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PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - TOXICOLOGY - DRUG INTERACTIONS

Choline [Bitartrate] (C H NO )
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Although choline is not by strict definition a vitamin, it is an essential nutrient (Brody, 1999).
The initial recognition of choline as a significant dietary factor depended on its capacity to
reduce the fat content of the liver of diabetic dogs (Goodman & Gilman, 1996). The majority of
the body’s choline is found in specialized fat molecules known as phospholipids. Choline and
its metabolites serve a number of vital biological functions such as structural integrity of cell
membranes, cell signalling, nerve impulse transmission, lipid transport and metabolism (Groff
et al., 1995). Choline deficiency in animals can result in weight gain, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis
and in severe cases, vomiting and death. Other effects of a choline deficiency include reduced
plasma choline concentration, thymus atrophy, decreased growth rate, impaired reproduction,
and hemorrhagic renal lesions. A chronic deficiency in dogs has been reported to cause
anaemia, duodenal ulcers, liver damage and oedema (Lewis, 2005).

TOXICOLOGY Toxicity for choline has not been documented in dogs and cats when administered orally in therapeutic doses.
However, adverse effects have been reported for levels of choline chloride equivalent to 3 times the choline
requirement (NRC, 1987). LD for choline bitartrate has not been documented. Oral LD for choline chloride is
50
50
3,900 mg/kg of body weight in mice (NRC, 1987).

DRUG Validated interactions studies do not exist for choline preparations. Clinical interactions with
INTERACTIONS other drugs have not been reported. However, in animal model, methotrexate administration
has shown to deplete choline (Shils et al., 2006).

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