Trade Resources Industry Views Large Amounts of Choline May Be Needed to Support Fetal Development

Large Amounts of Choline May Be Needed to Support Fetal Development

Recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) found that during pregnancy, and particularly during the third trimester, large amounts of choline may be needed to support fetal development. Conclusions of the research revealed that current recommendations may be too low. Choline deficiency in pregnant women may result in elevated levels of homocysteine, potentially resulting in birth defects.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month, and according to the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN), every 4- minutes a baby is born with a birth defect such as spina bifida. This study adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that adequate maternal choline intake is vital to a healthy pregnancy.

Choline Needed for Healthy Fetal Growth

Choline is an essential nutrient that is required to make phosphatidylcholine, a component of all cell membranes. Researchers evaluated pregnant and non-pregnant women who were all given a controlled diet that provided 380 milligrams/day (mg/d) of choline, primarily from eggs. The women were then randomly assigned to receive choline supplements of 100 or 550 mg/d. The study found that there is an increased fetal demand for phosphatidylcholine during pregnancy, much of it being transferred to the developing fetus.

"The methodology we employed in this study helped us clearly see changes in choline metabolism during pregnancy," says Dr. Marie Caudill, professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University and lead investigator of this study. "The results are very meaningful because they demonstrate the substantial demand for choline during pregnancy and may call for an increase in the amount of choline recommended in the diets of expecting mothers."

Additional Benefits of Choline

There is a significant body of research demonstrating the vital role choline plays in the diets of pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Source: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140131/Large-amounts-of-choline-may-be-needed-to-support-fetal-development-during-pregnancy.aspx
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Large Amounts of Choline May Be Needed to Support Fetal Development During Pregnancy