choline chloride

Choline chloride is a salt of choline, an essential nutrient that serves as a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and membrane phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine. It is being developed primarily as an intravenous (IV) supplement for patients with intestinal failure who are receiving long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). Because standard PN formulations often lack choline, these patients frequently develop choline deficiency, which can lead to Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease (IFALD), characterized by hepatic steatosis and cholestasis. Protara Therapeutics is advancing IV choline chloride (TARA-001) in Phase 2b/3 clinical trials to address this deficiency and mitigate liver damage. Additionally, choline chloride has been investigated for its potential to modulate DNA methylation in Alzheimer's disease models and as a metabolic imaging agent in the form of deuterated choline for tumor detection.

Brand names

VitaCholine

Other names

choline chloride for injectionIV choline chloride[2H9]-choline chloride