Table 2.
Characteristics of the main different forms of choline supplementation.
| GPC | Choline bitartrate | Lecithin | Citicoline | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IUPAC Name | [(2R)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl] 2-(trimethylazaniumyl)-ethyl phosphate | (2-hydroxyethyl)-trimethylazanium (2R,3R)-3-carboxy-2,3-dihydroxypropanoate | [(2R)-3-hexadecanoyloxy-2-[(9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoyl]oxypropyl] 2-(trimethylazaniumyl)-ethyl-phosphate | [[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-5-(4-amino-2-oxopyrimidin-1-yl)-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]methoxy-hydroxyphosphoryl] 2-(trimethylazaniumyl)-ethyl phosphate |
| Molecular Formula | C8H20NO6P | C9H19NO7 | C42H80NO8P | C14H26N4O11P2 |
| Molecular Weight (g/mol) | 257.22 | 253.25 | 758.075 | 488.32 |
| Color/Form | Solid | White crystalline powder | Yellow-brownish powder | White crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless | Odorless or faint trimethylamine-like odor | Odorless or has nut-like smell | High doses can cause fishy odor |
| Taste | No taste | Acidic taste | Nutty taste | Neutral |
| Melting Point | 142.5°C | 149-153°C | 236.1°C | 240-242°C |
| Solubility | Very soluble in water | Freely soluble in water; slightly soluble in alcohol; insoluble in ether, chloroform, and benzene | Low solubility in water, but serves as an excellent emulsifier | Very soluble in water |