choline /kō″lēn/ [Gk, chole, bile] , a lipotropic substance that can be synthesized by the body. Under certain circumstances it is considered by some to be essential. Found in most animal tissues, choline is a primary component of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter, and functions with inositol as a basic constituent of lecithin. It prevents fat deposits in the liver and facilitates the movement of fats into the cells. The richest sources of choline are liver, kidneys, brains, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast, and egg yolk. See also inositol, lecithin.
