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Brain Development and Choline, the Other Methyl Donor

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Folate and Human Development

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Abstract

Choline is needed for synthesis of the phospholipids in cell membranes, methyl metabolism, cholinergic neurotransmission, transmembrane signaling, lipid-cholesterol transport and metabolism (1) (Fig. 1). Cells require choline (2) and die by apoptosis when deprived of this nutrient (3-6). When fed a choline deficient diet, humans and many species of animals deplete choline stores and develop liver dysfunction (7-11). Animals fed a choline-deficient diet may also develop growth retardation, renal dysfunction and hemorrhage, or bone abnormalities (10,12,13). The human diet must contain choline because the only endogenous pathway for synthesis of this nutrient [via the sequential methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (14)] cannot meet the entire requirement for choline (15,16).

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  1. The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

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Zeisel, S.H. (2002). Brain Development and Choline, the Other Methyl Donor. In: Massaro, E.J., Rogers, J.M. (eds) Folate and Human Development. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-164-0_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-164-0_10

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