Choline is an essential nutrient that plays a foundational role in brain health, liver function, methylation, and neurotransmitter synthesis. It serves as both a structural building block for cell membranes and a biochemical precursor for several key molecules, including acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter critical for memory, focus, and muscle control) and betaine (trimethylglycine), a major methyl donor in the body.
On the Neurotransmitter XL panel, choline reflects the body’s capacity to maintain membrane integrity, neurotransmitter balance, and methylation efficiency. Adequate choline ensures optimal communication between neurons, healthy liver metabolism, and efficient detoxification through the methionine cycle, which depends on methyl donors for proper function.
Because the brain and liver are among the most metabolically active organs, choline status is often a key indicator of both cognitive performance and cellular energy balance.
Choline is converted into acetylcholine, one of the brain’s most important neurotransmitters, by the enzyme choline acetyltransferase. Acetylcholine governs attention, learning, memory, and muscle contraction. Low choline availability can directly limit acetylcholine synthesis, affecting mental sharpness, memory retention, and focus.
Choline contributes to the formation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin, key phospholipids that maintain cell membrane integrity and support neuronal communication. Phosphatidylcholine also plays a central role in lipid transport, helping prevent fat accumulation in the liver and promoting proper cell signaling and repair.
Through its oxidation into betaine, choline participates in methyl group donation—a vital process for DNA methylation, gene regulation, and neurotransmitter metabolism. Betaine donates methyl groups via the betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) pathway, which converts homocysteine into methionine, sustaining S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) production.
This connection makes choline essential for maintaining balanced homocysteine levels and efficient methylation alongside folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6.
Choline is indispensable for liver health, as it supports the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine required for VLDL (very-low-density lipoprotein) export. Without enough choline, fat accumulates in the liver, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and impaired detoxification.
By promoting membrane fluidity and supporting methylation-dependent ATP synthesis, choline indirectly maintains mitochondrial efficiency and protects against oxidative stress.
Within the nervous system, choline serves as a link between neurochemical communication and metabolic stability:
Acetylcholine production: Crucial for cognitive function, learning, and REM sleep regulation.
Methylation of neurotransmitters: Through betaine and SAM support, choline assists in dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline metabolism.
Membrane composition: Phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin ensure optimal receptor sensitivity and signal transmission between neurons.
Deficiency in choline can manifest as mental fatigue, brain fog, irritability, or low focus, reflecting both neurotransmitter and membrane instability.
Choline is found primarily in animal-based foods such as eggs, fish, chicken, and liver. Plant-based diets, especially vegan or low-protein diets, may provide inadequate amounts. The body can synthesize small amounts of choline via the PEMT enzyme (phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase), but this pathway alone is insufficient to meet full metabolic demands.
Chronic stress, toxin exposure, or inflammation increases the need for methyl donors, depleting choline stores faster than they can be replenished. This can occur even with normal dietary intake.
PEMT polymorphisms reduce endogenous phosphatidylcholine synthesis.
BHMT and MTHFR variants can impair methylation efficiency, causing over-reliance on choline as a methyl donor.
These genetic factors increase susceptibility to low choline levels, especially when dietary intake or B-vitamin status is suboptimal.
Because choline works closely with B12, folate, and B6 in the methylation cycle, deficiencies in these vitamins can reduce the efficiency of both homocysteine recycling and SAM regeneration, indirectly depleting choline reserves.
Poor liver function or bile flow impairs both choline synthesis and absorption. Gut inflammation or dysbiosis may further limit uptake and increase degradation, reducing systemic availability.
Low choline levels can affect multiple systems, particularly the brain, liver, and methylation pathways. Common symptoms include:
Cognitive and Neurological Signs:
Brain fog, memory loss, or poor focus
Fatigue or lack of mental clarity
Difficulty concentrating or learning
Low mood or irritability
Muscle tension or weakness (due to low acetylcholine)
Metabolic and Systemic Signs:
Elevated homocysteine levels
Fatty liver or impaired fat metabolism
Digestive sluggishness or bloating
Poor detoxification (sensitivity to caffeine, alcohol, or medications)
Hormonal imbalance, particularly estrogen dominance in women
Choline deficiency may also worsen oxidative stress and mitochondrial strain, leading to symptoms of chronic fatigue or “wired-but-tired” energy patterns.
| Related Marker | Interpretation Insight |
|---|---|
| Betaine | Low betaine with low choline suggests poor conversion and reduced methylation support. |
| SAM / SAH Ratio | Low ratio indicates slowed methylation due to insufficient methyl donors. |
| Homocysteine | Elevated levels confirm reduced choline- and betaine-dependent methylation efficiency. |
| Methionine | Low methionine suggests impaired homocysteine-to-methionine conversion. |
| Methylmalonic Acid (B12 Status) | Elevated values reflect B12 deficiency, worsening methylation inefficiency. |
| Liver Markers (e.g., Suberic Acid, Citrate) | May indicate mitochondrial stress or fatty liver related to low choline. |
This integrative view helps determine whether low choline results from dietary insufficiency, poor liver function, or increased methylation demand.
