Choline and betaine are nutrients necessary for normal function of all cells.4 A study examining the association between habitual betaine and choline with incident CHD, stroke, lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer within a large postmenopausal cohort could provide numerous public health benefits. Solely estimating the habitual intake of choline and betaine for individuals in the WHI OS provides information with regards to the distribution
of intakes in postmenopausal women. This represents a scientific contribution since there is limited population based data on betaine and choline consumption. Currently, only an “Adequate Intake” and UL for dietary choline consumption exists, determined by the U.S. Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board in 1998, using data from liver damage prevention studies.23 Examining the association between the range of dietary intakes and the aforementioned endpoints extends this body of research to address chronic diseases with a heavy population burden. Since betaine and choline are micronutrients consumed in the diet, an individual’s exposure levels to these micronutrients can be modified. Consequently, any betaine/choline – chronic disease associations that are identified will potentially reveal modifiable risk factors for the respective disease.
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