choline

noun

cho·​line ˈkō-ˌlēn 

: a basic compound C₅H₁₄NO that is found in various foods (such as egg yolks and legumes) or is synthesized in the liver, that is a component of lecithin and a precursor of acetylcholine, and that is essential to the metabolism of fat in the liver and is usually included in the vitamin B complex

Examples of choline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Apples also contain small amounts of vitamins A, E, and K, plus copper, choline, zinc, manganese, and other vital nutrients your body needs.15 Apples also contain phytonutrients (plant compounds with potential human health benefits). —Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2024

Eggs Eggs are packed with choline, a nutrient involved in memory, mood, and muscle control. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024

Freedman, a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, traveled to Uganda to determine if women living in tribal regions with fairly limited diets also had low choline. —Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024

In a subsequent double-blind study, one group of pregnant women were given choline supplements and the other placebos. —Daliah Singer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1871, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

choline

noun

cho·​line ˈkō-ˌlēn 

: a vitamin of the vitamin B complex that is widely distributed in animal and plant products (as eggs and beans) and is necessary for the activities of the liver

Medical Definition

choline

noun

cho·​line ˈkō-ˌlēn 

: a basic compound C₅H₁₄NO that is found in various foods (as egg yolk and legumes) or is synthesized in the liver and that is a component of lecithin, is a precursor of acetylcholine, and is essential to liver function