Medical Nutrition Therapy Nutrient
1. What is the nutrient?
Choline
2. What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient?
An RDA for choline has not been establish, however the National Academy of
Sciences recommends the following table for adequate intake of choline.
Age
Infants
Children
Boys
Girls
0-6 months
7-12 months
1-3 years
4-8 years
9-13 years
14-18 years
9-13 years
14-18 years
Men
Women
Pregnant
Lactating
Daily AI
125 mg
150 mg
200 mg
250 mg
375 mg
550 mg
375 mg
440 mg
550 mg
425 mg
450 mg
550 mg
3. How is the nutrient metabolized?
It is synthesized in the body de novo, but the dietary intake is still necessary.
Also, it occurs in the liver and leads to the formation of acetylcholine and
betaine.
4. What are food sources of the nutrient?
Food sources that contain choline includes beef liver, whole large egg, ground
beef, cauliflower, navy beans, tofu, almonds and peanut butter.
5. What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism?
It may increase the risk for choline deficiency, such as cancer, inadequate B3,
folic acid, and methionine intake, cirrhosis, TPN, bypass surgery, and kidney
transplant. Some others health conditions require special attention to choline
status, which is the following: ADHD, alcoholism Alzheimer’s disease,
autism, candidiasis, cirrhosis, coronary heart disease, epilepsy, failure to
thrive, hyperhomocysteineimia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, infertility,
memory deficit problems, Parkinson’s disease, and respiratory distress in
newborns.
6. What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body?
Diet is deficient while plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase activity rise
to indicate choline deficiency more reliably, which the plasma choline levels
will decrease slightly.
7.
What is the drug –nutrient interactions?
Methotrexate and anticonvulsant drugs will be the drug interactions. And the
nutrient interactions are included vitamin B6, B12, folate, serine, glycine,
betaine, ethanolamine, and sarcosine.
8.
How is the nutrient measured?
Serum levels via blood test.
9. What is the Upper Tolerable Limits?
The Upper Tolerable Limits for adults has been set at 3. Grams (3500 mg) per
day.
10.What are the physical signs of deficiency?
The physical signs of deficiency are difficult to identify. But it could
determine by the low plasma choline and phophatidylcholine, fatty liver, liver
damage, and muscle damage.
11.What are physical signs of toxicity?
The physical signs of toxicity is hypotension, salivation, sweating, dizziness,
faintness, vomiting, diarrhea, and fishy body odor.