In plain words
Choline is a nutrient the body needs for cell membranes, for signaling between nerve cells, and for the baby's brain development. The body makes only a small amount, so most people get the rest from food. Eggs are one of the richest common sources, along with meat, fish, and some beans and vegetables. Choline needs go up in pregnancy, and many prenatal vitamins contain less than the amount in the daily target. Choline is often confused with , which is a different nutrient with a different job. A mother who wants to know her intake can talk with her provider or a registered dietitian.
The deeper version
Choline is an essential nutrient and the precursor of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and acetylcholine. The US National Academies set an for pregnancy, higher than for non-pregnant adults (Institute of Medicine, 1998), and national survey analyses report that many pregnant women fall below it. Observational studies have linked maternal choline intake to infant cognitive measures, and small randomized trials of in pregnancy have reported mixed results on child outcomes. Choline is metabolized partly through the folate and methionine pathways, so genetic variants in these enzymes modify requirements. The main controversy is whether the gap between typical intake and the target carries a clinical consequence.
Where it comes up
- Eating before you conceiveBefore Pregnancy
- Prenatal vitamins: when to start and what's in themBefore Pregnancy
- Choline: the nutrient nobody mentionsPregnancy: Eating
What mothers here say about choline
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Dietary Reference Intakes for Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline, 1998
- Caudill MA et al. — Maternal choline supplementation during pregnancy: a review of evidence and gaps. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2018