Choline
Synonyms: 2-Hydroxyethyl trimethylammonium hydroxide
Choline
Choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient. It is usually grouped within the B-complex vitamins. Choline generally refers to the various quaternary ammonium salts containing the N,N,N-trimethylethanolammonium cation.
The cation appears in the head groups of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, two classes of phospholipid that are abundant in cell membranes. Choline is the precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is involved in many functions including memory and muscle control.
Choline must be consumed through the diet in order for the body to remain healthy.[6] It is used in the synthesis of the constructional components in the body's cell membranes.