Dietary Choline

Biodesign researchers at the Arizona State University - Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center (NDRC) looked into whether the nutrient choline could alleviate the effects of Alzheimer's by studying AD mice.

 

All plant and animal cells require choline to maintain their structural integrity. It has long been recognized that choline is particularly important for brain function.

 

Studies in the AD mice found that choline acts to protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease in at least two ways. First, choline blocks the production of amyloid-beta plaques. Second, choline supplementation reduces the activation of microglia, which when overactive can cause death of brain cells.

From a human perspective, the authors noted that while no one factor determines the cause or clinical course of Alzheimer's, a recent report found that the increase in cases of dementia in the United Kingdom may be associated with a lack of choline in the diet throughout life. Another report suggested that plant-based diets may be detrimental due to the lack of important nutrients, including choline.

 

The current established adequate intake level of choline for adult women is 425mg/day, and 550mg/day for adult men. This recommended daily intake (RDI) may not be optimal, especially in women, given the higher incidence of AD seen in women. This suggests that additional choline in diet may be beneficial in preventing harmful changes associated with the aging brain.

 

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), high levels of choline are found in chicken liver (3oz; 247mg), eggs (1 large egg with yolk; 147mg), beef grass-fed steak (3oz; 55mg), wheat germ (1oz toast; 51mg), milk (8oz; 38mg), and Brussels sprouts (1/2 cup; 32mg).

 

The authors further noted that choline is an attractive candidate for prevention of AD, as it is considered a very safe alternative compared with many pharmaceuticals. "At 4.5 X the RDI, we are well under the tolerable upper limit, making this a safe preventive therapeutic strategy."

 

Arizona State University. "Common nutrient supplementation may hold the answers to combating Alzheimer's disease." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190927122526.htm (accessed November 27, 2019).