Choline
Choline is a dietary component often grouped within the group of B-vitamins and is part of several major phospholipids that are critical for normal cellular membrane structure and function.
Sources
Choline mostly is manufactured from the essential amino acid methionine in the liver.
Daily requirements
No studies have been conducted to establish the requirements of the horse for choline.
Deficiency
A deficiency in choline has not been observed in horses to date and has not been produced experimentally.
Excess
An excess of choline has not been observed in horses to date and has not been produced experimentally.
Important to know
- Choline contributes to the structure of the cellular membrane bilayer (Phospholipids) and also serves as important secondary messenger (Actelycholine) in signal cascades that control cell growth and gene expression
- Choline plays an essential role in fat metabolism, preventing abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver cells
- Choline is involved into the composition of the lung surfactant which is important for respiratory function
