The Role of Choline in the Turnover of Phospholipids

Abstract

The effect of choline and choline deficiency on liver phosphatide metabolism has been studied in various species. Evidence to date indicates that a single dose of choline administered to choline-deficient animals increases the oxidation of liver fat as well as the synthesis of liver phosphatide P³². On the other hand, the addition of choline to liver slices derived from choline-deficient animals promotes the incorporation of P³² into the phosphatide molecules without stimulating fat oxidation. In addition, it was observed that in the rabbit and dog the rate of incorporation of P³² into liver phosphatides is greater during periods of choline deficiency than during daily supplementation of the diet with 1 per cent choline. The implications of these findings are discussed in reference to the mechanism whereby choline prevents or cures fatty livers.