What Is the Best Choline Supplement (2024)

Last modified on April 17th, 2024

Why do you need to take the best choline supplement?

Choline is an essential nutrient often overlooked when considering daily vitamin, mineral, and nutrient intake. There are many types of choline, and many brands claim health benefits, such as supporting mental health, improving cognitive function, and boosting metabolism.

This is all paired with the ability to reverse some types of liver damage.

Choline is naturally occurring, so you may already consume a healthy amount.

Continue reading to learn more about choline, decide if you need a supplement, and find the top ten supplements.

What is Choline?

Choline is a nutrient that assists in synthesizing two major phospholipids vital for cell membranes.

This is important because cells need healthy membranes for structure and intracellular communication. It also has many other benefits.

An example of choline’s function in the body is DNA synthesis, which is part of cells’ natural growth and repair process. Choline’s place in DNA synthesis makes it a powerful nootropic (brain-boosting) nutrient because it contributes to the growth and repair of neuron connections.

Choline is also important for making the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which helps maintain memory and muscle control and assists with heartbeat regulation.

Without enough choline, you may experience symptoms ranging from mood and anxiety issues to a fatty liver or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a disease in which the buildup of fat cells in the liver.

Rapid weight loss may contribute to this disease and poor eating habits, which would reduce your choline intake.

Small amounts of choline are made in the liver, but not enough is produced to stay healthy, so humans must obtain extra choline from their diets. Choline occurs in many food sources, from eggs, milk, and fish to potatoes, brussels sprouts, and bread.

How Much Do You Need?

Recommended choline intakes vary based on gender and age, with 19-year-old males and lactating females needing the most choline daily.

The average adequate intakes are described here:

  • 9-13-year-old males and females need 375 milligrams of choline per day.
  • 14-18-year-old males need 550 milligrams, and females of this age require 400 milligrams.
  • 19+-year-old males require 550 milligrams, and females require 425 milligrams
  • Pregnant females 14+ years old require 450 milligrams, and lactating females require 550 milligrams.

These recommendations are general averages—if you aren’t sure what amount is right for you, please speak to your healthcare provider to find out how much choline you need daily.

Choline maintains cell membranes, liver function, and muscle health.

For many people, choline can be sourced primarily from the diet. It just takes incorporating more choline-rich foods into your diet. If this is not the case, you may need choline supplements. This would be a good thing to discuss with your doctor.

Why Do We Need Choline?

Choline is necessary for many of our bodily processes. Choline deficiency is rarely tested, but it can cause major problems. The good thing is that choline occurs naturally in many foods and is also created in the liver. If you feel you may not get enough choline, checking with your medical provider is always good.

Choline is a major component of liver function. People deficient in choline may develop fatty liver and liver damage. Once it is digested, choline arrives in the liver, where it is stored, and choline metabolism and methylation occur. Recent findings show that choline is key in avoiding non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFD).

It is also suggested from recent studies that choline assists with limiting neurologic damage in stroke patients, as well as playing a necessary role in the cognitive development and later cognitive abilities of animals in certain studies.

Choline is necessary on its own for sustaining liver and cognitive function, but B vitamins must be incorporated into your diet because they work alongside choline as methyl donors and are necessary for the synthesis of DNA to assist in the growth and repair of cells within the body.

The suggested intake of B vitamins varies by age and gender and also by which of the nine vitamins you take. Pregnant women need more B-complex vitamins, typically only in small amounts. Remember to talk to your healthcare professional to establish the right amount of each B vitamin.

Should I Take a Choline Supplement?

The best choline supplement for you may be no choline supplement because you may be getting enough with your diet.

Pregnant and lactating women are the most likely sufferers of a choline deficiency.

If you feel that you may not be obtaining enough choline or know that you need to add choline to your diet, a supplement may be right for you.

People who can typically benefit from a choline supplement are:

  • Pregnant women (prenatal vitamins typically neglect choline)
  • People with genetic alterations in the PEMT gene.
  • People receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

Many foods are very high in choline; these would be the first suggested treatment for choline deficiency. These include:

  • Beef
  • Eggs
  • Soybeans
  • Fish
  • Quinoa
  • Yogurt
  • Brown Rice
  • Broccoli

How Can a Choline Deficiency Harm You?

A lack of choline can severely inhibit the function of your liver. This leads to diseases such as fibrosis and NAFD, choline is also very important to the development of young children. They and their mothers must receive enough choline.

