Choline

Adapted from: Nutritive Value of Foods, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Home and Garden Bulletin Number 72. May be accessed at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12354500/Data/SR25/nutrlist/sr25w421.pdf

Assessment and Plan: Choline

• An 8-week study of allergic rhinitis compared oral tricholine citrate (TRI-an oral form of choline) vs intranasal budesonide (BUD, an anti-inflammatory) at a dose of BUD 200 mcg twice daily or TRI 500 mg 3 times daily showed BUD to be effective in 76% of patients vs. 43% with choline (BUD was more effective) (1).

• After 4 months of low dose (500 mg choline) or high dose (1 g choline), subjects showed some improvement on low dose choline, but the high dose showed the most significant reduction in asthma symptoms, reduced requirement for asthma medication, and an increase in the number of days without symptoms (2).

• A 3 month study testing asthma response to disodium cromoglycate, vs. choline vs. placebo (bronchodilators only) for asthma did show some response for all 3 treatments, but only found clinically significant decreases in the severity of symptoms, number of symptomatic days, and the need to use bronchodilators in study participants taking choline (3).