Persistently low choline levels can have widespread metabolic and neurological effects:
Cognitive decline and poor memory (low acetylcholine availability)
Fatty liver disease (NAFLD) due to reduced VLDL formation
Elevated homocysteine and cardiovascular risk
Low SAM and sluggish methylation
Hormonal imbalances and poor detoxification
Mitochondrial and redox dysfunction, contributing to fatigue
In pregnancy, low choline intake can impact fetal brain development, making adequate choline particularly important for maternal health.
Include choline-rich foods such as:
Eggs (especially yolks)
Liver and fish (salmon, cod)
Chicken, turkey, and beef
Soybeans, legumes, quinoa, and cruciferous vegetables (for plant-based sources)
Ensure sufficient intake of:
Folate (5-MTHF)
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin)
Vitamin B6 (P5P)
Riboflavin (B2) and magnesium
These cofactors support choline’s methylation and homocysteine-lowering functions.
Include antioxidants (vitamin C, NAC, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid) to protect against oxidative damage.
Avoid excessive alcohol or refined fats that tax hepatic methylation.
Consider liver-supportive botanicals like milk thistle, dandelion root, or artichoke extract under supervision.
If dietary intake is low or metabolic demand is high, choline supplementation may be beneficial.
Common forms include:
Alpha-GPC or Citicoline (CDP-Choline) — enhance brain acetylcholine and cognition
Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin form) — supports liver and cell membranes
Choline bitartrate — supports general methylation and liver function
Typical doses range from 250–1,000 mg/day, adjusted for dietary intake and clinical need.
Reduce lifestyle and environmental stressors that increase methylation demand, and ensure adequate antioxidant support to preserve choline-dependent pathways.
Choline is essential for healthy brain function, liver metabolism, and methylation balance. Low levels indicate reduced acetylcholine synthesis, weakened liver detoxification, and slowed methylation, often tied to poor diet, B-vitamin deficiency, or genetic inefficiency in methylation pathways.
On the Neurotransmitter XL panel, choline levels help reveal the body’s capacity to regulate neurotransmitter activity, lipid metabolism, and energy production.
Your medical lab tests hold vital information about your health. Our tools help you understand what's going on and how to take action.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Low choline levels on the Neurotransmitter XL panel indicate a deficiency in one of the body’s most essential nutrients for neurotransmitter synthesis, liver function, and methylation balance. Choline serves as a building block for acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for memory, learning, attention, and muscle control, and is a critical precursor to phosphatidylcholine and betaine (trimethylglycine)—molecules central to cell membrane health, detoxification, and methyl group donation.
When choline is insufficient, the body’s ability to synthesize acetylcholine, maintain membrane integrity, and support the methionine cycle is compromised. This can manifest as fatigue, poor focus, low mood, and liver dysfunction, often accompanied by biochemical evidence of methylation slowdown, elevated homocysteine, or fat accumulation in the liver.
Low choline is particularly important to address early, as it often represents a foundational metabolic deficiency that disrupts both neurological performance and systemic detoxification.
Choline is converted into acetylcholine by the enzyme choline acetyltransferase, a reaction that underlies learning, memory retention, and neuromuscular coordination. When choline levels fall, acetylcholine production drops, leading to symptoms such as brain fog, memory lapses, poor focus, and low motivation.
Choline oxidation produces betaine, which donates methyl groups via the betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) pathway to regenerate methionine and sustain S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) production.
Low choline therefore weakens methylation efficiency, resulting in:
Elevated homocysteine levels (a marker of impaired methyl group recycling)
Reduced SAM, limiting neurotransmitter synthesis and detoxification
Sluggish catecholamine metabolism, causing stress intolerance or mood swings
Phosphatidylcholine, synthesized from choline, is essential for packaging and exporting fats from the liver as VLDL particles. Inadequate choline causes lipid buildup in hepatocytes, leading to fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) and reduced toxin elimination. This can result in sluggish digestion, poor fat tolerance, and hormonal imbalance due to decreased estrogen clearance.
Choline is a major component of cell membranes. When levels are low, phospholipid synthesis is disrupted, compromising cell signaling, membrane fluidity, and mitochondrial protection. Over time, this can contribute to fatigue, oxidative stress, and reduced cellular repair capacity.
The body’s choline requirement is high, and synthesis alone cannot meet demand. Diets low in eggs, fish, meat, and dairy—or strict vegan and vegetarian diets—often lead to choline insufficiency.
Chronic stress, inflammation, toxin exposure, and high oxidative load accelerate methyl group turnover, depleting choline reserves faster than they can be replenished.
Choline and B vitamins (B6, B12, folate) work synergistically in methylation. Deficiencies in these vitamins impair homocysteine conversion and SAM regeneration, increasing choline dependence.
PEMT polymorphisms reduce phosphatidylcholine synthesis in the liver.
BHMT or MTHFR variants increase reliance on choline-derived methyl groups for homocysteine clearance.
Such genetic factors heighten the need for dietary or supplemental choline.
Fatty liver, bile insufficiency, or gut dysbiosis can interfere with choline absorption and conversion to phosphatidylcholine, perpetuating deficiency.
