Know which reference number you are reading
ODS lists adult Adequate Intakes of 550 mg daily for men and 425 mg for women, with 450 mg during pregnancy and 550 mg during lactation. These amounts cover the diet as a whole, including any supplements, rather than an amount to add on top of food. [1]
An Adequate Intake, or AI, is used when evidence is insufficient to establish a Recommended Dietary Allowance. Intake below the AI therefore does not itself diagnose inadequacy. Individual needs can vary with factors including endogenous synthesis and related nutrient status. [1]
The Daily Value serves a different purpose
The choline Daily Value on labels is 550 mg for adults and children age four and older. It helps compare products; it does not replace the age- and life-stage reference table. A serving with 20 percent of this DV supplies 110 mg. [1]
Food intake belongs in the calculation before choosing an added amount. The adult upper limit is 3,500 mg per day from food and supplements, and it is a safety boundary rather than a target. This source does not establish a best time of day for supplementation. [1]
Do the percentage calculation without prescribing a dose
Imagine a product provides 110 mg per serving. Dividing by the 550 mg DV yields 20 percent. That tells you how the label percentage was obtained, not whether a particular person needs the product.
| Item | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 110 mg per serving | Declared amount |
| 550 mg Daily Value | Label denominator |
| 110 ÷ 550 × 100 | 20 percent DV |
Sources for this article
- NIH ODS: Choline — Health Professional Fact Sheet
Source consulted: 2026-09-17. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.