SH. Choline: an important nutrient in brain development, liver function and carcinogenesis. J Am Coll Nutr. 1992;11(5):473-81.
9. Griner EM, Kazanietz MG. Protein kinase C and other diacylglycerol effectors in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. 2007;7(4):281-94.