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Review
. 2021 Apr 29;22(9):4733.
doi: 10.3390/ijms22094733.

Role of Choline in Ocular Diseases

Jin-Sun Hwang  1 , Young-Joo Shin  1
Affiliations
Review

Role of Choline in Ocular Diseases

Jin-Sun Hwang et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Choline is essential for maintaining the structure and function of cells in humans. Choline plays an important role in eye health and disease. It is a precursor of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system, and it is involved in the production and secretion of tears by the lacrimal glands. It also contributes to the stability of the cells and tears on the ocular surface and is involved in retinal development and differentiation. Choline deficiency is associated with retinal hemorrhage, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome. Choline supplementation may be effective for treating these diseases.

Keywords: choline; diabetic retinopathy; dry eye syndrome; glaucoma; ocular disease; retina.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The role of choline in dry eye syndrome. Choline may affect dry eye syndrome by parasympathetic innervation of the meibomian glands and the ocular surface, a component in the tear film, exerts antinoiceptive effects in pain on central nervous system and anti-inflammatory in inflammation of ocular surface.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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