Choline is also suggested to be important to the cardiovascular system; it helps to regulate processes and may prevent strokes. Choline deficiencies may also lead to a lack of focus and motivation and less ability to control mood.

It is very important that pregnant and nursing mothers take in enough choline to aid in the development of children because choline is an essential nutrient for this purpose.

What Are the Benefits of the Best Choline Supplements?

Choline is important; many eat less than the suggested daily choline intake. Choline supplements may be beneficial in many aspects of your life; here are the benefits suggested by some research:

  • Improved Memory: there is a suggestion that choline may help with memory, especially in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
  • NAFLD Prevention: This is a disease that affects the liver, where too many fat cells accumulate instead of healthy liver cells. This disease occurs in 65% of overweight people and up to 90% of obese people.
  • Liver Disease Prevention: in animal models, it has been shown that choline deficiency may lead to liver cancer, and choline supplements may reduce this risk.
  • Muscle Health: Studies suggest that a choline supplement can improve your strength with exercise.
  • Cognitive Function Maintenance: Choline and B-vitamin complexes may help maintain neuroplasticity, especially after a stroke.

What Are the Different Types of Supplements?

There are many types of choline supplements, so it is important to research to find the right kind for you.

A quick online search will pull up choline bitartrate, citicoline, and Alpha-GPC supplements. With these different supplements, deciding which one might benefit you the most can be hard. Here is a rundown of the market’s common types of choline supplements.

Choline Bitartrate

Choline Bitartrate is the most cost-effective choline supplement and is very common in the market.

It is a very good supplement to fill bodily choline needs, but it is not a very effective nootropic (cognitive ability-enhancing) version of choline. It is about 41% choline and a good bioavailable source.

Phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholine is a form of choline that is found within the body. It consists of a phospholipid attached to a choline particle. This type of choline is considered very good for liver repair and ward off some medicines’ side effects.

Studies have even suggested that phosphatidylcholine supplements can benefit Alzheimer’s patients.

Alpha-GPC

Alpha-glyceryl phosphorylcholine, commonly known as Alpha-GPC, has a comparable choline density to choline bitartrate at around 40% choline per supplement sample.

This means you absorb about 40 milligrams of choline per 100-milligram dose. Alpha-GPC differs from choline bitartrate because it can affect cognitive health and improve memory.

Studies also suggest that this form of choline can assist with building strength when exercising.

Citicoline

Citicoline Supplements are typically only 18% choline by weight.

However, they contain another important nootropic in cytidine, a key component in uracil, a nucleotide(a DNA building block).

This helps the body keep strong connections in the brain.

How Do You Choose the Best Supplement?

There are many types of choline supplements, but with some research and a discussion with your medical provider, you can find the best one.

This can be broken down into a few simple steps:

  1. Decide which type of choline supplement will best suit you. There are many different kinds, which all have benefits of their own. Some, like choline bitartrate, are better for overall body and liver health, while supplements of phosphatidylcholine and Alpha-GPC have suggested cognitive benefits.
  2. Understand how much choline you need to add to your diet. Supplement sizes range from 50mg to 650mg. If you aren’t sure, discuss it with your healthcare provider to find the right amount.
  3. Compare choline supplements that fit into the criteria (set by steps 1 and 2). Balance the costs and benefits of each supplement. Try to choose one that is Good Manufacturing Process certified and FDA-approved. Once you find good-quality supplements, you can compare the prices to determine the best value.

Following these steps is a good guideline for choosing the best choline supplement; however, you must discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Can You Take Too Much?

Choline is an important nutrient, but like all supplements, there is a limit to how much choline one should consume daily.

The limits are based on age.

Children under 12 months old should not take a choline supplement unless recommended by your healthcare provider.

  • 1-8-year-old children should not consume more than 1,000mg per day.
  • 9- to 13-year-old children should consume less than 2,000mg per day.
  • 14-18-year-old teenagers should consume less than 3,000mg daily.
  • People aged 19+ should consume no more than 3,500mg of choline daily.

Taking too much choline can have health consequences, such as cardiovascular issues, vomiting, sweating, excessive salivation, and fishy body odor.

It is important to ensure you do not take too much choline or any supplement.

Tips for Taking a Choline Supplement

After you have chosen a supplement that is right for you, avoid taking too much or anything that may conflict with your choline intake.

