1
|
Bogl LH, Strohmaier S, Hu FB, Willett WC, Eliassen AH, Hart JE, Sun Q, Chavarro JE, Field AE, Schernhammer ES. Maternal One-Carbon Nutrient Intake and Risk of Being Overweight or Obese in Their Offspring-A Transgenerational Prospective Cohort Study. Nutrients 2024; 16:1210. [PMID: 38674900 PMCID: PMC11054902 DOI: 10.3390/nu16081210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the associations between maternal intake of folate, vitamin B12, B6, B2, methionine, choline, phosphatidylcholine and betaine during the period surrounding pregnancy and offspring weight outcomes from birth to early adulthood. These associations were examined among 2454 mother-child pairs from the Nurses' Health Study II and Growing Up Today Study. Maternal energy-adjusted nutrient intakes were derived from food frequency questionnaires. Birth weight, body size at age 5 and repeated BMI measurements were considered. Overweight/obesity was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force (<18 years) and World Health Organization guidelines (18+ years). Among other estimands, we report relative risks (RRs) for offspring ever being overweight with corresponding 95% confidence intervals across quintiles of dietary factors, with the lowest quintile as the reference. In multivariate-adjusted models, higher maternal intakes of phosphatidylcholine were associated with a higher risk of offspring ever being overweight (RRQ5vsQ1 = 1.16 [1.01-1.33] p-trend: 0.003). The association was stronger among offspring born to mothers with high red meat intake (high red meat RRQ5vsQ1 = 1.50 [1.14-1.98], p-trend: 0.001; low red meat RRQ5vsQ1 = 1.05 [0.87-1.27], p-trend: 0.46; p-interaction = 0.13). Future studies confirming the association between a higher maternal phosphatidylcholine intake during pregnancy and offspring risk of being overweight or obese are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonie H. Bogl
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (L.H.B.); (S.S.)
- School of Health Professions, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Strohmaier
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (L.H.B.); (S.S.)
| | - Frank B. Hu
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA (J.E.C.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Walter C. Willett
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA (J.E.C.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - A. Heather Eliassen
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA (J.E.C.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Jaime E. Hart
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA (J.E.C.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Jorge E. Chavarro
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA (J.E.C.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Alison E. Field
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Eva S. Schernhammer
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Wien, Austria; (L.H.B.); (S.S.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sheikhi S, Aghazadeh R, Sayyadi H, Pourheydar B, Saboory E, Bagheri M, Derafshpour L. The effects of choline supplementation in mothers with hypothyroidism on the alteration of cognitive-behavioral, long-term potentiation, morphology, and apoptosis in the hippocampus of pre-pubertal offspring rats. Int J Dev Neurosci 2024; 84:109-121. [PMID: 38311365 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The mother's thyroid hormone status during gestation and the first few months after delivery can play a crucial role in maturation during the brain development of the child. Transient abnormalities in thyroid function at birth indicate developmental and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Choline supplementation during gestation and the perinatal period in rats causes long-lasting memory improvement in the offspring. However, it remains unclear whether choline is able to restore the deficits in rats with maternal hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of choline supplementation on the alteration of cognitive-behavioral function, long-term potentiation (LTP), and morphological changes as well as apoptosis in pre-pubertal offspring rats. To induce hypothyroidism, 6-propyl-2-thiouracil was added to the drinking water from the 6th day of gestation to the 21st postnatal day (PND). Choline treatment was started twice a day on the first day of the gestation until PND 21 via gavage. LTP recording and Morris water maze (MWM) test were conducted at PND 28. Then, the rats were sacrificed to assess their brains. The results revealed that developmental thyroid hormone deficiency impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced LTP (both: P < 0.001). Choline treatment alleviated LTP (P < 0.001), as well as learning and memory deficits (P < 0.01) in both male and female hypothyroid rats. However, no significant changes were observed in the number of caspase-3 stained cells in choline-receiving hypothyroid groups. The results revealed that developmental thyroid hormone deficiency impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced LTP. Choline treatment alleviated LTP, as well as learning and memory deficits in both male and female hypothyroid rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siamak Sheikhi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Razieh Aghazadeh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Hojjat Sayyadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Bagher Pourheydar
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ehsan Saboory
- Zanjan Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Morteza Bagheri
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Leila Derafshpour
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gautier MK, Kelley CM, Lee SH, Alldred MJ, McDaid J, Mufson EJ, Stutzmann GE, Ginsberg SD. Maternal choline supplementation protects against age-associated cholinergic and GABAergic basal forebrain neuron degeneration in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 188:106332. [PMID: 37890559 PMCID: PMC10752300 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by triplication of human chromosome 21. In addition to intellectual disability, DS is defined by a premature aging phenotype and Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, including septohippocampal circuit vulnerability and degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs). The Ts65Dn mouse model recapitulates key aspects of DS/AD pathology, namely age-associated atrophy of BFCNs and cognitive decline in septohippocampal-dependent behavioral tasks. We investigated whether maternal choline supplementation (MCS), a well-tolerated treatment modality, protects vulnerable BFCNs from age- and genotype-associated degeneration in trisomic offspring. We also examined the effect of trisomy, and MCS, on GABAergic basal forebrain parvalbumin neurons (BFPNs), an unexplored neuronal population in this DS model. Unbiased stereological analyses of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive BFCNs and parvalbumin-immunoreactive BFPNs were conducted using confocal z-stacks of the medial septal nucleus and the vertical limb of the diagonal band (MSN/VDB) in Ts65Dn mice and disomic (2N) littermates at 3-4 and 10-12 months of age. MCS trisomic offspring displayed significant increases in ChAT-immunoreactive neuron number and density compared to unsupplemented counterparts, as well as increases in the area of the MSN/VDB occupied by ChAT-immunoreactive neuropil. MCS also rescued BFPN number and density in Ts65Dn offspring, a novel rescue of a non-cholinergic cell population. Furthermore, MCS prevented age-associated loss of BFCNs and MSN/VDB regional area in 2N offspring, indicating genotype-independent neuroprotective benefits. These findings demonstrate MCS provides neuroprotection of vulnerable BFCNs and non-cholinergic septohippocampal BFPNs, indicating this modality has translational value as an early life therapy for DS, as well as extending benefits to the aging population at large.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan K Gautier
