Choline
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
2-Hydroxyethyl(trimethyl)azanium | |
| Preferred IUPAC name
2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium | |
Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| 1736748 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| DrugBank | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.487 |
| EC Number |
|
| E number | E1001 (additional chemicals) |
| 324597 | |
| KEGG | |
PubChem CID |
|
| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| |
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| Properties | |
| [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+ | |
| Molar mass | 104.173 g·mol−1 |
| Structure | |
| Tetrahedral at the nitrogen atom | |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards |
Corrosive |
| GHS labelling: | |
| Danger | |
| H314 | |
| P260, P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P363, P405, P501 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose) |
3–6 g/kg (rat, oral) |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | 4 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
Choline is a cation with the chemical formula [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+. Choline forms various salts, such as choline chloride and choline bitartrate. An essential nutrient for animals, it is a structural component of phospholipids and cell membranes.
Choline is used to synthesize acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in muscle control and numerous functions of the nervous system. Choline is involved in early development of the brain, gene expression, cell membrane signaling, and brain metabolism.
Although humans synthesize choline in the liver, the amount produced naturally is insufficient to meet cellular functions, requiring that some choline be obtained from foods or dietary supplements. Foods rich in choline include meats, poultry, eggs, and other animal-based products, cruciferous vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Choline is present in breast milk and is commonly added as an ingredient to baby foods.