Ih. Ulus et al., DECREASED SERUM CHOLINE CONCENTRATIONS IN HUMANS AFTER SURGERY, CHILDBIRTH, AND TRAUMATIC HEAD-INJURY, Neurochemical research, 23(5), 1998, pp. 727-732
The serum levels of choline decreased by approximately 50% in patients
having a surgery under general as well as epidural anesthesia. The de
crease is lasts for two days after surgery. Intravenous administration
of succinylcholine, either by a single bolus injection or by a slow c
ontinuous infusion, increased the serum choline levels several folds d
uring surgery. In these patients, a significant decrease in the serum
choline levels was observed one and two days after surgery. In 16 preg
nant women at the term, serum choline levels were higher than the valu
e observed in 19 nonpregnant women. The serum choline levels decreased
by about 40% or 60% after having a childbirth either by vaginal deliv
ery or caesarean section, respectively. Serum choline levels in blood
obtained from 9 patients with traumatic head injury were significantly
lower than the observed levels in blood samples obtained from healthy
volunteers. These observations show that serum choline levels increas
e during pregnancy and decrease during stressful situations in humans.