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Low-choline diet linked to liver damage in post-menopausal women

Category: Liver Diseases

Post-menopausal women who consume few foods containing the essential nutrient choline may benefit from liver panel testing. A new study indicates that these individuals may face a higher risk of liver scarring caused by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Choline is found in dairy foods, eggs, broccoli, chicken, beef and legumes. The problem my be worse in post-menopausal women because low levels of estrogen may interfere with the body's ability to absorb and process dietary choline, the researchers said. Therefore, even individuals who eat adequate amounts of these foods may be at risk.

For the study, researchers administered dietary surveys to more than 600 individuals of various ages and gender who were enrolled in a study of liver disease. The results showed that low choline intake was most strongly associated with liver scarring in post-menopausal women.

Consuming less of the nutrient did not mean that a woman was more likely to develop liver disease, However, it did predict the degree to which the condition would scar her liver and impair its function.