Vitamin J, otherwise known as choline, could be considered the forgotten vitamin as its more famous brothers Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and others soak up the spotlight. This is a shame because Vitamin J is an essential nutrient and is quite important for healthy function, especially of the memory. Older people are especially at risk of Vitamin J deficiency. If you are elderly, you should consider supplementing with Vitamin J in order to maintain a healthy brain and keep your memory sharp. Ideally you would get your Vitamin J from foods high in this nutrient, such as beef liver or egg yolks. However for many people this is impractical. These people should use Vitamin J supplements. (Typically sold as “choline” – don’t worry, it’s the same stuff!)
| Image | Product Details | Soy | Choline |
|---|---|---|---|
  | NATURE'S WAY Choline 500mg 100 Tablets | No | 500mg |
  | Alpha GPC Choline Supplement, Pharmaceutical Grade, Made in USA | No | 300mg |
| N/A | NOW Foods Choline and Inositol, 100 Capsules / 500mg (Pack of 2) | Unknown | 250mg |
Vitamin J, or choline, is very important for the brain. It is a critical component of the brain neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, which facilitates intelligence, memory, and even improves your mood. For this reason, supplementing your diet with Vitamin J has been shown to cause improvement in these areas.
Vitamin J deficiency is especially high among elderly people. Shockingly, one study found that 90% of older people have too little Vitamin J in their diets. Since the elderly are already at risk of memory loss, this makes Vitamin J deficiency a big problem for this group. A healthy diet containing enough nutrients and protein is critical for elderly people to stay fit and well.
Vitamin J also is critical for burning fat. It speeds up the body’s metabolism and improves the efficency of the fat-burning mechanism. Of course, the critical ingredients for any fat loss are a healthy diet and lots of exercise, but supplementing with Vitamin J does seem to help. One study found a rapid drop in body fat from supplementing with Vitamin J (choline) in just one week! Effect of Choline Supplementation on Rapid Weight Loss and Biochemical Variables Among Female Taekwondo and Judo Athletes