What is choline chloride also known as?

November 20, 2025 •

4 min read

First identified in 1847 by Gobley and isolated from pig bile by Strecker in 1849, choline chloride has been widely used in animal nutrition for decades, yet many still wonder what is choline chloride also known as. This essential nutrient is referred to by a variety of names depending on its context and chemical classification.

Quick Summary

Choline chloride is identified by several names, including its IUPAC name 2-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium chloride. It is a critical nutrient used extensively in animal feed and dietary supplements.

Key Points

Multiple Names: Choline chloride is also known as Vitamin B4, Bilineurin chloride, and (2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride, among others.
Essential Nutrient: It is a vital nutrient for animals and humans, though often synthesized in insufficient amounts, requiring supplementation.
Key Functions: Its primary roles include maintaining cell membrane structure, supporting the nervous system, and aiding lipid metabolism.
Primary Use: The most widespread application is as a cost-effective feed additive for livestock like poultry and swine to improve growth and prevent disease.
Different Forms: While choline chloride is a basic form, other supplements like Alpha-GPC and CDP-choline offer different benefits, particularly for cognitive function.
Liver Health: It is a powerful lipotropic agent that helps prevent fat accumulation and promotes liver health in animals and humans.
Widely Available: Natural sources include eggs, meat, and vegetables, but it's often supplemented in diets to meet metabolic needs.

The Many Synonyms and Classifications of Choline Chloride

Choline chloride is the most common and economical form of the essential nutrient choline used in commercial applications. Its chemical composition and function have led to a number of alternative names, many of which appear in scientific literature, product specifications, or chemical databases. Understanding these synonyms is key for anyone involved in nutrition, chemistry, or agricultural industries.

Scientific and Chemical Names

(2-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride: This is a frequently used chemical name that accurately describes its structure as a quaternary ammonium salt. The cation, (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium, is combined with a chloride anion. Other variations include Trimethyl(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride and (beta-Hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride.
IUPAC name: 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium chloride: As defined by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, this is the official systematic name for the compound.
Other names: Various proprietary or historical names exist, such as Bilineurin chloride, Biocolina, Biocoline, Hepacholine, Lipotril, Neocolina, and Paresan. Some of these names reference its use as a lipotropic agent, which helps with fat metabolism.

Nutritional and Functional Designations

Vitamin B4: While not a classical B vitamin and not an enzymatic cofactor in the same way, choline is often referred to as Vitamin B4 due to its essential role in many physiological functions. It was historically grouped with the B-complex vitamins, and this term is still used informally in some contexts.
Feed Additive: This is a functional name reflecting its primary commercial application. When marketed for animal use, it is sold as a feed additive in various concentrations, often adsorbed onto carriers like corn cob or silica.
Lipotropic Agent: A functional classification based on its biological role in preventing the abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver and kidneys.

Key Functions of Choline and Why It Is Supplemented

Choline is an essential nutrient for both animals and humans, playing a vital role in several critical biological processes. While the body can synthesize it to a small degree, high metabolic demands often require supplementation.

Main functions include:

Cell Membrane Integrity: Choline is a precursor for phosphatidylcholine, a major component of cell membranes. This is critical for maintaining cell structure and signaling.
Nerve Function: It is essential for producing acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter involved in memory, mood, muscle control, and other brain functions.
Lipid Metabolism: Choline assists in the transport and metabolism of fats in the liver, preventing a condition known as fatty liver disease.
Methyl Donor: Through its conversion to betaine, choline provides methyl groups for various metabolic processes, including the synthesis of the amino acid methionine.

Comparison of Choline Chloride and Other Choline Forms

Not all choline supplements are the same. Choline chloride is a basic, water-soluble salt, whereas other forms offer different bioavailability and targeting benefits. This table outlines the key differences.


Feature	Choline Chloride	Other Choline Forms (e.g., Alpha-GPC, CDP-Choline)
Cost	Generally more affordable.	Typically more expensive due to higher processing.
Bioavailability	Provides bioavailable choline, but must be metabolized.	Often more readily absorbed or specifically targeted for brain function.
Primary Use	General choline supplementation, animal feed, liver support.	Often marketed for cognitive enhancement and targeted neurological support.
Availability	Available in liquid, powder, and granular forms.	Usually in capsule or powder form for human supplementation.
Stability	Known to be hygroscopic (absorbs water) and can interact with other ingredients in premixes.	Newer natural alternatives, like polyherbal products, are non-hygroscopic.

Applications in Animal Feed, Human Nutrition, and Industry

Choline chloride’s versatile properties make it useful across several fields.

Animal Nutrition

It is most widely known as an essential feed additive for livestock and poultry, especially for fast-growing species like broiler chickens and swine. Supplementation helps improve feed efficiency, increases egg production in poultry, and prevents fatty liver and perosis in chicks.

Human Nutrition

While found naturally in foods like eggs, fish, and legumes, choline chloride is also used in dietary supplements to support liver and brain health. It is particularly important during pregnancy for healthy fetal brain development.

Industrial Uses

Beyond nutrition, choline chloride is a component in several industrial applications. It is used as a chemical intermediate in various syntheses, a surfactant, and as a component in deep eutectic solvents.

Food Sources Containing Choline

Meat: Beef, poultry, and pork, especially liver and other organ meats, are excellent sources of choline.
Eggs: Egg yolks are one of the richest dietary sources of choline.
Seafood: Fish like salmon and tuna provide a good amount of choline.
Dairy: Milk, cheese, and yogurt contain choline.
Legumes: Beans, lentils, and peas are reliable plant-based sources.
Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli and cauliflower contain choline.

Conclusion

Choline chloride is known by a variety of names, from technical chemical terms like (2-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium chloride to the nutritional designation Vitamin B4. While its core function remains consistent—providing the body with the essential nutrient choline—its versatile applications span animal feed, human nutrition, and industrial uses. Understanding these different names and roles highlights its widespread importance across numerous industries and biological processes. For those seeking basic choline supplementation, choline chloride remains a cost-effective and reliable option, though specialized alternatives exist for targeted benefits, particularly for cognitive health.

An authoritative source on its chemical properties is available at PubChem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, choline is often referred to as Vitamin B4, although it does not technically fit the classic criteria for a B vitamin. The term is still used due to its essential nature and historical grouping with the B-complex vitamins.

It is used as a feed additive to ensure animals, especially poultry and swine, receive sufficient choline to support growth, liver function, and overall health. It also helps prevent fatty liver and other deficiency-related issues.

The preferred IUPAC name for choline chloride is 2-Hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethan-1-aminium chloride.

Yes, natural polyherbal products derived from plants are marketed as alternatives. These can offer improved stability and are sometimes used in organic livestock farming.

Yes, choline chloride is used in human nutritional supplements. It is taken to support cognitive function, liver health, and is particularly important during pregnancy for fetal development.

Choline chloride is commonly available in several concentrations, including liquid solutions (e.g., 70-75%) and dry powder or granular forms (e.g., 50%, 60%) often mixed with carriers like corn cob or silica.

Yes, choline chloride, especially in dry form, can be hygroscopic and accelerate the degradation of other vitamins, particularly Vitamin A, D, and K, when present with trace metals in feed premixes. It is often added separately or at the end of the mixing process.

No, choline chloride provides the basic choline molecule, while phosphatidylcholine is a form of choline esterified into a phospholipid, a key structural component of cell membranes.