Organic compound related to vitamin s in its activity.
It is important in metabolism as a component of the lipid s that make up cell membrane s and of acetylcholine . It is also important as a source of chemical raw materials for cell s and in transport of fat s from the liver . It is usually classified with the B vitamins (see vitamin B complex ) because it resembles them in function and in its distribution in foods. In humans it is interconvertible with certain other compounds, such as methionine , so deficiency does not lead to disease, but some other animals need it in their diet. Choline has various uses in medicine, nutrition, and the processing of foods and feeds.