Possible Interaction: Acetylcholine and Choline

“Feeding choline , a precursor of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, has been shown experimentally to increase brain acetylcholine release and enhance cholinergic function A subsequent trial of oral choline ameliorated symptoms in patients with tardive dyskinesia, which has been linked to cholinergic dysfunction.”

“ Choline is the physiologic precursor of acetylcholine, and its administration elevates brain acetylcholine levels in laboratory animals and, possibly, in human beings.”

“ Choline is also produced at synapses by degradation of acetylcholine.”

“ Choline uptake in the cells was inhibited by unlabeled choline and hemicholinium-3 as well as various organic cations including guanidine, amiloride and acetylcholine.”

“Furthermore, we found that choline inhibited r-AgAChE1, a phenomenon related to the enzyme activity decrease at high concentrations of acetylcholine.”

“Thus, for example, brain levels of tryptophan, tyrosine, or choline can control the rates at which neurons synthesize serotonin, dopamine, or acetylcholine , respectively.”

“However, cholinergic precursors most largely used such as choline and phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) were probably not suitable for enhancing brain levels of ACh.”

“Similarly, lecithin, a dietary source of choline, and choline itself have been shown to increase the synthesis of acetylcholine when cholinergic neurons are very active.”

“One mechanism by which CDP-choline may affect behavior involves contributing choline to enhance synthesis of acetylcholine.”

“Preclinical data suggest that cholinergic precursors such as choline or lecithin, increase levels of acetylcholine in specific brain structures, and under certain conditions may enhance cholinergic neurotransmission.”