The Importance of Gut Microbiota on Choline Metabolism in Neurodegenerative Diseases

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 14; no. 11; p. 1345
• Main Authors: Eslami, Majid, Alibabaei, Farnaz, Babaeizad, Ali, Banihashemian, Seyedeh Zahra, Mazandarani, Mahdi, Hoseini, Aref, Ramezankhah, Mohammad, Oksenych, Valentyn, Yousefi, Bahman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.11.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Acetylcholine; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - microbiology; Alzheimer's disease; Animals; Bacteria; Brain research; Cardiovascular disease; Choline; Choline - metabolism; Choline oxidase; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Digestive system; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal tract; Gut microbiota; Humans; Immune response; Immunosuppressive agents; Intestinal microflora; Lecithin; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Liver; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Memory; Mental disorders; Mental health; Metabolism; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); N-Methyltransferase; Nervous system diseases; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neuroprotection; Nutrition research; Oxidases; Phosphatidylcholine; Phosphatidylethanolamine; Phospholipids; Phosphorylation; Physiological aspects; Presenilin 1; Proteins; Review; Spatial memory; Supplements; Tau protein; TMAO; Transferases; Well being; β-Amyloid; Iran; TMAO; microbiota; choline; neurodegenerative diseases; metabolism
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom14111345

The gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that influences digestion, immune response, metabolism, and has been linked to health and well-being. Choline is essential for neurotransmitters, lipid transport, cell-membrane signaling, methyl-group metabolism and is believed to have neuroprotective properties. It is found in two forms, water-soluble and lipid-soluble, and its metabolism is different. Long-term choline deficiency is associated with many diseases, and supplements are prescribed for improved health. Choline supplements can improve cognitive function in adults but not significantly. Choline is a precursor of phospholipids and an acetylcholine neurotransmitter precursor and can be generated de novo from phosphatidylcholine via phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase and choline oxidase. Choline supplementation has been found to have a beneficial effect on patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), by increasing amyloid-β, thioflavin S, and tau hyper-phosphorylation. Choline supplementation has been shown to reduce amyloid-plaque load and develop spatial memory in an APP/PS1 mice model of AD. Choline is necessary for normative and improved function of brain pathways and can reduce amyloid-β deposition and microgliosis. Clinical research suggests that early neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) can benefit from a combination of choline supplements and the drugs currently used to treat NDs in order to improve memory performance and synaptic functioning.