Part four in our series on Fat Flushing supplements.
Although most of us have never heard of it, choline is so indispensable to health that it is even found in breast milk. Before 1998, scientists believed that the human body made adequate amounts of choline. However, after additional research, the National Academy of Sciences classified choline as an essential nutrient—and acknowledged that we can’t always produce the required amount. Unfortunately, coming up short on choline can lead to hypertension, arteriosclerosis, cirrhosis, and fatty deposits in the liver.
Choline is vital to controlling fat and cholesterol buildup in the body—regulating the kidneys, liver and gallbladder, and banishing fatigue. Studies have concluded that choline helps the body burn fat, resulting in easier weight loss while simultaneously lowering cholesterol. As an added bonus, choline helps form phosphatidylcholine, which is needed for proper mental functioning. Providing your body with adequate choline while you are young can help diminish memory deficits as you age. Choline can nourish your brain and your liver while it helps you lose weight. That’s quite a deal.
And you can’t start too young. Without choline, infants can develop abnormalities of the myelin sheath—the protective encasement of nerves and brain cells. Sometimes adequate choline can help ease the spasms and involuntary movements of Tourettes’ syndrome and Huntington’s disease.
Just the Facts
• Lecithin (derived from soybeans) is one of our only choline-based food sources, along with eggs.
• Choline is an essential nutrient sometimes referred to as vitamin B4. It is key to the formation of one of the body’s central neurotransmitters, acetylcholine.
• Just a few weeks on a choline-deficient diet has been shown to cause abnormal liver function.
• Along with methionine and inositol, choline is very effective for helping the liver convert estradiol into estriol—the safer form of estrogen. In fact, may estrogen-based disorders (fibrocystic breast syndrome, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis) may benefit from added choline, along with other nutritional therapies.
Boost the Benefits
• You may want to take choline supplements early in the day because some people find that choline interferes with their sleep if taken in the evening.
• Taking choline right before a meal is fine, although it works equally well when taken with food.
Recommended Usage: Research suggests that a reasonable amount of choline supplementation is between 250 and 1,000 milligrams daily. When I developed the Fat Flush protocol, I made sure to include choline in one component of the Fat Flush Starter Kit because I knew that it was so deficient in people’s diets. Based on a careful review of clients’ diet histories, I suggest 300 to 350 milligrams of choline per day. Taking one Weight Loss Formula capsule three times daily gives you 336 milligrams of choline.
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
The article states that choline helps to lower cholesterol. I am wondering if that is total, or just the “bad”?
Hi Gwen:
That would be total cholesterol – not LDL!
I was reading an article on the effects of choline on reducing diabetes. How much would you recommend to reduce this, as well as high cholesterol?
Thanks!!
Dr. ALG states, “research suggests that a reasonable amount of choline supplementation is between 250 and 1,000 milligrams daily.” This is the best range for supplementation to effectively lower cholesterol!
Miss Ann,
I was reading your blog on choline and the great health benefits that come with it. You mentioned that it is sometimes referred to as vitamin B4, and I know that you have your own line of supplements through UniKey. I would love to take advantage of this particular nutrient, but unfortunately I cannot afford to go through UniKey to get it. I was wondering if you have any recommendations as to an alternative place to purchase this? Thank you.
Choline is available in most health food stores and through Standard Process.