39-4 |
Nutritional and functional benefits of encapsulated choline salts |
P. H. RICHARDSON, P. Siuta-Cruce, and L. Hernandez. Balchem Encapsulates, 2007 Rte. 284, PO Box 175, Slate Hill, NY 10973 Choline is an essential nutrient; and although not well known in the general public, its low awareness does not reflect its importance. Choline supplementation has been convincingly linked to benefits in memory, heart function, liver function, and brain development. Based in part on a report from the Institute of Medicine (1998) establishing dietary reference intakes of 550mg/day for adult men and 425mg/day for adult women, choline recently became the first nutrient with a content claim authorized under the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act. The richest sources of choline tend to be foods high in fat and cholesterol, like eggs and meat, where the benefits may be outweighed by other health concerns. Thanks to fortification, new healthier sources of choline are being developed, and with the new labeling guidelines the FDA has made it easier to identify these foods. For supplementation, choline bitartrate and choline chloride are commercially available. Whereas choline bitartrate is relatively stable in moist environments, the more potent choline chloride salt is very hygroscopic, often requiring careful storage and handling. Stability as well as controlled delivery can be achieved through microencapsulation. This presentation will describe the chemistry, origin, and highlight the current nutritional benefits of choline. The physical properties of choline chloride and microencapsulated choline chloride will be presented. Results of stability testing in humid conditions and aqueous solutions will be shown along with a description of the microencapsulate. In addition, the role of microencapsulated choline, particularly with respect to bioavailability will be discussed.
Session 39, Natural health products and dietary supplements
|