Choline

Balchem boosts Choline production by 50% as cognitive category drives demand

19-Dec-2023 By Stephen Daniells

Responding to growing demand for choline across the lifespan, Balchem has announced the completion of its US capacity expansion for its VitaCholine, boosting output by 50%.

Cognitive health nutrition: a niche market set to thrive in the mainstream

06-Sep-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

There's consumer demand and innovation avenues in abundance when it comes to food and drink for cognitive health but brands must educate on the more novel ingredients if these are to flourish beyond the niche audience, Mintel experts advise.

‘A wake-up call to American healthcare policy makers’: Report highlights billions in potential savings from supplements

31-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Dietary supplement regimens may reduce the direct and indirect medical costs associated with specific disease-associated medical conditions, but only $59 billion are currently being captured, potentially leaving $502 billion in additional savings that...

Study unlocks Choline’s ‘unique role’ in boosting DHA levels during pregnancy

19-May-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Maternal intake of choline, an essential brain nutrient for mother and developing child, significantly increases DHA status, more than supplementing with DHA by itself, says a new study from Cornell University.

Paper highlights safety of some weight management ingredients

10-May-2022 By Danielle Masterson

With weight loss supplements under attack in several states, researchers rebut with science. The authors of a new paper examine the safety of six ingredients, a move they hope will encourage since-based decisions.

Doubling prenatal choline intake improves cognitive performance in childhood, say scientists

05-Jan-2022 By Nicola Gordon-Seymour

There are “population-wide benefits of adding choline to a standard prenatal vitamin regimen,” according to a nutrition expert.

Study: Prenatal choline deficiency linked to mental illness, stress, and preterm birth

20-Jul-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Researchers say supplementation may be more realistic than trying to achieve enough choline through diet.

Choline plus lutein & zeaxanthin linked to better cognitive flexibility: Study

27-Jan-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Higher combined intake of choline and lutein plus zeaxanthin is associated with faster performance on a cognitive flexibility task in overweight and obese adults, says a new study that adds to a growing body of science supporting the brain health benefits...

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines support dietary supplement use

08-Jan-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Folic acid supplements for mothers, vitamin D supplements for infants, and B12 supplements for older adults are just some of the recommendations in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, but there is barely any mention of omega-3s.

Dietary guidelines report carves out role for dietary supplementation, especially in maternal nutrition

21-Jul-2020 By Hank Schultz

The USDA report that will underpin the development of the next set of Dietary Guidelines for Americans reflects a growing and welcome appreciation of the role of dietary supplements, industry observers say.

Study recommends pregnant women take additional choline during pandemic

09-Jun-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Higher prenatal choline levels may help protect the fetus's developing brain, even if the mother contracts a viral respiratory infection in early pregnancy.

Aker writes new chapter in krill story casting it as choline source

25-Mar-2020 By Hank Schultz

The new research about krill’s choline bolsters the latest iteration of this story, said Nils Hoem, PhD, Aker’s chief scientist. Choline is a natural constituent of krill oil as part of its phospholipid makeup as a part of the molecule phosphatidylcholine.

Pharmavite review supports choline, DHA role in infant brain and eye health

10-Jul-2019 By Adi Menayang

Insufficient intakes of choline and the omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may have lifelong deleterious impacts on maternal and infant health, according to a paper by researchers from Pharmavite LLC, the company behind Nature’s Made supplements.

Five superstars for liver health

12-Feb-2019 By Adi Menayang

The liver health category brought in around $31 million to dietary supplements sales across multiple sales channels, according to data from SPINS, a market research firm specializing in the natural products category. Which ingredients are taking the lead...

Notes from Nutrition 2018 in Boston

Does the micronutrient disparity in the US deserve more attention?

13-Jun-2018 By Adi Menayang

From a list of about a dozen shortfall nutrients, US government health agencies recognize only a handful as a public health concern. Some researchers and trade groups argue that this shouldn’t be the case.

NIH awards $2.6 million grant to researchers developing choline status lab test

21-Feb-2018 By Adi Menayang

Researchers at the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute have been awarded a four-year, $2.6 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to develop and validate laboratory tests to assess choline status in humans.

Kids need choline too: Supplement start-up BestCholine launches choline gummies

07-Feb-2018 By Adi Menayang

Gummies can make it easier for children to get adequate choline into their bodies, said mother and entrepreneur Sarah Kline, founder of BestCholine.

Higher choline doses during pregnancy may boost infant brain function: Cornell study

08-Jan-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Children of mothers given choline supplements during pregnancy at doses double the recommended level displayed significantly higher information processing speeds at all ages, says a new study.

Study on choline intakes suggests eggs or supplements are only way to get enough

16-Aug-2017 By Hank Schultz

A study published this month using NHANES data reinforces that choline is an underconsumed nutrient, and concludes that it is very difficult to get enough in the diet without eating eggs or using a dietary supplement.

Special edition: Cognitive health, focus & mood

Essential brain health nutrient choline flies under formulation radar

20-Jul-2017 By Hank Schultz

Choline has been an overlooked nutrient in cognitive health, one that theoretically could help forestall cognitive decline later in life, a prominent supplier says.

American Medical Association supports more choline in prenatal vitamins

26-Jun-2017 By Adi Menayang

The American Medical Association (AMA) supports an increase of choline in all prenatal vitamins to 450 mg/day, according to a resolution passed by delegates at the 2017 AMA Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this month.

Balchem: ‘The industry is starting to look at the need for choline and the opportunities with it’

17-Oct-2016 By Stephen Daniells

With over 90% of children, adults and pregnant women not getting enough choline, there is clearly a need and an opportunity for products with the essential nutrient, and the industry is starting to understand that, says Stephen Ashmead from Balchem.

Battle of the omega-3 forms: Triglycerides, ethyl esters, or phospholipids?

21-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

As the number of omega-3 sources in the market increases, including fish, krill, squid, algae, and plant, suppliers are increasingly using the omega-3 form to differentiate their products. But where does the science currently stand, which questions remain,...