This review explores how maternal gut microbiota influence fetal development through nutrient metabolism and epigenetic regulation. It emphasizes the role of choline, an essential nutrient for fetal development, which is metabolized by maternal gut bacteria. This microbial metabolism can lead to choline deficiency and the production of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a
This 2022 study investigated the effects of berberine (BBR) on atherosclerosis through modulation of the gut microbiota. BBR was found to reduce the production of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite associated with atherosclerosis, by down-regulating the choline-TMA-TMAO pathway. The mechanism involves BBR’s metabolite, dihydroberberine (dhBBR), which inhibits key enzymes in
This in vitro and animal study explored the role of the PNPLA8-PNPLA7 enzymatic axis in hepatic phosphatidylcholine (PC) catabolism and its impact on methyl group metabolism. The study found that PNPLA7-deficient and PNPLA8-deficient mice exhibited decreased hepatic glycerophosphocholine (GPC), choline, and methionine cycle metabolites, leading to metabolic imbalances such as
This observational study examined how genetic polymorphisms impact dietary choline requirements and their prevalence across different ethnic and racial groups. Researchers analyzed 200 SNPs in 10 choline metabolism-related genes among 79 individuals on a low-choline diet. The study found that specific SNPs, such as PEMT rs12325817, increased the risk of
This review article explores how genetic variations affect choline metabolism and dietary requirements. It highlights that men and postmenopausal women are more likely to experience liver or muscle dysfunction when deprived of dietary choline, while premenopausal women may resist choline deficiency due to estrogen-induced expression of the PEMT gene, which
This systematic review explores the role of choline metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver cancer, highlighting its key pathways: oxidation, phosphorylation, and acetylation. Choline’s oxidation produces betaine, which aids in methylation and epigenetic regulation, while phosphorylation impacts lipid metabolism and transport. Acetylation results in the formation of
This randomized controlled trial investigated how genetic variations in folate-metabolizing enzymes (MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, and MTHFD1) influence choline metabolism in women, assessing whether higher choline intake could mitigate these effects. Women with genetic impairments in folate metabolism showed increased reliance on dietary choline for phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis, reducing availability for