These are some general tips to keep you safe and help you benefit from your choline supplements.

  • Don’t consume over 3,500 mg of choline per day.
  • Eat healthily to obtain most of the choline you consume from your diet.

Consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions about choline supplements.

Choline is not known to have any adverse effects when combined with other supplements or medications; however, if you are unsure, ask your doctor.

Reviews of the Top 10 Best Choline Supplements

Here is our list of the top 10 best choline supplements. This will include a little about each product and why we believe this is a good supplement.

We have included all four major choline supplements to give a range of good supplements.

This is our list of supplements, but it cannot replace the advice of your medical provider.

Contact them whenever you need supplement advice.

Double Wood Phosphatidylcholine

This USA made phosphatidylcholine supplement is in the form of an easy to swallow soft gel. It may help cognitive and liver functions.

The Double Wood product contains 420mg of bioavailable choline. This best choline supplement may improve the aging brain’s cognitive ability.

This contains a 210-day supply of choline, as it is suggested that you take one per day.

This supplement is non-GMO, which means it hasn’t been genetically modified. It is a vegetarian supplement. It is gluten-free and third-party tested, but it contains soy, as it is derived from soy lecithin, a high-choline ingredient used in emulsifying food.

This company has earned many positive reviews; people trust it; they say their mind feels sharper and that they get very good quality for a very reasonable price.

Thorne Phosphatidylcholine

This phosphatidylcholine supplement is made in the USA and is third party tested, as well as being gluten and major allergen-free.

According to Thorne, this helps to protect your liver, maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and keep bile flowing regularly.

There are 420mg of choline per serving with 60 gel caps per bottle.

Thorne tests its products four times before putting them on the market and is a company focused on sustainability. 

Reviews claim this brand is very good for those with allergies and improves mental clarity and sharpness.

Absonutrix Citicoline

This citicoline supplement is made in the USA, it is vegetarian and uses natural ingredients. 

Absonutrix Citicoline offers a rich citicoline source as you take 1-2 tablets with a meal.

This choline supplement may help cognitive ability and overall brain health.

Reviews from around the world claim that this product is very good and very helpful for mental clarity.

Klaire Labs Citicholine

This citicoline supplement is hypoallergenic and says it is trusted by healthcare practitioners.

This contains a lower dosage of choline and may be helpful for those who only require a little extra choline in their diets.

At 250 mg per serving and 60 capsules per bottle, this best choline supplement offers good value for its quality and quantity.

This product may support memory, attention, and focus.

The reviews say it has timely delivery and a product they would order again.

Nootropics Depot Alpha-GPC

This Alpha-GPC supplement is in-house tested for purity.

This choline product may help with cognition and memory enhancement. It is also suggested that it will help rebuild cell membranes that have broken down, as well as offer the benefit of increased exercise performance.

This contains 150mg of choline per serving and up to 60 servings of Alpha-GPC capsules.

Reviews on this supplement say that this is the perfect dosage of Alpha-GPC.

As was mentioned before, Alpha-GPC choline is suggested to be a very powerful ingredient in preserving cognitive function, especially in stroke victims and those who have dementia.

Double Wood Alpha-GPC

This is another Double Wood supplement. Double Wood is a very popular supplement supplier for both quality and cost-effectiveness, as well as purity, and safety.

This Alpha-GPC supplement claims to support memory, motivation, focus, and energy.

As with the other Double Wood choline supplement, this one is non-GMO, soy—and gluten-free, and made in the USA.

This supplement says to take 1-2 per day for best results.

Reviews say it is great for fatigue and boosts mental sharpness. Some reviews suggest taking a half dose a few times before taking a full dose.

NusaPure Choline Bitratrate

This product is organic and made in the USA; this supplement is manufactured in a facility that is FDA inspected and Good Management Practices certified.

The manufacturer is a small, family-owned company.

These capsules are easy to swallow and have ingredients with clinical support.

They are also third-party tested. With 325 mg of choline, this supplement is considered very good as a prenatal vitamin for nursing women. It also claims to support the cognitive function and brain health of adults and seniors. There are 200 vegetarian capsules per bottle. The recommended dosage is two capsules per day.

Reviews on this product say that it is of superior quality. The choline helped reviewers avoid fatty liver disease, and they also claim mental sharpness benefits. There are many very pleased reviews. 

