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Primary topic: SLC44A1 choline transporter gene

SLC44A1 Gene and Metabolism: What It Means for Your Body

SLC44A1 matters when choline delivery itself may be part of the membrane and methyl-donor picture.

What is the SLC44A1 gene?

SLC44A1 is involved in choline transport, making it relevant to whether choline is available for membrane support and downstream methyl-donor pathways.

How SLC44A1 affects metabolism

If transport is less efficient, choline-dependent pathways may feel less resilient even when intake seems acceptable.

What happens when SLC44A1 is altered

Altered SLC44A1 function does not prove low choline status, but it can justify more targeted validation than generic nutrition advice provides.

Curated SNP evidence for SLC44A1

These SNPs come from the approved study-level evidence model. Each claim is scored from curated study rows, then gated before it can influence pathway scoring.

Choline support

Evidence-backed report connection

SLC44A1 currently has 2 curated SNPs, 4 claim-level scores, and 0 claims eligible for pathway scoring.

Open the sample report
rs2771040SLC44A1 supporting signal3 claims · 12 study rows

biomarker tendency · AG

SLC44A1 biomarker tendency

Not used for pathway scoring

rs2771040 AG is associated with increased SLC44A1 biomarker tendency.

SLC44A1 rs2771040 is scored as a choline-related biomarker tendency: G-containing genotypes are assigned higher tendency, stronger for GG than AG.

Likely effectHigher biomarker tendency
Signal sizeSmall signal
Evidence supportLimited support
Report useEvidence only, not scored
Show study evidence
NCBI RefSNP recordidentity only · unknownNCBI RefSNP places rs2771040 at SLC44A1 and lists A and G as common allele labels in population data. This supports the genotype labels used here.PMC4062831biomarker association · loose proxyA controlled low-choline diet study reported that most participants who developed muscle damage carried effect alleles including SLC44A1 rs2771040-G, and described rs2771040 as located in the 3 prime untranslated region of SLC44A1. This supports a choline-related vulnerability tendency rather than a diagnosis.PMC8326038other · close proxyThe fetal-alcohol-spectrum choline intervention study reported exploratory cognitive-response associations for SLC44A1 variants, but it did not measure a routine choline biomarker by rs2771040 genotype. It is retained as context only.PubMed 38176775other · close proxyThe normotypic-child cognition study reported association for rs2771040-G and linked variants, but choline status was not assessed. It is not scored for the biomarker-tendency claim.

biomarker tendency · GG

SLC44A1 biomarker tendency

Not used for pathway scoring

rs2771040 GG is associated with increased SLC44A1 biomarker tendency.

SLC44A1 rs2771040 is scored as a choline-related biomarker tendency: G-containing genotypes are assigned higher tendency, stronger for GG than AG.

Likely effectHigher biomarker tendency
Signal sizeSmall signal
Evidence supportLimited support
Report useEvidence only, not scored
Show study evidence
NCBI RefSNP recordidentity only · unknownNCBI RefSNP places rs2771040 at SLC44A1 and lists A and G as common allele labels in population data. This supports the genotype labels used here.PMC4062831biomarker association · loose proxyA controlled low-choline diet study reported that most participants who developed muscle damage carried effect alleles including SLC44A1 rs2771040-G, and described rs2771040 as located in the 3 prime untranslated region of SLC44A1. This supports a choline-related vulnerability tendency rather than a diagnosis.PMC8326038other · close proxyThe fetal-alcohol-spectrum choline intervention study reported exploratory cognitive-response associations for SLC44A1 variants, but it did not measure a routine choline biomarker by rs2771040 genotype. It is retained as context only.PubMed 38176775other · close proxyThe normotypic-child cognition study reported association for rs2771040-G and linked variants, but choline status was not assessed. It is not scored for the biomarker-tendency claim.

biomarker tendency · AA

SLC44A1 biomarker tendency

Not used for pathway scoring

rs2771040 AA has no scored directional claim for SLC44A1 biomarker tendency.

SLC44A1 rs2771040 is scored as a choline-related biomarker tendency: G-containing genotypes are assigned higher tendency, stronger for GG than AG.

Likely effectNo clear biomarker tendency
Signal sizeMinimal signal
Evidence supportVery limited support
Report useEvidence only, not scored
Show study evidence
NCBI RefSNP recordidentity only · unknownNCBI RefSNP places rs2771040 at SLC44A1 and lists A and G as common allele labels in population data. This supports the genotype labels used here.PMC4062831biomarker association · loose proxyA controlled low-choline diet study reported that most participants who developed muscle damage carried effect alleles including SLC44A1 rs2771040-G, and described rs2771040 as located in the 3 prime untranslated region of SLC44A1. This supports a choline-related vulnerability tendency rather than a diagnosis.PMC8326038biomarker association · close proxyA choline supplementation study in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder reported that SLC44A1 variants including rs2771040 were associated with cognitive improvement after choline intervention, while emphasizing the exploratory nature and need for replication. This supports cautious, moderate-certainty scoring.PubMed 38176775biomarker association · close proxyA later study reported that SLC44A1 rs2771040-G and linked variants were associated with reduced cognitive performance in normotypic children, while noting that choline status was not assessed. This supports a context-dependent biomarker tendency rather than a standalone outcome prediction.
rs3199966SLC44A1 Ser644Ala1 claims · 2 study rows

biomarker tendency · G

dietary choline partitioning tendency

Not used for pathway scoring

rs3199966 G / Ala644 is associated with altered dietary choline partitioning tendency.

SLC44A1 rs3199966 G is staged as altered choline flux/partitioning rather than a cognitive outcome claim.

Likely effectNo clear biomarker tendency
Signal sizeMinimal signal
Evidence supportVery limited support
Report useEvidence only, not scored
Show study evidence
PMCID PMC5343788biomarker association · directThe checked choline flux source identifies SLC44A1 rs3199966 c.1930T>G / Ser644Ala and reports effects on metabolic flux and partitioning of dietary choline.PMCID PMC6552397clinical curation · directThe checked CTL1/SLC44A1 source supports SLC44A1 as a choline transporter and places rs3199966 in choline transport biology, but it is contextual only and does not establish lower transport activity for the G allele.

Common symptoms people report

  • unclear response to choline-rich foods
  • overlap between membrane, liver, and methylation complaints
  • nutrient-response patterns that feel inconsistent

Biomarkers to validate

Liver enzymes

Useful context when choline handling overlaps with hepatic support.

Homocysteine

Adds methyl-donor context.

Triglycerides

Helpful when lipid handling overlaps with choline support.

Where DNA analysis helps

DNA helps show when transport-side choline support deserves more attention before broad diet or supplement changes.

Example Insight

Your choline-support pathway may be constrained as much by delivery as by intake.

Suggested validation: liver enzymes plus homocysteine.

What to do next

  • Review SLC44A1 with PEMT and CHDH in choline-support cases.
  • Use liver and methylation markers before drawing conclusions.
  • Treat the gene as context for validation rather than as a fixed trait.

Upload your DNA file and receive a structured metabolic pathway analysis with prioritized insights and suggested validation markers.

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Related pages

PEMT

PEMT gene choline metabolism

CHDH

CHDH choline oxidation gene

Choline status

choline status and methyl donor support

Liver enzymes

liver enzymes and choline support

Choline and phosphatidylcholine pathway

choline and phosphatidylcholine pathway

B12 transport and recycling pathway

B12 transport and recycling pathway

Can DNA predict metabolism?

can DNA predict metabolism

23andMe vs Metastate metabolism report

23andMe vs Metastate metabolism report

Related symptom angle

Why supplements do not work for me

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