Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we know how important your pet’s diet is, and how their diet can have a huge effect on their health and longevity. As part of their balanced diet, there are many vital macronutrients and micronutrients required in the correct quantities to ensure optimum health. One of the essential micronutrients required in the diet of both dogs and cats, is Choline; but why is it so important? Read on to find out!
What is choline?
Choline is an essential micronutrient; however it is neither a mineral nor a vitamin! It is a water soluble organic compound. Essential nutrients are nutrients the target species MUST consume within their diet. These nutrients are needed by the body, but the body cannot produce enough; meaning the diet needs to include them. As nutritional science has evolved over the years, move and more essential nutrients have been discovered. Choline is one of the newest discoveries in the nutrition world, being recognised as an essential micronutrient only since 1998 by the Institute of Medicine!
When reading literature, you may find Choline is grouped with B Vitamins due to its similar functions within the body.
Another important nutrient is Betaine, which is a metabolite of Choline. When Choline is metabolised, Betaine is formed, which has many health benefits such as protecting cells from osmotic stress (keeping cells perfectly hydrated, and stopping them from shrinking or swelling), and acting as a methyl donor, which plays a vital role in liver health, and is heavily involved in other major internal systems.
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Why is Choline Important?
Choline, as an essential nutrient, is extremely important. It plays a huge role in many systems within the body from cells to metabolism, to DNA, to the nervous system. Let’s take a closer look at the roles it plays in the body:
- Cell Membranes: Choline is largely responsible for supporting the integrity of cell membranes, due to its ability to create the necessary fats to keep cell structure strong.
- Cell messengers: there are a number of compounds that act as cell messengers – passing signals between cells to allow them to ‘communicate’. Choline helps to produce these compounds.
- DNA Synthesis: like Vitamins B9 (Folate) and B12 (Cobalamin), Choline is involved in the synthesis of DNA. DNA is the body’s genetic code, so it is incredibly important to keep it healthy.
- Metabolism and transport of fat and cholesterol: this mainly improves the health of the liver. Choline helps to remove cholesterol from an individual’s liver by producing the responsible substance. If your pet is deficient in Choline, fat and cholesterol can build up in the liver, which would dampen it’s functionality.
- Benefits the nervous system: when Choline combines with an acetyl group, a reaction occurs using an enzyme called choline acetyltransferase as the catalyst. The result of this reaction is the production of Acetylcholine – an important neurotransmitter. Acetylcholine plays a major role in many aspects of health including muscle movement, memory/cognitive alertness and heartbeat regulation.
- Essential for healthy pancreas: studies show that a deficiency in Choline can be linked to pancreatitis. These studies suggest that supplementation with Choline can protect pancreatic cells, and reduce the risk of pancreatitis flares. One of the main pancreatic issues in those lacking a sufficient amount of Choline, is disruption to the exocrine system.
- Methylation: probably one of the most important roles of Choline in the body is Methylation. Methylation is incredibly important as it is the process which creates the Myelin sheath; the protective layer coating nerves in the body. These nerves affect brain health, and general nervous system health throughout the body.
- Benefits during pregnancy: during pregnancy and foetal development, choline is extremely important as it aids cognitive development in the maturing foetus – this sets young puppies and kittens up for better cognitive function when born and ageing.
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How Much Choline Does My Pet Need?
Cats and dogs require different amounts of choline – in fact every species has different requirements for almost every nutrient, so it’s important that we tailor our pet’s nutrition to suit their species. With that in mind, how much choline is required for cats, and how much for dogs?
Studies suggest that adult
cats require a minimum of 800mg of Choline per kilogram of FRESH food per day, and that there is no upper tolerable limit in cats. in terms of dry food matter, this is around 3500mg/kg. Kittens may require a little more than this recommendation.
Dogs require a different amount of Choline in their diet to cats. Adult
dogs require at least 474mg per kilogram of FRESH food in their diet per day. in terms of dry matter, this value is around 2500mg/kg. Our nutritionists recommend around 800mg per kg of fresh food! Puppies may require a little extra.
Sources of Choline
When it comes to looking at pet foods on the market, most will contain Choline – however the form the choline is given in, may affect it’s efficacy. Ultra processed foods, such as dry extruded foods, may not be the best source of Choline for your pet; during the manufacture of these foods, the whole food ingredients are subject to high temperatures and multiple processing techniques which can damage nutrient quality and bioavailability. These foods are often sprayed with synthetic vitamins at he end of manufacture in order to reach minimum guidelines.
At My Pet Nutritionist, we advocate for a fresh diet, where nutrients are sought mainly through the fresh ingredients included in the recipe. Some fresh food ingredients, rich in Choline, include:
- Liver – 209mg per 50g
- Eggs (especially egg yolk!) – 147mg per egg
- Kidney – 105mg per 50g
- Cod – 74mg per 50g
- Beef – 70mg per 50g
- Pork – 43mg per 50g
- Poultry – 36mg per 50g
- Brussels Sprouts – 31mg per 50g
- Shiitake Mushrooms – 29.7mg per 50g
- Cauliflower – 22mg per 50g
- Broccoli – 16mg per 50g
- Salmon – 11mg per 50g
- Nuts (avoid peanuts and macadamia nuts) – 11mg per 20g
- Flaxseed – 8mg per 10g
- Sesame Seeds – 2.6mg per 10g
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Where Can I Find A Balanced Recipe for my Pet?
Finding a properly balanced recipe for your cat or dog can seem like such a minefield! How can we guarantee a recipe contains enough Choline and other vital nutrients? That’s where our extensive range of Healthy Adult Recipes comes into play! All our recipes are nutritionist certified, and formulated to meet, and surpass the minimum recommended nutrient guidelines as set out by FEDIAF. We have a host of recipes for cats and dogs, which all contain plenty of the all important Choline, specifically designed with your pet’s health and longevity in mind!
Having read this blog, does your pet’s food contain enough of this important nutrient? If you are unsure if your pet’s diet contains enough choline, or wish to improve your pet’s diet to contain all the nutrients needed for optimum health and longevity, please do reach out to one of our team! You can
book a consultation here!
Team MPN x
