Choline is a lesser-known essential nutrient found in wheat germ, cauliflower and egg yolks, and long associated with heart health, sound liver metabolism, and the proper functioning of all cells, including brain and nerve cells. Now, a study of 3,000 women, supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, links choline to a decreased risk of breast cancer. This supports earlier findings that hinted at the vitamin’s role in reducing cancer risk.

Research results recently appeared in The FASEB Journal, a publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. They revealed that participants who consumed a daily average of 455 milligrams (mg) or more of this B-vitamin had a 24 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who took in a daily average of 196 mg or less.

The Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit arm of the National Academy of Sciences that provides independent counsel to government, generally recommends a daily average level of 425 mg, 550 mg if breastfeeding, or 450 mg if pregnant. Currently, only 10 percent of Americans meet this recommended intake.

Sources:  NewsMax.com; FASEBJ.org