Cognitive and Emotional Symptoms
Brain fog and forgetfulness
Poor concentration or low motivation
Mood swings or mild depression
Difficulty learning or processing information
Muscle fatigue or weakness (due to reduced acetylcholine)
Metabolic and Systemic Symptoms
Fatty liver or upper abdominal fullness
Elevated homocysteine
Hormonal imbalance (especially estrogen dominance)
Sensitivity to alcohol, caffeine, or medications
Low energy and oxidative stress symptoms
Low choline often appears together with low betaine and low SAM, reflecting a methylation system struggling to recycle homocysteine and maintain neurotransmitter balance.
| Related Marker | Interpretation Insight |
|---|---|
| Betaine | Low choline with low betaine suggests reduced choline oxidation and methyl donor depletion. |
| SAM / SAH Ratio | A low ratio reflects insufficient methylation capacity due to inadequate choline-derived methyl groups. |
| Homocysteine | Often elevated when choline and betaine are low, indicating methylation inefficiency. |
| Methionine | Low methionine points to impaired homocysteine-to-methionine conversion. |
| Methylmalonic Acid (B12 Status) | Elevated levels further impair methylation, exacerbating choline demand. |
| Liver Stress Markers (e.g., Citrate, Suberic Acid) | Elevated values may indicate mitochondrial or hepatic overload due to low phosphatidylcholine synthesis. |
When interpreted in this biochemical context, low choline provides critical insight into how neurotransmitter, liver, and methylation pathways intersect under nutritional or metabolic strain.
Persistently low choline levels can lead to:
Cognitive decline and memory impairment (low acetylcholine)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Elevated homocysteine and cardiovascular risk
Neurotransmitter imbalance (low dopamine and serotonin methylation)
Mood disorders, fatigue, and low stress resilience
Hormonal imbalance and sluggish detoxification
Because choline deficiency affects both neurological and systemic processes, addressing it can yield broad improvements in energy, cognition, and emotional stability.
Focus on foods rich in choline:
Egg yolks (one of the richest sources)
Liver and fish (cod, salmon, sardines)
Chicken, turkey, and beef
Soy, lentils, quinoa, and cruciferous vegetables (for plant-based options)
Optimize cofactors to reduce methylation stress:
Folate (5-MTHF), vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), vitamin B6 (P5P)
Riboflavin (B2) and magnesium for enzyme activity
Betaine (TMG) or SAMe supplementation to enhance methylation efficiency
Support phosphatidylcholine synthesis with lecithin or phosphatidylcholine supplements.
Use antioxidants (vitamin C, NAC, alpha-lipoic acid, glutathione) to protect hepatic cells.
Reduce alcohol, refined sugar, and processed fat intake to lessen liver strain.
Supplementation may be beneficial when dietary intake or conversion is insufficient.
Common forms:
Citicoline (CDP-Choline) – enhances brain acetylcholine and focus
Alpha-GPC – highly bioavailable, supports cognition and energy
Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) – supports liver and cell membranes
Typical doses range from 250–1,000 mg/day, individualized to need.
Chronic oxidative burden accelerates choline depletion. Address inflammation through:
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)
Antioxidant support (CoQ10, NAC, vitamin E)
Stress management (sleep, mindfulness, moderate exercise)
Low choline levels indicate reduced acetylcholine synthesis, weakened methylation capacity, and impaired liver detoxification—a combination that can manifest as cognitive decline, fatigue, and metabolic imbalance.
On the Neurotransmitter XL panel, evaluating choline alongside betaine, SAM, homocysteine, and B-vitamin markers helps pinpoint whether the deficiency arises from nutritional insufficiency, genetic variants, or liver dysfunction.
Guiding our users for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
$15/month
Cancel your subscription at any time.
$250/once
full premium version
$45/month
track your clients’ labs
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Guiding our users for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
Personal plans
track personal results
Professional Plan
track multiple client's results
$15/month
$250/once
own it for life
$45/month
for health professionals
Complete Plan
Unlimited Plan
$15 / month
$250 full version
Are you a health professional?
Level up your lab report analysis with our Pro plan, built for health practitioners like you.
Health Business Account
$45/month
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Unlock additional Pro plans when you sign up.
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.
Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.
With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.
For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.
Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.
For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.
Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.
You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
3-OH-Kynurenine, Adrenaline, Betaine, Carnitine, Choline, Citrate, Citrulline, Creatinine enzyme. (Urine), Cystathionine (Vitamin B6), Dopamine, GABA, Glutamate, IDO-Activity, KMO-Activity, Kynurenic acid, Kynurenine, Lactate, Methylmalonic acid (Vitamin B12), NAD (Nicotinamide- Adenine- Dinucleotide), Neopterin, Nicotinamide, Nicotinic acid, Noradrenaline, Phenylalanine, Pyruvate, Quinolinic acid, S- Adenosylmethionine, SAM/SAH Ratio, Serotonin, Suberic acid, Trimethylamine, Trimethylamine N-Oxide, Tryptophan, Tyrosine
