Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine whether choline ingestion improves physical and cognitive performance following exhaustive load carriage exercise.
Methods: In a double-blind crossover study, 13 men (28 +/- 2 years) underwent four test sessions: load carriage treadmill and no-load carriage test sessions after taking choline or placebo. Physical and cognitive performance batteries were administered at the end of the test sessions.
Results: Choline ingestion (50 mg/kg body weight) significantly (p < 0.05) increased plasma choline concentrations during the load and no-load carriage test sessions. However, plasma choline did not decrease during the placebo load carriage test session, an indication that load carriage does not deplete circulating choline. There were no differences in performance on physical tasks, and choline ingestion had no effect on reaction time, logical reasoning, vigilance, spatial memory, or working memory.
Conclusion: In healthy men, supplemental choline did not affect physical or cognitive performance after exhaustive physical activity.