Wheat Germ

Overview

Wheat germ provides choline, B vitamins, and vitamin E, supporting acetylcholine synthesis and methylation pathways. Acetylcholine and choline food sources include egg yolks, fish roe, soy, wheat germ, and liver.

Recipes

no recipes found

Substances

2 substances in this food

Choline

Acetylcholine precursor; methyl donor; phospholipid synthesis for membranes

Vitamin E (Tocopherols/Tocotrienols)

Lipid-phase antioxidant; protects PUFA (DHA) in membranes

Preparation Notes

• Can be added to smoothies, cereals, or baked goods
• Store refrigerated to prevent rancidity
• Part of diverse choline intake strategy
• Supports neurotransmitter synthesis

Biological Target Matrix

Biological Target	Substance	Therapeutic Areas	Mechanism of Action
Endocannabinoid System (ECS)	Choline	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD	Precursor for phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis; PE can be converted into PC or N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs); NAPEs are precursors to N-acyl ethanolamines (NAEs) like palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and anandamide (AEA), bioactive lipids which act as neuromodulators with anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and mood-regulating effects
Methylation	Choline	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD, Alzheimer's Disease	Precursor to trimethylglycine (TMG/betaine), a dietary methyl donor that helps recycle homocysteine to methionine via an alternative pathway; supports one-carbon metabolism alongside folate, riboflavin, and B12; influences methylation dynamics relevant to MTHFR and COMT activity
Neurochemical Balance	Choline	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD, Alzheimer's Disease, Bipolar Disorder	Essential precursor for acetylcholine synthesis, supporting memory, learning, and neuroplasticity; supports membrane phospholipid biosynthesis (PC) which is critical for membrane fluidity and neurotransmitter receptor function; phospholipid methylation (PLM) alters membrane structure, facilitating faster neuronal recovery and influencing ion channel behavior in gamma oscillations linked to attention and cognition
Oxidative Stress	Vitamin E (Tocopherols/Tocotrienols)	ADHD, Anxiety & GAD, Depression & MDD, Alzheimer's Disease, Bipolar Disorder	Lipid-phase antioxidant; protects polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes from peroxidation; works within antioxidant network with vitamin C, CoQ10, and polyphenols

References

• Acetylcholine and choline: Egg yolks, fish roe, soy, wheat germ, liver