Choline (Choline, choline salts, choline esters, choline salts, choline esters, E1001) is an emulsifier.
Choline (from Greek. choly-bile)-2-hydroxyethyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, [(CH3)3N+CH2CH2OH] OH–, colorless crystals, highly soluble in water, ethyl alcohol, insoluble in ether, benzene. Choline easily forms salts with strong acids, its aqueous solutions have the properties of strong alkalis.
First obtained from bile. It is widely distributed in living organisms. Its content is especially high in the egg yolk, brain, liver, kidneys and heart muscle.
In medicine, choline chloride is used to treat liver diseases. It is also introduced into the composition of mixed feeds for agricultural animals.