Lecithin Consumption Raises Serum-Free-Choline Levels

Wurtman, R. J.; Growdon, J H; Hirsch, Madelyn J.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90067-8

Cited by 115 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Preclinical studies have primarily used choline salts (e.g., choline chloride or bitartrate) as did Wozniak et al (14). We chose glycerophosphocholine for several reasons as follows: 1) glycerophosphocholine is not converted to trimethylamine in the gut, which can impart a fishy body odor and, thereby, may reduce compliance; 2) the relative bioavailability of glycerophosphocholine is higher than that of phosphatidylcholine and choline salts and can more rapidly cross the blood-brain barrier (50,51); and 3) glycerophosphocholine has been shown to better augment the levels and release of brain acetylcholine, at least in dementia populations (52)(53)(54). The administration of choline in different forms has likely contributed to the variability of results across clinical and preclinical studies due to differences in biological effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of choline supplementation in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Nguyen

Risbud

Mattson

et al. 2016

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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Background: Prenatal alcohol exposure results in a broad range of cognitive and behavioral impairments. Because of the long-lasting problems that are associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), the development of effective treatment programs is critical. Preclinical animal studies have shown that choline, which is an essential nutrient, can attenuate the severity of alcohol-related cognitive impairments. Objective: We aimed to translate preclinical findings to a clinical population to investigate whether choline supplementation can ameliorate the severity of memory, executive function, and attention deficits in children with FASDs. Design: In the current study, which was a randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we explored the effectiveness of a choline intervention for children with FASDs who were aged 5-10 y. Fifty-five children with confirmed histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure were randomly assigned to either the choline (n = 29) or placebo (n = 26) treatment arms. Participants in the choline group received 625 mg choline/d for 6 wk, whereas subjects in the placebo group received an equivalent dose of an inactive placebo treatment. Primary outcomes, including the performance on neuropsychological measures of memory, executive function, and attention and hyperactivity, were assessed at baseline and postintervention. Results: Compared with the placebo group, participants in the choline group did not differentially improve in cognitive performance in any domain. Treatment compliance and mean dietary choline intake were not predictive of treatment outcomes. Conclusions: Findings of the current study do not support that choline, administered at a dose of 625 mg/d for 6 wk, is an effective intervention for school-aged (5-10 y old) children with FASDs. This research provides important information about choline's therapeutic window. Combined with other studies of choline and nutritional interventions in this population, this study emphasizes a further need for the continued study of the role of nutritional status and supplementation in children with FASDs and the contributions of nutrition to neurocognition. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01911299.Am J Clin Nutr 2016;104:1683-92.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of choline supplementation in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Nguyen

Risbud

Mattson

et al. 2016

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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“…Another common supplemental form of choline is lecithin, a compound that is ~35% phospatidylcholine when purchased at health-food stores (Zeisel, 1994). Lecithin appears to have a larger (+265% vs. +86%) and more long-lasting (12 hr vs. 4 hr) impact on free blood choline concentrations than do choline salts (Wurtman, Hirsch, & Growden, 1977). Lecithin, however, has not been used in studies in which individuals receive supplementation during physical activity, which might be because of the small percentage of choline found in lecithin.…”

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confidence: 99%

Choline: An Important Micronutrient for Maximal Endurance-Exercise Performance?

Penry

Manore²

2008

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

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Choline plays a central role in many physiological pathways, including neurotransmitter synthesis (acetylcholine), cell-membrane signaling (phospholipids), lipid transport (lipoproteins), and methyl-group metabolism (homocysteine reduction). Endurance exercise might stress several of these pathways, increasing the demand for choline as a metabolic substrate. This review examines the current literature linking endurance exercise and choline demand in the human body. Also reviewed are the mechanisms by which exercise might affect blood choline levels, and the links between methyl metabolism and the availability of free choline are highlighted. Finally, the ability of oral choline supplements to augment endurance performance is assessed. Most individuals consume adequate amounts of choline, although there is evidence that current recommendations might be insufficient for some adult men. Only strenuous and prolonged physical activity appears sufficient to significantly decrease circulating choline stores. Moreover, oral choline supplementation might only increase endurance performance in activities that reduce circulating choline levels below normal.

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“…Lecithin, which contains phosphatidylcholine, results in a higher and more sustained plasma level over a 12-hour period following oral ingestion [Wurtman et al, 1977]. Oral administration of choline-containing supplements appears to be of little benefit in Alzheimer's disease when given alone or when combined with other agents, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors [Drachman et al, 1982].…”

Section: Ach Precursors (Table 1)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar to precursor therapy, this strategy also relies on existing presynaptic cholinergic nerve terminals in the cortex and hippocampus to manufacture acetyl- Cohen and Wurtman [1976], Wurtman et al [1977], Etienne et al [1978], Little et al [1985]. b Weiss [1995], Spiers et al [1996].…”

Section: Ache Inhibition (Table 2)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Drugs that increase intelligence?: Application for childhood cognitive impairment

Capone

1998

Ment. Retard. Dev. Disabil. Res. Rev.

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Due in part to the favorable demographics of Alzheimer's disease in the general population, pharmaceutical companies worldwide are aggressively pursuing the research and development of cognitive‐enhancing drugs. There have been two rather noteworthy successes in recent years as both tacrine and donepezil have received FDA approval as useful pharmacologic treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Given what is now known regarding the critical periods for synaptic development and the organization of large‐scale neuronal circuits in the developing cerebral cortex, it appears that there may exist a window of opportunity during which specifically targeted, pharmacologic intervention could exert a significantly favorable biologic effect during development. Pharmacologic agents that increase the brain's responsiveness to activity‐dependent plasticity may be of particular therapeutic benefit to children with some forms of mental retardation. Currently available medications designed for use in adults with dementia have targeted cholinergic neurotransmission and to a lesser degree glutamatergic neurotransmission, both of which play important roles in learning, memory, and developmental organization of the brain. The “cholinergic hypothesis” of memory dysfunction has done much to focus research efforts on cholinergic strategies for the enhancement of learning and memory. Medications that affect cholinergic neurotransmission include acetylcholine precursors, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and muscarinic agonists. Drugs targeting the glutamatergic system are among the most novel modalities in treating disorders of memory and learning. These drugs have grown in proportion to advancements in our understanding of the physiologic and pathologic effects of this important excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter. The most important class of medications that affect glutamatergic neurotransmission include nootropics (ampakines) and glycinergic compounds. The rationale for using drugs that act on the glutamatergic system during critical periods for neuronal organization depends, in part, on the degree to which abnormal dendritic spine morphology and/or function associated with some forms of mental retardation is mediated by dysfunctional glutamatergic neurotransmission. It also depends to what degree spine morphology and/or function can be modified in these conditions. MRDD Research Reviews 1998;4:36–49. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Lecithin Consumption Raises Serum-Free-Choline Levels

Cited by 115 publications

References 7 publications

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of choline supplementation in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of choline supplementation in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Choline: An Important Micronutrient for Maximal Endurance-Exercise Performance?

Drugs that increase intelligence?: Application for childhood cognitive impairment

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