Friday May 30, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Choline is an essential nutrient and it plays an essential role in human physiology.  A case report published this year in Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that this nutrient may have a previously largely unpublicised, yet well desired effect - boosting men's and women's libido and and or sexual urges.

The report tells readers a story about a 79-year old man who used choline to treat memory loss or mild cognitive impairment.  After six weeks of choline supplementation, the man unexpectedly experienced a strong increase in libido with sexual urges.  The symptom was so strong that the authors considered the increase pathological.

The man sought medical attention and he was advised to stop taking the choline supplement and then within five days of withdrawal of this nutrient, the hypersexuality disappeared.  This indicates that it is choline that caused his hypersexuality.

The authors suggest in their report "Since hypersexuality may be an underreported and overlooked adverse effect of drugs and dietary supplements acting on the cholinergic pathway, this should be considered when treating and counselling patients with inappropriate sexual behavior."

Can choline really result in hypersexuality?  The correct answer is yes.  Choline along with vitamin B5 are used in male performance enhancement products to help those who may have sexual dysfunction like erectile dysfunction.  Choline and vitamin B5 with help from acetyltransferase can form acetyl-choline which is an important neurotransmitter involved in sexual behavior.   Acetylcholine is also important for female sexual function.

In addition to choline, those who want to boost their sexual life may also consider many other nutrition supplements including L-arginine, garlic, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, mucuna pruriens, tribulus, DHEA, muira puama, vitamin B5, ginkgo biloba, and Chinese red ginseng.   A performance enhancement product often contains multiple active ingredients.

Healthy men and women can also benefit  from taking choline supplements.  Choline can be used to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and pregnancy complications like neural tube defects and cognitive functioning (memory).  The essential nutrient can also be used to treat diseases including dementia (Alzheimer's disease).

Many men and women who use a restricted diet may suffer choline deficiency and they may benefit from taking choline supplements.  Phosphatidylcholine supplements are common, but adults need 4,200 mg or 4.2 grams of phosphitidyl choline in order to provide 550 mg of choline.

Choline is fairly safe to use.  Tolerable upper intake level for choline is 1.0 gram for children 1 to 8 years, 2.0 grams for children 9 to 13 years, 3.0 grams for adolescents 14 to 18 years and 3.5 grams for adults 19 years and older.  (David Liu, PHD)

Reference

Rocco Salvatore Calabrò, Francesco Cordici, Carmelo Genovese, Placido Bramanti, Choline Associated Hypersexuality in a 79-Year-Old Man, Archives of Sexual Behavior , January 2014, Volume 43, Issue 1, pp 187-189