EFSA Publish New Dietary Guidelines For Choline Consumption

Choline, a strongly basic compound important in the synthesis and transport of lipids in the body, plays an important role in the human body, in particular for the maintenance of normal liver function.

 

The new guidance developed by the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), now defines the daily adequate intakes for choline as 400 mg for adults and adolescents aged 15-17 years, 140 to 340 mg for children aged 1-14 years, 160 mg for infants aged 7-11 months and 480 mg for pregnant women and 520 mg for lactating women.

 

Nutrient requirements for choline may differ with age, sex and physiological condition.

 

A spokesperson from the EFSA told NutritionInsight: “The Panel chose to set an Adequate Intake for choline for adults based on data on observed mean intakes in healthy populations, investigated in 12 national surveys undertaken in nine countries in the EU between 2000 and 2011, and in consideration of the amount of choline needed to replete about two-thirds (or about 70%) of choline-depleted subjects who showed signs of organ dysfunction and for whom data on the amount of choline needed for repletion were available.”

 

The Panel also considered data on the amounts of choline needed to replenish the body in case of a deficiency.

 

Choline deficiency can have adverse effects, including the development of fatty liver as well as general liver and muscle damage.

 

The nutrient is found in multiple food sources, such as eggs, meat, fish, whole grains, vegetables and fruit, as well as fats and oils.

 

EFSA received comments and input on the draft opinion during a four-week public consultation in early 2016.