Vitamin B4

Last updated December 28, 2025

Vitamin B₄ is a former designation given to several distinct chemical compounds, none of which is currently considered a true vitamin:

Choline ^[1] is synthesized by the human body, but not sufficiently to maintain good health, and is now considered an essential dietary nutrient.^[2]
Adenine is a nucleobase synthesized by the human body.^[3]
Carnitine is an essential dietary nutrient for certain worms, but not for humans.^[4]

References

↑ Manjit Rakkar & Keith Hillier (2007). "Choline". xPharm: The Comprehensive Pharmacology Reference: 1–4. doi:10.1016/B978-008055232-3.61454-0.
↑ Zeisel SH, da Costa KA (November 2009). "Choline: an essential nutrient for public health". Nutrition Reviews. 67 (11): 615–23. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x. PMC 2782876 . PMID 19906248.
↑ Reader V (1930). "The assay of vitamin B(4)". The Biochemical Journal. 24 (6): 1827–31. doi:10.1042/bj0241827. PMC 1254803 . PMID 16744538.
↑ Bender DA (29 January 2009). A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition . Oxford University Press. p. 521. ISBN 978-0-19-157975-2.

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[1] Manjit Rakkar & Keith Hillier (2007). "Choline". xPharm: The Comprehensive Pharmacology Reference: 1–4. doi:10.1016/B978-008055232-3.61454-0.

[2] Zeisel SH, da Costa KA (November 2009). "Choline: an essential nutrient for public health". Nutrition Reviews. 67 (11): 615–23. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2009.00246.x. PMC 2782876 . PMID 19906248.

[3] Reader V (1930). "The assay of vitamin B(4)". The Biochemical Journal. 24 (6): 1827–31. doi:10.1042/bj0241827. PMC 1254803 . PMID 16744538.

[Bender2009-4] Bender DA (29 January 2009). A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition . Oxford University Press. p. 521. ISBN 978-0-19-157975-2.

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