Choline supplements are starting to be on the rise because of its link to a few major health benefits, including a reduction in cholesterol and a booster in brain function. Choline is the most abundant phospholipid in the body and is used to remove fat from the liver, and cleanse the internal regions of the body. The most common form of choline supplement is lecithin, and in laboratory studies, lecithin/choline was shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol. Choline is necessary to form a specific kind of neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which research has linked to memory and mood. Like other neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, acetylcholine is vital to feeling normal and alert.
In regards to taking lecithin as a supplement to boost choline and fight cholesterol and heart disease, there are some other supplements out there that have been shown to have greater success. And since lecithin is derived from soy and is refined by a process that some experts find questionable, taking lecithin as a supplement might not be the best way to go. Soy has been under much scrutiny in recent years because it contains chemicals that have been called pseudo-estrogens, meaning that they have an estrogenic effect on the body. This can be unhealthy for both men and women.
Choline is often grouped with vitamin B, along with inositol, which is a similar compound, though these aren't technically part of that family. Choline is not generally deficient in most persons since choline is readily available through fish, chicken, eggs, milk, beans, and a variety of vegetables. Choline deficiency is generally only a risk for strict vegetarians, pregnant women, and those with certain specific deficiencies. Even for persons who consume less than the needed daily amount of choline, they still don't generally form a deficiency because the body will make some of the choline it needs. So unless you were recommended to take a choline supplement by a medical professional, taking it as a dietary supplement might not be your best bet.
Taking a choline supplement for brain function on the other hand, can have many benefits. But even in this realm there are many options. Some supplements for brain function contain choline along with a variety of other compounds like inositol and others that stimulate the production of other neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine as well. These brain supplements try and enhance the overall function of the mind and brain. Other supplements, such as choline bitartrate, are more specifically focused, and uses a variation of choline in order to stimulate the production of acetylcholine. Still others, such as choline and inositol, have been shown to compliment each other in the stimulation of neurotransmitter production. So depending on what you're looking for, there are different kinds of choline supplements out there.
In my opinion, supplements that have choline along with other ingredients are better than pure choline because standard diets aren't generally deficient in choline. Choline is great, because choline is able to pass the blood brain barrier and helps to stimulate neurotransmitter function, but there are many other supplements as well that stimulate the production of other neurotransmitters.
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I hope you got some good information about what a choline supplement has to offer. If you want to read more about similar supplements, go to my other article on inositol side effects.
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