Precursor for acetylcholine, phospholipids and betaine
| Life Stage Group | RDA/AI* (mg/d) | ULa (mg/d) |
|---|---|---|
| Infants | ||
| 0–6 mo | 125* | ND |
| 7–12 mo | 150* | ND |
| Children | ||
| 1–3 yr | 200* | 1,000 |
| 4–8 yr | 250* | 1,000 |
| Males | ||
| 9–13 yr | 375* | 2,000 |
| 14–18 yr | 550* | 3,000 |
| 19–30 yr | 550* | 3,500 |
| 31–50 yr | 550* | 3,500 |
| 50–70 yr | 550* | 3,500 |
| >70 yr | ||
| Females | ||
| 9–13 yr | 375* | 2,000 |
| 14–18 yr | 400* | 3,000 |
| 19–30 yr | 425* | 3,500 |
| 31–50 yr | 425* | 3,500 |
| 31–50 yr | 425* | 3,500 |
| 50–70 yr | 425* | 3,500 |
| >70 yr | 425* | 3,500 |
| Pregnancy | ||
| <=18 yr | 450* | 3,000 |
| 19–30 yr | 450* | 3,500 |
| 31–50 yr | 450* | 3,500 |
| Lactation | ||
| <=18 yr | 550* | 3,000 |
| 19–30 yr | 550* | 3,500 |
| 31–50 yr | 550* | 3,500 |
Milk, liver, eggs, peanuts
Adverse Effects of Excessive Consumption
Fishy body odor, sweating, salivation, hypotension, hepatotoxicity.
Individuals with trimethylaminuria, renal disease, liver disease, depression and Parkinson’s disease may be at risk of adverse effects with choline intakes at the UL.
Although AIs have been set for choline, there are few data to assess whether a dietary supply of choline is needed at all stages of the life cycle, and it may be that the choline requirement can be met by endogenous synthesis at some of these stages.