A water- soluble nutrient sometimes regarded as part of the B Group vitamins. Regarded as essential in some animals it can be manufactured from the amino acid Methionine in the liver and as part of the molecule acetylcholine plays a role in transmitting nerve impulses as well as formation of phospholipid cell membranes. Neither Choline deficiency or signs of excess have ever been described in horses and it may not even be an essential nutrient in the horse. Choline is widely included in manufactured feeds in the form of Choline Hydrochloride. Claims for choline include curing fatty liver, assisting transport of nutrients across cell membranes, keeping mucus membranes moist and assisting horses with recovery from damage to the central nervous system. Unfortunately, there is no credible evidence to support these or any other claims for choline in the horse.
