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2000
Volume 22, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1573-4056
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6603
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Abstract

Background

Non-invasive biomarkers of liver metabolism are essential for early detection of metabolic alterations. Choline plays a central role in hepatic function, yet its dietary intake and imaging correlates remain underexplored. This study evaluated the feasibility of proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 3T for hepatic choline quantification and examined its correlation with dietary intake in young women, a population at risk of nutrient-sensitive liver conditions.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, 88 healthy female radiology students (mean age: 21.4 ± 1.8 years) underwent single-voxel 1H-MRS of the liver using a 3T Siemens Magnetom Vida scanner. Spectra were acquired with a point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence (TR = 2000 ms, TE = 40 ms, voxel size = 20 × 20 × 20 mm3), with automated shimming and unsuppressed water referencing. Spectral analysis was performed using LCModel (v6.3), applying quality thresholds (Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) > 5, linewidth < 0.1 ppm, Cramér–Rao Lower Bound (CRLB) < 20%. Hepatic choline concentrations were expressed in Institutional Units (IU). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

Results

High-quality spectra were consistently obtained (mean SNR: 12.6 ± 3.1; linewidth: 0.048 ± 0.012 ppm). Mean hepatic choline concentration was 4.63 ± 1.21 IU, while mean dietary intake was 29.1 ± 8.7 mg/day. A significant positive correlation was observed (r = 0.555, < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed dietary intake as a significant predictor (β = 0.56, R2 = 0.308, < 0.001).

Discussion

These findings demonstrate that ¹H MRS at 3T provides reproducible hepatic choline quantification and captures meaningful variability linked to dietary intake. The observed correlation highlights the potential of MRS as a translational biomarker of nutrient related liver metabolism. Integrating MRS into multiparametric liver imaging protocols may enhance early detection of metabolic alterations and broaden the scope of non-invasive liver assessment.

Conclusion

1H-MRS at 3T is a feasible and reproducible technique for hepatic choline quantification. By measuring metabolites directly in the liver at their site of production, rather than in circulation, where concentrations may be altered, MRS provides physiologically relevant insights into nutrient-related hepatic metabolism. Its correlation with dietary intake highlights its potential as a translational imaging biomarker for early detection and risk stratification of nutrient-sensitive liver conditions.

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers.
This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
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2025-11-26
2026-02-21

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1H MR Spectroscopy at 3T for Hepatic Choline Quantification in Healthy Young Women: A Translational Imaging Study with Dietary Correlation
Curr. Med. Imaging 22, E15734056450482 (2026); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734056450482251124081010
/content/journals/cmir/10.2174/0115734056450482251124081010
/content/journals/cmir/10.2174/0115734056450482251124081010
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): Dietary choline intake; Hepatic choline; In vivo metabolite quantification; Multiparametric liver MRI; Nutrient-sensitive liver conditions; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS); Tissue-level biomarkers; Translational metabolic imaging

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