Choline
Choline is a substance that belongs to the B vitamins and is produced in the body of animals and humans, to a greater extent, in the intestines. Replenishment of vitamin B4 (the second name of choline) from the outside is required in cases where there is a deficiency.
Choline is a component of lecithin, an antioxidant, without which the nervous system, brain cells, and liver cannot function, and which forms the intercellular space.
Thus, the following main functions of choline can be distinguished:
- Protects cells from destruction;
- Reduces cholesterol levels, promotes resorption of cholesterol plaques;
- Stimulates brain activity, nervous system;
- Improves metabolism, restores fat metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, body weight;
- Prevents the appearance of stones in the gallbladder;
- Protects the liver from such negative factors as poor diet, alcohol, medication, chronic diseases;
- Prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases;
- Helps lower insulin levels;
- Provides male reproductive function - increases sperm activity;
- Participates in the production of hormones in the prostate gland.
The use of choline in medicine
The pharmaceutical industry produces synthetic choline as an intravenous solution (choline chloride). It is prescribed for people suffering from hepatitis, incl. infectious etiology, chronic alcoholism, liver cirrhosis, atherosclerosis.
Also, doctors prescribe choline to children under 5 years of age and pregnant women - to maintain the nervous system, brain function.
Vitamin B4 deficiency, indicating the need to use choline chloride, produces the following symptoms:
- Frequent headaches;
- Depressed state;
- High blood pressure;
- Irritability;
- Memory problems;
- Feeling of fear;
- Sleep problems;
- Impaired blood circulation;
- Noise in ears;
- Frequent constipation;
- Increased cholesterol levels.
Regular use of choline, even with alcoholism, not to mention other liver pathologies, can slow down the destruction of this organ.
Vitamin B4 also helps with serious memory problems.
To improve the therapeutic result, choline is recommended to be taken in combination with other B vitamins.
Reduce the effectiveness of choline estrogens, alcohol, sulfonamides.
Additional sources of choline
To prevent choline deficiency, a person should regularly eat dairy products, the heart and liver of animals, egg yolks, leafy green vegetables, wheat grains, rice, spinach, oatmeal, soy, cabbage, brewer's yeast.
Excess and side effects of choline
Despite the invaluable value of choline for humans, an overdose of it can have negative consequences.
The permissible daily intake of vitamin B4 for an adult is 1-4 grams. Those who are experiencing stress, are constantly engaged in serious mental activity, you can use 2-8 grams of choline per day.
High doses of choline under the supervision of doctors are allowed to be taken by people whose daily activities are associated with serious physical and mental stress, as well as athletes, in particular, during preparation for a competition.
An excess of choline can be recognized by profuse sweating, the appearance of diarrhea, nausea, an unusual "fishy" body odor, increased blood pressure, and decreased appetite.
With the use of synthetic choline, digestive upset may occur. If choline is injected quickly into a vein, bradycardia, fever, nausea, vomiting may appear, pressure may decrease, and collapse may develop.
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