{"id":37368,"date":"2022-02-15T15:26:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T21:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/?post_type=nutrition_article&p=37368"},"modified":"2023-06-21T15:57:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T20:57:18","slug":"choline-during-pregnancy-new-study-shows-lasting-cognitive-benefit-for-children","status":"publish","type":"nutrition_article","link":"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/nutrition\/articles\/choline-during-pregnancy-new-study-shows-lasting-cognitive-benefit-for-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Choline during pregnancy: new study shows lasting cognitive benefit for children"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Getting enough choline is important throughout the lifespan, but it is especially critical during pregnancy and lactation to support the baby\u2019s brain development.1,2<\/sup>  Previous research demonstrated that choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy can improve an infant\u2019s cognitive function,3<\/sup> and a recently published follow-up study with this same group of children found a lasting impact into school-age years<\/a>.4<\/sup>  While larger studies will need to confirm these human data, the current evidence demonstrates higher maternal choline intake during pregnancy can have a lasting beneficial impact on children\u2019s brain health and development.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Previously, a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study found that higher maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy (930 vs. 480 mg\/day) improved infant information processing speed<\/a> (a measure of cognitive function).  Importantly, a benefit was also seen at the lower level of intake for infants born to mothers who were enrolled in the study for a greater duration of pregnancy.  The authors concluded, \u201ceven modest increases in maternal choline intake during pregnancy may produce cognitive benefits for offspring.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As a follow-up, the same children from this initial study were assessed at seven years old.  Children born to women who were in the 930 mg supplementation group demonstrated superior performance in sustained attention (a measure of cognitive function), compared to children in the 480 mg supplementation group.4<\/sup>  The long-term benefits of choline supplementation during pregnancy are hypothesized to be at least partly due to lasting changes during brain development, which would be consistent with animal studies.  While these results strongly support a beneficial impact of higher choline intake during pregnancy, the authors recommend larger studies in more diverse populations to confirm the observations.  Further, more research is needed to determine the optimal level of choline intake during pregnancy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Most Americans, including pregnant women (average choline intake of 350 mg\/day), do not meet the Adequate Intake for choline.2,4,5<\/sup>  With these new human data supporting the critical role of higher choline intake during early life, consuming choline-rich foods (along with a supplement if indicated), are encouraged as part of healthy dietary patterns.5,6<\/sup>  Importantly, one large egg provides several nutrients essential for brain growth, including 150 mg choline.7,8<\/sup><\/strong>  A large egg also provides 252 mcg of lutein + zeaxanthin, carotenoids with emerging evidence linking to brain development and health.9<\/sup><\/strong>  Other nutrient-rich foods that can help provide choline to the diet include meat, soybeans, poultry, fish, dairy products, potatoes with skin, wheat germ, quinoa, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, and seeds.10<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cMeeting nutrient needs through foods and beverages is preferred, but women who are concerned about meeting recommendations should speak with their healthcare provider to determine whether choline supplementation is appropriate.\u201d11<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0For more information about choline, see the National Institutes of\u00a0Health Choline Fact Sheet for Health Professionals<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Choline Throughout the Lifespan article<\/a>. For recipe inspiration, check out\u00a0IncredibleEgg.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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References<\/a><\/h3>\n \n
    \n
  1. Wallace, T.C. and V.L. Fulgoni, 3rd,\u00a0Assessment of Total Choline Intakes in the United States.<\/em>\u00a0J Am Coll Nutr, 2016.\u00a035<\/strong>(2): p. 108-12.<\/li>\n
  2. Wallace, T.C. and V.L. Fulgoni,\u00a0Usual Choline Intakes Are Associated with Egg and Protein Food Consumption in the United States.<\/em>\u00a0Nutrients, 2017.\u00a09<\/strong>(8).<\/li>\n
  3. Caudill, M.A., et al.,\u00a0Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study.<\/em>\u00a0Faseb j, 2018.\u00a032<\/strong>(4): p. 2172-2180.<\/li>\n
  4. Bahnfleth, C.L., et al.,\u00a0Prenatal choline supplementation improves child sustained attention: A 7-year follow-up of a randomized controlled feeding trial.<\/em>\u00a0Faseb j, 2022.\u00a036<\/strong>(1): p. e22054.<\/li>\n
  5. Wallace, T.C., et al.,\u00a0Choline: The Neurocognitive Essential Nutrient of Interest to Obstetricians and Gynecologists.<\/em>\u00a0J Diet Suppl, 2019: p. 1-20.<\/li>\n
  6. Caudill, M.A., et al.,\u00a0Building better babies: should choline supplementation be recommended for pregnant and lactating mothers? Literature overview and expert panel consensus.<\/em>\u00a0Eur Gyn Obstet, 2020.\u00a02<\/strong>: p. 149-61.<\/li>\n
  7. U.S. Department of Agriculture.\u00a0FoodData Central SR Legacy \u2014 Egg, whole, raw, fresh<\/em>. 2019 April 1, 2019; Available from:\u00a0https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/fdc-app.html#\/food-details\/171287\/nutrients<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  8. Schwarzenberg, S.J. and M.K. Georgieff,\u00a0Advocacy for Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days to Support Childhood Development and Adult Health.<\/em>\u00a0Pediatrics, 2018.\u00a0141<\/strong>(2).<\/li>\n
  9. Wallace, T.C.,\u00a0A Comprehensive Review of Eggs, Choline, and Lutein on Cognition Across the Life-span.<\/em>\u00a0J Am Coll Nutr, 2018.\u00a037<\/strong>(4): p. 269-285.<\/li>\n
  10. National Institutes of Health.\u00a0Choline: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals<\/em>. 2021; Available from:\u00a0https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Choline-HealthProfessional\/<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  11. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.\u00a02020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/em>. 2020; Available from:\u00a0https:\/\/www.dietaryguidelines.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2020-12\/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Getting enough choline is important throughout the lifespan, but it is especially critical during pregnancy and lactation to support the baby\u2019s brain development.1,2  Previous research demonstrated that choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy can improve an infant\u2019s cognitive function,3 and a recently published follow-up study with this same group of children found a lasting impact […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37369,"template":"","nutrition_article_tag":[28,29],"class_list":["post-37368","nutrition_article","type-nutrition_article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","nutrition_article_tag-nutrients-in-eggs","nutrition_article_tag-nutritious-dietary-patterns"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCholine during pregnancy: new study shows lasting cognitive benefit for children - American Egg Board<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/nutrition\/articles\/choline-during-pregnancy-new-study-shows-lasting-cognitive-benefit-for-children\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Choline during pregnancy: new study shows lasting cognitive benefit for children - 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