Spotlight on Choline: the Tie to Breast Cancer

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Have you heard of the nutrient choline? It's been in the news lately because of studies tying it to the prevention of breast cancer. Here's what you need to know. This is your lesson in nutrition science 101 for today. Choline is not a vitamin or mineral but it is one of many nutrients needed by the body that have very specific roles in day to day body processes. Although the human body can produce small amounts of choline, it must be part of the diet to maintain health. In the body, choline is found in and helps make these special fat molecules called phospholipids. The most common one you may have heard of is lecithin. Most likely you've seen it on ingredient labels where it's added during processing. These phospholipids, of which choline is a part, are components of healthy human cells.

Why does it matter to you? In the body, choline becomes acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter or brain chemical involved in memory and muscle control. Think of these brain chemicals like the various flags waved at the car races. The flags are a signal to the drivers just like these brain chemicals send signals throughout your body.

Choline is also important for the movement of fat and cholesterol out of the liver in packages called lipoproteins. You know a couple of them . LDL or the lousy low density lipoprotein in your blood and HDL or the healthy high density lipoprotein. Without adequate choline to make the needed components to move the fat along, fat can build up in the liver.

Where do you find choline in food? Milk, eggs, and wheat germ are top sources of choline. Eggs have gotten a bad rap for a very long time due to cholesterol content which we now know is not the issue in raising blood cholesterol. Choline is found in the egg yolk so eat the entire egg.

Several studies indicate a potential link between choline and the reduction of breast cancer risk. A recent study from the University of North Carolina which looked at more than 3, 000 adult women, found that those with the highest intakes of choline (around 450 mg/day which is considered an adequate intake) had a 24% lower risk for developing breast cancer. Most of the choline in the diet is coming from eggs and milk in this study. An egg contains about 125 mg of choline or around 25% of your daily needs. Choline's role is normal functioning of cells whatever your age.