adriana268 wrote:hello! I recently completed a 23 and me genetic analysis and found I have a mutation in my mthfd1 (and PEMT) that predisposes me to choline deficiency. Seeing that acetylcholine is essential for sleep, emotional well being and has an important role in alzheimer, I was wondering if anyone here takes choline supplementation, has the gene or has more information of this connection. I can't seem to find much online. I've always suffered from sleep issues and some mental fog so I am wondering if this is related
HNorthrup wrote:In Julian Whitaker, MD's natural health newsletters back in 2003 and 2005, he stated that, if we can't get enough choline from our diet (e.g., chicken breast, salmon, eggs), he recommended taking phosphatidylcholine or alpha-GPC instead of choline. Here's an excerpt:
"...to ensure optimal intake, nothing beats choline supplements. The best of these is phosphatidylcholine
(PC), a water-soluble form that is easier on the gastrointestinal tract than straight choline. There’s a new form
of PC called alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (alpha-GPC) that is actually the neurons’ preferred form of choline.
When levels of acetylcholine are low, PC in the cell membranes is broken down into alpha-GPC, which is then used
to create acetylcholine. Supplementation with PC has been shown in many studies to improve choline metabolism,
boost brain levels of acetylcholine, and improve alertness, information processing, and other measures of
cognitive function. In addition to protecting against age-related cognitive impairment, GPC also helps mitigate the devastating effects of brain trauma, stroke, and Alzheimer’s."
Hello HNorthrup and andriana268,
Thank you for your contributions regarding sleep and choline. The ApoE4.Info community is glad to have you both here! I hope that you are finding a wealth of information and the supportive community helpful. HNorthrup, since this is your first post, I'd like to welcome you by highlighting a few features of the website that might be useful to you.
You both may be interested in using the search tool and our Wiki section to find more information about sleep and choline. The search tool is located in the top right-hand side of the webpage and can be accessed by selecting the magnifying glass icon next to your username. There is also a Wiki section on
sleep 4.6 which is pertinent to your topic.
You may also find the
Primer helpful, as it includes researched-based prevention strategies.
Additionally, you may want to check out the
How-to Guide which includes tricks and tips for getting the most out of the discussion forums. For example, when replying to a post, begin by selecting the quotation mark icon in the top right-hand corner of the post that you are replying to. That way, the original poster will be notified of your reply.
And finally, if you would like to browse the stories of other members, check out
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I hope you will continue to find the site helpful on your health journey. If there is anything else you want to know and can't find it on the site, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Warmly,
Rosanne