膽鹼,英文名為 Choline,屬於有機水溶性化合物,但是它不是維生素也非礦物質,由於它的結構與維生素 B 群相似,因此,時常被歸類在同一類,而它在1998年被認定為必需營養素,肝臟、大腦發育、肌肉、神經功能與新陳代謝的維持,它在其中都扮演重要的角色,原因在於身體需要它來幫助磷脂醯膽鹼(Phosphatidylcholine,PC)與鞘磷脂 (Sphingomyelin)的完整性,而且不僅動物細胞需要,連植物也須要它的輔助。
1. Sara Berg, MS. (2017) AMA backs global health experts in calling infertility a disease. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
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