Different choline supplement metabolism in adults using deuterium labelling.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized crossover trial
PubMed 36840817 · doi:10.1007/s00394-023-03121-z
What was done
Prospective randomized crossover trial evaluating the metabolism of four deuterium-labelled enteral choline forms in six healthy men. Participants received single doses of 2.7 mg/kg D9-choline equivalent as D9-choline chloride, D9-phosphorylcholine, D9-alpha-glycerophosphocholine (D9-GPC), or D9-1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphoryl-choline (D9-POPC) in randomized order separated by 6-week washout periods. Blood was collected from baseline through 7 days post-dose, and plasma concentrations of D9-choline and its metabolites were quantified using tandem mass spectrometry.
What was found
Peak concentrations of D9-choline and D9-betaine occurred latest after D9-POPC compared to the other forms, with no difference in AUC over time. D9-POPC and D9-phosphorylcholine resulted in lower D9-trimethylamine N-oxide (D9-TMAO) formation, with D9-TMAO levels virtually absent after D9-POPC. Plasma D9-phosphatidylcholine AUC (0–7d) was highest after D9-POPC administration, appearing predominantly as remodeled D9-1-palmitoyl-2-linoleyl-PC (D9-PLPC). Specific numerical values and variance metrics were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
The molecular form of supplemental choline determines its metabolic fate, with phosphatidylcholine (POPC) uniquely maximizing circulating phosphatidylcholine levels while avoiding conversion to TMAO.
Limits
Sample size was very small (n = 6) and limited entirely to healthy men. It evaluated single-dose kinetics rather than steady-state supplementation, and no clinical or health outcomes were assessed. Exact numerical results were omitted from the abstract.