Bulk Supplements Choline Bitartrate

This best choline supplement offers a budget-friendly way to get the benefits of choline, including cardiovascular support and cell membrane development during pregnancy. 

This supplement claims to help with athletic endurance, heart health, and mental wellness. It is lab-tested, and one 750mg capsule of choline is suggested daily.

The reviews claim that this product is amazing and that it helps with issues such as anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The reviewers claim to have more mental clarity and the ability to sleep and focus.

Nature's Way Choline Bitartrate

According to reviews, this choline supplement has helped some people with brain fog and also symptoms of fatty liver disease. 

It claims to have an advanced absorption rate and improve cellular health.

As was mentioned before, choline bitartrate is one of the best choline supplement types for overall health.

Choline bitartrate is not extremely popular as a nootropic, but it is a very common choice for liver health. 

This supplement contains 500 mg servings, which could last up to 100 days.

The reviews on this supplement state that it is an inexpensive source of choline to help liver health. Most of the reviews were very pleased with this product. It is quality and inexpensive.

Nested Choline Bitartrate

This choline supplement may help promote overall brain health and memory, and can also support prenatal brain development. 

Nested Choline Bitartrate is vegan, vegetarian, non-GMO, and third-party tested.

According to Nested, this supplement will help with brain development and maintenance and assist pregnant and nursing mothers. It also claims to support overall health and wellness. This supplement is also GMP-certified.

This supplement consists of 250 mg tablets; the suggested serving size is two tablets, leading to 500 mg of extra choline daily.

This best choline supplement has many reviews that state it has mental clarity benefits, ADHD relief, and reduced brain fog.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about choline supplements and choosing the best one.

Why Should You Take a Choline Supplement?

Choline is an essential nutrient. Your body needs it for several steps in the metabolism process. All animals and plants require choline to maintain structural integrity. Choline also plays a role in gene expression, mood, memory, and muscle control.

Taking a choline supplement can help promote the proper functioning of the nervous system.

You could experience liver damage, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and muscle damage if you have a choline deficiency.

What is the Best Choline Supplement Brand?

Our picks for our favorite choline supplement brands are listed above. Our picks for the best choline supplements include:

  • Double Wood Phosphatidylcholine
  • Thorne Phosphatidylcholine
  • Absonutrix Citicoline
  • Klaire Labs Citicoline
  • Nootropics Depot Alpha-GPC
  • Double Wood Alpha-GPC
  • NusaPure Choline Bitartrate
  • Bulk Supplements Choline Bitartrate
  • Nature’s Way Choline Bitartrate
  • Nested Choline Bitartrate

What Is the Best Type of Choline Supplement?

There are four main types of choline supplements.

Choline and choline bitartrate are grouped together and are usually the least expensive. These choline supplements help the liver and can boost your blood level if you’re deficient. The downside of these inexpensive choline supplements is that they won’t provide nervous system support like other types.

CDP-choline, also called citicoline and Alpha GPC, is a choline supplement ideal for brain health and nervous system support. It’s also more bioavailable than many other types.

What Is the Best Type of Choline Supplement for Pregnant Women?

Taking a choline supplement can be very important for pregnant women.

In one study of 180,000 pregnant women, higher blood levels of choline seemed to have a protective effect against potential neural tube defects. In 2013, a study found that pregnant women with lower dietary choline levels had an increased risk of babies with neural tube defects and cleft palate or lip.

Having a higher choline level during pregnancy may also reduce the risk of developing diseases related to stress later in the baby’s life, such as depression, diabetes, and hypertension.

If you’re pregnant, you should aim to take a choline supplement with a dose of at least 450 mg. The particular type isn’t as important as getting choline.

Check your prenatal supplement to make sure it includes choline.

Final Thoughts 

Choline is a necessary nutrient for all people.

Some may take in enough from their diets, but others may need a supplement. If you need a choline supplement, these ten listed options are very good.

This article is about the best choline supplements. Still, it is not a supplement for your doctor’s advice, so please consult your doctor or medical professional about taking any supplements, including choline.

Feel free to contact us to let us know about your experiences with choline and choline supplements.

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author avatar
Ashley Sutphin Watkins
Ashley Sutphin Watkins is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She's a medical content writer, journalist and an avid researcher of all things related to health and wellness. Ashley lives near the Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee with her family.
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