What is choline?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Choline is an essential nutrient important for synthesizing phospholipid membranes, providing methyl groups for metabolism, and serving as a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is crucial for brain development, liver health, and skeletal muscle function and is primarily found in animal foods like eggs, milk, fish, chicken, and beef, with some presence in plant foods.

    Choline is an essential nutrient that plays a role in the synthesis of phospholipid membranes and is a source of methyl groups that are needed for many steps in metabolism. It’s also the precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Choline has particular relevance for brain development, liver health, and skeletal muscle function. Choline is mostly found in animal foods such as eggs, milk, fish, chicken, and beef, but some plant foods also contain choline.[1]