Reference nutritional values for choline, an essential nutrient that plays an important role in the human body, particularly for keeping the liver working normally, have been established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and were published on Wednesday 17 August.
For various categories of age and population, adequate daily amounts of this key nutrient as laid down by EFSA’s scientific group for diet, nutrition and allergy products (the NDA group) are 400 mg for adults and adolescents aged 15 to 17; 130 mg to 340 mg for children from 1 to 14; 160 mg for infants from 7 to 11 months; 480 mg for pregnant women and 520 mg for nursing mothers.
Choline shortages can have undesirable effects such as fatty degeneration of the liver and lesions in the liver or muscles. Food sources of choline include eggs, meat, fish, wholegrain cereals, vegetables, fruit, fats and oils.
This EFSA scientific opinion is based on food consumption data from national investigations into healthy individuals in the EU and assessment of data on the quantity of choline needed to resupply the body at times of shortage, EFSA states.
A preliminary version of the opinion was put to a public consultation at the start of the year. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)