Choline Part 2

Tomorrow we will get back to the green tea extract and DYRK1 A gene because there are more issues to discuss but today let's look at one little study that showed positive results for the Down syndrome mouse.
Here is the study abstract:
Behav Neurosci. 2010 Jun;124(3):346-61.


Perinatal choline supplementation improves cognitive functioning and emotion regulation in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome.
Moon J, Chen M, Gandhy SU, Strawderman M, Levitsky DA, Maclean KN, Strupp BJ.
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.

Abstract

In addition to mental retardation, individuals with Down syndrome (DS) also develop the neuropathological changes typical of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the majority of these individuals exhibit dementia. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS exhibits key features of these disorders, including early degeneration of cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) neurons and impairments in functions dependent on the two CBF projection systems; namely, attention and explicit memory. Herein, we demonstrate that supplementing the maternal diet with excess choline during pregnancy and lactation dramatically improved attentional function of the adult trisomic offspring. Specifically, the adult offspring of choline-supplemented Ts65Dn dams performed significantly better than unsupplemented Ts65Dn mice on a series of 5 visual attention tasks, and in fact, on some tasks did not differ from the normosomic (2N) controls. A second area of dysfunction in the trisomic animals, heightened reactivity to committing an error, was partially normalized by the early choline supplementation. The 2N littermates also benefited from increased maternal choline intake on 1 attention task. These findings collectively suggest that perinatal choline supplementation might significantly lessen cognitive dysfunction in DS and reduce cognitive decline in related neurodegenerative disorders such as AD.


PMID: 20528079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]PMCID: PMC2955960 [Available on 2011/6/1]

They supplemented with choline which crosses the Blood Brain Barrier (protective barrier for the brain) with a transport system. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) passes through the BBB because it  is fat soluble. I'm always thinking about making it as easy as I can for the body. So, my choice of supplementation is PC as opposed to free choline.

Choline

I was reading about choline and thought this is a good break from the genes.
Choline is not exactly a vitamin but it is an essential nutrient. We can make a small amount of it but it must be eaten regularly. The Linus Pauling Institute has a terrific write up explaining choline and its functions. They state:

  The majority of the body's choline is found in specialized fat molecules known

 as phospholipids, the most common of which is called phosphatidylcholine or lecithin . (1)

I bolded the phosphatidylcholine for emphasis. Choline is a very important nutrient.

It is involved in these 5 ways:

• Structural integrity of cell membranes
• Cell signaling
• Nerve impulse transmission
• Lipid (fat) transport and metabolism
• Major source of methyl groups

 Let's look at the structure of the cell membrane. Cell membranes are called a bilayer because they are formed from a double layer of fats and phosphate heads.
The green inside are the fats and the pink balls are the phosphate heads. Choline is essential in the formation of phospholipids ie cell membrane.  The liver alone has ~ 300,000 square feet of membrane.
That is more than 4 football fields!
A great article on Phosphatidyl choline that explains the membrane in more detail is on the BodyBio website.

The second major function is cell signalling. If you put cell signalling into google image, it will blow your mind. It is soooooo complex.  Here is a good picture of one type of cell signal. Notice it occurs next to the membrane.

 

Nerve Impulse Transmission is the neurotransmittors like acetylcholine. These are the chemical messangers that jump from one nerve to the next.

 Phosphatidylcholine is a required component of fat transportation and processing. Without adequate phosphatidylcholine, fat and cholesterol accumulate in the liver.

Choline is a major source of methyl group which is a carbon and 4 hydrogens. We will come back to this because it is very important in Down syndrome.

Needless to say. Choline is critical for good health and function. It is found in beef and eggs, for example.

 Food Serving Total Choline (mg)

Beef liver, pan fried 3 ounces* 355

Wheat germ, toasted 1 cup 172

Egg 1 large 126

Atlantic cod, cooked 3 ounces 71

Beef, trim cut, cooked 3 ounces 67

Brussel sprouts, cooked 1 cup 63

Broccoli, cooked 1 cup, chopped 62

Shrimp, canned 3 ounces 60

Salmon 3 ounces 56

Milk, skim 8 fl oz. 38

Peanut butter, smooth 2 tablespoons 20

Milk chocolate 1.5-ounce bar 20



*A three-ounce serving of meat or fish is about the size of a deck of cards. (1)