Choline is a water-soluble, vitamin-like nutrient (historically classified among the B vitamins as “vitamin B4”). The body can synthesize some choline in the liver. It is part of the phospholipids that build cell membranes and support lipid transport (phosphatidylcholine). It is needed to produce acetylcholine (a key neurotransmitter) and acts as a lipotropic factor, managing the transport of fat from the liver and preventing fatty liver [1]. It is also a component of platelet-activating factor and therefore participates in blood clotting. In food it occurs as phosphatidylcholine, and less often as the free base or sphingomyelin (10%). Digestive enzymes release choline, which is absorbed in the ileum and jejunum [2].
What it contains: Muscle meat, egg yolks, offal and brewer’s yeast.
Deficiency: It may occur during rapid growth or in older animals. It causes fatty liver, neurological disorders (including dementia in senior animals) and slowed growth [2].
Excess: Excess from natural food is not expected because surplus choline is efficiently excreted in urine. An extreme overdose of synthetic supplements may overstimulate the nervous system (salivation, vomiting, diarrhea and lowered blood pressure) [3].
Sources
- National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, ch. 6. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats
- Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, Roudebush P, Novotny BJ (2010). Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th Edition. https://www.markmorrisinstitute.org/sacn5.html
- Merck Veterinary Manual (2023). Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals