Dietary choline intake in European and non-european populations: current status and future trends-a narrative review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing observational studies and trials without formal meta-analysis
PubMed 38943150 · doi:10.1186/s12937-024-00970-0
What was done
A narrative review of observational studies and randomized clinical trials published between January 2016 and April 2024, identified via PubMed and Scopus databases. The review assessed choline intake levels, assessment methods, dietary databases, and primary food sources across European and non-European populations.
What was found
In most European studies after 2015, choline intake did not exceed 80% of the Adequate Intake standard value. Mean choline intake for adults across European countries was 310 mg/day (highest in Polish men at 519 mg/day), while non-European mean intakes were 293 mg/day and above. Main reported dietary sources were animal products, primarily eggs and meat. Future projections for the EU suggest an 8% increase in egg intake relative to 2008-2019 and a meat intake reduction of approximately 2 kg per capita between 2018 and 2030.
Why it matters
Demonstrates that adult choline intake, including in pregnant women, remains broadly below recommended thresholds and may be influenced by shifting consumption patterns between animal and plant-based foods.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total number of studies or individuals reviewed. Narrative review methodology lacks quantitative meta-analytic pooling, risk-of-bias evaluation, and standardized dietary assessment methods across heterogeneous source studies.
Cited by
- supports A single egg contains approximately 125 milligrams of choline.