NEW INSIGHT INTO THE BIOCHEMICAL PATHOLOGY OF LIVER IN CHOLINE DEFICIENCY

A diet deficient in choline can cause liver cancer in rats. The previo us work since 1932 emphasized the fat-removing ability of choline from the liver. There are other dietary factors, including methionine, whi ch, like choline, can remove fat from the liver. These factors were te rmed as lipotropes. Since then, choline deficiency and lipotrope defic iency are used synonoumously. Recent work since 1980 has clearly demon strated that choline deficiency (CD) and lipotrope deficiency (LD) are not the same. Generation of free radicals, DNA alterations, fiver cel l death, and liver cancer that occur due to CD are not generated by LD . Generation of free radicals due to CD diet and some of the agents th at counteract free radical action also prevent CD effects except for l ipid accumulation in the liver. Despite the recent observations on the role of phospholipase A, (PLA,) as the protector of the membranes, it has been found that by preventing the rise of PLA, in the liver, cell death can be prevented, These new findings give choline a distinct ro le in liver cell death and cancer rather than the role of lipotrope. A new hypothesis linking dietary choline deficiency and liver cancer ha s been discussed.