Development of a Choline Database for Thai Food and a Population-Wide Assessment of Choline Intake in Thailand

Background/Objectives: Choline is an essential nutrient, and deficiency is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Research shows that Western populations have inadequate choline intake; however, the intake in Asian populations is less studied. This study developed a choline database for Thai food and evaluated intake in the Thai population. Methods: Following guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization/the International Network of Food Data Systems, 1806 Thai food items were matched to the U.S. choline database, and the missForest imputation method was used to impute missing data. Choline intake was assessed in Thai adults aged 18 years and older using a nationally representative sample of the Thai Food Consumption Survey (n = 3593). Results: Animal-based foods such as eggs, meat, and fish contained more choline than plant-based foods. Median choline intake was 134.7 mg/day (IQR: 70.6, 229.3), with 3.6% of Thai individuals meeting adequate intake levels. Men consumed more choline than women (median 153 vs. 120 mg/day; p < 0.001). Choline intake declined with age but did not differ by body mass index. Conclusions: This study created a choline database for Thai food and shows that most Thais have intake below the recommended intake levels.