Prophylactic choline supplementation attenuates vascular cognitive impairment in rodent model of ischemic stroke

Introduction: Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality in the world and estimated to be about 0.22% in India. Current management of post stroke vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is not satisfactory. Choline is an important component of neuronal membrane phospholipids known to enhance cognition. Objective: To explore the prophylactic efficacy of choline in attenuating VCI in a rat model of ischemic brain injury. Materials and Methods: 10 month old male Wistar rats (n=8/group) were assigned as normal control, Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO), Sham BCCAO and Prophylactic BCCAO choline supplemented groups. Subsequently, all the groups of rats were subjected to cognitive function tests. Results: BCCAO rats showed significant deficits (p< 0.05) in cognitive functions compared to age matched sham BCCAO and NC rats. Prophylactic supplementation of choline in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion ischemic brain injured rats significantly restored learning and memory abilities (P<0.001) compared to age matched BCCAO rats. Conclusion: Prophylactic dietary choline supplementation attenuates vascular cognitive impairment in rodent model of ischemic stroke. Thus, after appropriate human clinical trials, dietary choline supplementation may be considered as a preventive strategy to attenuate post stroke cognitive impairment in high risk individuals.