A clinical study found that a choline ingredient marketed as VitaCholine by Balchem had effects on brain network efficiency, as measured by fMRI. These findings were published in Nutrients. According to the authors, there were significant effects on evaluated measures of working memory-related brain activation and functional connectivity.

The study recruited 20 healthy postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 65, who were instructed to consume either 1650 mg of choline or a placebo before undertaking a working memory exercise (N-back test) during an fMRI scan. Compared to placebo, choline intake appeared to significantly increase functional connectivity within the working memory network to optimize brain efficiency at three hours post-consumption.

“Estrogen is a key driver of choline production in the body, so when levels of the hormone drop during menopause, women are at increased risk of choline deficiency,” said Julie A. Dumas, professor at the University of Vermont and lead author of the study. “This is important because choline is needed to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in cognitive functions such as mood, memory, and attention. Previous choline research has commonly relied on self-reported scores or assessments from participants, but what makes this study unique is that it utilized functional MRI scans and working memory exercises to capture an objective view of how brain networks respond to choline intake after menopause, gaining valuable insights into how targeted supplementation may support a pivotal moment of a woman’s life.”

Previous research has demonstrated choline’s role in supporting fetal brain and cognitive development during pregnancy and lactation, with benefits extending beyond birth.

Additional research has demonstrated that choline supplementation may support cognition later in life.

“Investing in women’s health research is something we feel very strongly about at Balchem,” said Eric Ciappio, Phd, RD, senior manager of nutrition science at Balchem Human Health and Nutrition. “In the past, so much of nutrition science was largely shaped by male-centric studies and the assumption that these findings were also applicable to women’s health. This study is part of an essential shift toward a greater understanding of women’s specific nutritional needs and how we as an industry can better support them at every stage of life. VitaCholine is our premium, high-quality choline ingredient with a robust clinical track record, and it continues to be at the heart of pioneering research. We’re excited about these preliminary results and are already building on them with further research underway.”