Choline: Vital Nutrient Often Underconsumed

By Dr. Reginald B. Cherry, M.D., Christian Post Contributor Friday, April 03, 2009

Choline is essential for central nervous system, liver and cellular function, and may also be associated with reduced breast cancer risk. However, most people are not meeting their daily requirements of this vital nutrient.

The B vitamin choline is important in making membranes for all the cells in the body, for making chemicals that are responsible for nerve function, and in lipid metabolism. It is also linked to new memory cell production.

Now, you can add one more benefit to this vital nutrient. A study of more than 3,000 women that was published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal found that getting at least 425 mg of choline per day was associated with a 24% reduced risk of breast cancer.

But according to research presented at the American Dietetic Association's 2008 Food and Nutrition Conference, "It's a nutrient that is frequently underconsumed by those who need it most. In fact, fewer than 10% of older children, men and women meet the recommended adequate intake for choline."

Good sources of choline include egg yolks, legumes such as peanuts and beans, and collard greens. To ensure that you are getting adequate amounts, you may want take a daily supplement such as Basic Nutrient Support that includes choline.