Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double‐blind, controlled feeding study

Abstract

Rodent studies demonstrate that supplementing the maternal diet with choline during pregnancy produces life-long cognitive benefits for the offspring. In contrast, the two experimental studies examining cognitive effects of maternal choline supplementation in humans produced inconsistent results, perhaps because of poor participant adherence and/or uncontrolled variation in intake of choline or other nutrients. We examined the effects of maternal choline supplementation during pregnancy on infant cognition, with intake of choline and other nutrients tightly controlled. Women entering their third trimester were randomized to consume, until delivery, either 480 mg choline/d ( n = 13) or 930 mg choline/d ( n = 13). Infant information processing speed and visuospatial memory were tested at 4, 7, 10, and 13 mo of age ( n = 24). Mean reaction time averaged across the four ages was significantly faster for infants born to mothers in the 930 ( vs. 480) mg choline/d group. This result indicates that maternal consumption of approximately twice the recommended amount of choline during the last trimester improves infant information processing speed. Furthermore, for the 480-mg choline/d group, there was a significant linear effect of exposure duration (infants exposed longer showed faster reaction times), suggesting that even modest increases in maternal choline intake during pregnancy may produce cognitive benefits for offspring.-Caudill, M. A., Strupp, B. J., Muscalu, L., Nevins, J. E. H., Canfield, R. L. Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study.

Long‐term effects of maternal choline supplementation on CA1 pyramidal neuron gene expression in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease

“…High demand for choline is found during pregnancy in human and rodent models (11)(12)(13), and choline levels were depleted in pregnant dams when consuming chow with standard choline levels (14,15). These reports support the hypothesis that current dietary recommendations for choline are insufficient, especially during pregnancy and lactation (3,11,13,16). Thus, increasing dietary choline intake during pregnancy may be an inexpensive and well-tolerated approach to improve the healthspan of offspring, particularly those with identified genetic or neurodevelopmental abnormalities.…”

“…Thus, increasing dietary choline intake during pregnancy may be an inexpensive and well-tolerated approach to improve the healthspan of offspring, particularly those with identified genetic or neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Notably, human trials exploring maternal choline supplementation (MCS) in the third trimester using choline in the normal (480 mg) and upper (930 mg) reference range demonstrate improvement in infant information-processing speed with consistent results obtained from individuals 4-13 mo of age with no known neurodevelopmental abnormalities or delays (11). This study of human gestation shows increased choline levels through MCS do not mitigate the depletion of choline levels seen in mothers (11).…”

“…Notably, human trials exploring maternal choline supplementation (MCS) in the third trimester using choline in the normal (480 mg) and upper (930 mg) reference range demonstrate improvement in infant information-processing speed with consistent results obtained from individuals 4-13 mo of age with no known neurodevelopmental abnormalities or delays (11). This study of human gestation shows increased choline levels through MCS do not mitigate the depletion of choline levels seen in mothers (11). Another human trial utilized the choline metabolite PC as a perinatal supplement, which also showed cognitive improvement in infants (17).…”

“…Choline is also a key substrate in the phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) pathway, from which several structural membrane phospholipids, including sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine (PC), are generated (9,10). High demand for choline is found during pregnancy in human and rodent models (11)(12)(13), and choline levels were depleted in pregnant dams when consuming chow with standard choline levels (14,15). These reports support the hypothesis that current dietary recommendations for choline are insufficient, especially during pregnancy and lactation (3,11,13,16).…”

CA1 pyramidal neuron gene expression mosaics in the Ts65Dn murine model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease following maternal choline supplementation

“…Choline is also the primary dietary source of methyl groups, a principal driver of gene expression regulation through epigenetic programming (McGowan, Meaney, & Szyf, ; Mehedint, Niculescu, Craciunescu, & Zeisel, ). Current dietary recommendations for choline, especially in regard to pregnant women, are likely to be inadequate for the high demand for choline during gestation (Caudill, Strupp, Muscalu, Nevins, & Canfield, ; Institute of Medicine NAoSU, 1998; Strupp et al, ). Notably, maternal choline supplementation (MCS) has been demonstrated by our group to improve spatial cognition and attentional function, protect BFCNs, and normalize adult hippocampal neurogenesis in Ts65Dn offspring (Ash et al, ; Kelley et al, , ; Powers et al, ; Strupp et al, ; Velazquez et al, ).…”