Moderate Choline Intake Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Study Reveals

A recent BMC Public Health study examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database to investigate the association between atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and dietary choline.

Choline is an essential nutrient needed for making several important molecules in the body, including acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory, mood, and muscle control. It also helps form cell membrane components like phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Since the body can't produce enough choline on its own, it's important to get it from foods like beef, fish, milk, eggs, cruciferous vegetables, legumes, and nuts.

The connection between choline and heart disease (ASCVD) is not clear. Some studies suggest choline may increase heart disease risk by affecting the TMAO pathway, while others indicate it might help prevent heart issues by regulating metabolism.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes conditions like high cholesterol, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and obesity, affecting 20-30% of adults worldwide. It raises the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

In the study, researchers examined how choline intake affects the risk of ASCVD in adults and the development of metabolic syndrome. The cross-sectional study included 5,525 individuals from the NHANES database between 2011 and 2018. Out of these, 510 participants were categorised into the non-ASCVD group, while 5,015 individuals were placed in the ASCVD group.

The results showed no significant correlation between choline intake and metabolic syndrome.

The study found that the optimal choline intake for beneficial effects was 244 mg/day for women and 367 mg/day for men, with men experiencing more protective effects from higher choline intake.

Choline is essential for preventing chronic diseases and neurodevelopment issues, as deficiency can lead to muscle damage and fatty liver. The study also indicated that excessive choline intake did not correlate with an increased risk of stroke, possibly because the brain regulates choline absorption, release, and metabolism.

Reference: Lin, H., Zong, Z., Zhang, C., et al. (2024) An inverse association of dietary choline with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among US adults: a cross-sectional NHANES analysis. BMC Public Health 24(1460). doi:10.1186/s12889-024-18837-8