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Pathobiology and Translational Medicine Program, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christy M Kelley
- Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; Institute for Future Health, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Sang Han Lee
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Melissa J Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John McDaid
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics, Rosalind Franklin University/The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Departments of Translational Neuroscience and Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Grace E Stutzmann
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapeutics, Rosalind Franklin University/The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wu T, Lan QY, Tian F, Xiong XY, Yang MT, Huang SY, Chen XY, Kuchan MJ, Li X, Zhao YR, Mao YY, Zhu HL. Longitudinal changes in choline concentration and associated factors in human breast milk. Clin Nutr 2023; 42:1647-1656. [PMID: 37515842 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human breast milk is the primary source of choline and choline-containing compounds for infants at early stages of life. Choline data across lactation in Chinese human milk were limited. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to quantify the five choline compounds in Chinese human breast milk and explore associated factors. METHODS A total of 540 lactating mothers from the MUAI (Maternal Nutrition and Infant Investigation) study were included. The content of water-soluble choline (free choline, phosphocholine, glycerophosphocholine) and lipid-soluble choline (phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin) in 892 human milk samples collected from 0 to 400 days postpartum were examined, and associated factors were explored. RESULTS Choline concentrations in human milk varied from postpartum day 0-400 (92.06 ± 65.22 to 171.01 ± 47.84 mg/L). Water-soluble choline was the major component (88.6%-93.8%) in human milk and ranged from 793.03 (659.22) to 1544.43 (443.32) μmol/L. Its trajectory followed that of total choline, increasing from colostrum to transitional milk and then declining in mature milk. In contrast, lipid-soluble choline accounted for 6.2%-11.4% over lactation and had an opposite trajectory. Choline composition varied by delivery mode and parity history. CONCLUSION The concentrations of individual choline and choline-containing compounds during lactation in Chinese human breast milk were described for the first time. Our results address gaps in extant Chinese human milk choline data and support tailored dietary reference intakes for Chinese lactating women and infants. Our data describes the level and profile of choline from 0 to 400 days postpartum in Chinese human breast milk. This is the most updated data on choline and also the first report of water-soluble choline as the predominant type in Chinese human milk. Our results compensate for the deficiencies in data on choline in Chinese human milk. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trial Registry number: ChiCTR1800015387. Web link to study on registry: https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiu-Ye Lan
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang Tian
- Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Center, Shanghai, Abbott Laboratories, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Xiong
- Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Center, Shanghai, Abbott Laboratories, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Meng-Tao Yang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Yu Huang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Chen
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Matthew J Kuchan
- Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Center, Columbus, Abbott Laboratories, Ohio, 43219, USA
| | - Xiang Li
- Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Center, Shanghai, Abbott Laboratories, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yan-Rong Zhao
- Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Center, Shanghai, Abbott Laboratories, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Ying-Yi Mao
- Abbott Nutrition Research & Development Center, Shanghai, Abbott Laboratories, Shanghai 200233, China.
| | - Hui-Lian Zhu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Christifano DN, Chollet-Hinton L, Hoyer D, Schmidt A, Gustafson KM. Intake of eggs, choline, lutein, zeaxanthin, and DHA during pregnancy and their relationship to fetal neurodevelopment. Nutr Neurosci 2023; 26:749-755. [PMID: 35715980 PMCID: PMC9758270 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2022.2088944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal intake of eggs and nutrients contained within eggs during pregnancy have the potential to impact fetal neurodevelopment; however, this area is understudied. The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal egg and choline intake and nutrient interactions between choline, lutein and zeaxanthin (L/Z), and DHA predict fetal neurodevelopment in a large cohort of pregnant women (n = 202). NCT02709239. METHODS Food frequency questionnaires were used to assess egg and nutrient intake during pregnancy. Fetal neurodevelopment was measured using fetal biomagnetometry at 32 and 36wks gestation, and fetal autonomic indices (SDNN, RMSSD) and brain maturation indices (fABAS) were calculated. Generalized linear models tested the relationships between choline intake, egg intake, and nutrient interactions with fetal neurodevelopment. RESULTS Maternal egg intake predicted RMSSD at 32wks and fABAS at 36wks. The interaction between choline and L/Z intake predicted fABAS at 32wks and 36wks and the interaction between choline intake, L/Z intake, and DHA predicted fABAS at 36wks. At 36wks, SDNN was predicted by L/Z intake and interactions between choline and L/Z, L/Z and DHA, and choline, L/Z, and DHA. CONCLUSION Eggs and the nutrients contained within eggs showed synergistic associations with fetal neurodevelopment, and consumption should be encouraged among pregnant women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N Christifano
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Lynn Chollet-Hinton
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Dirk Hoyer
- Biomagnetic Center, Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Schmidt
- Biomagnetic Center, Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Kathleen M Gustafson
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schoen MS, Boland KM, Christ SE, Cui X, Ramakrishnan U, Ziegler TR, Alvarez JA, Singh RH. Total choline intake and working memory performance in adults with phenylketonuria. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:222. [PMID: 37516884 PMCID: PMC10386684 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02842-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite early diagnosis and compliance with phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diets, many individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) still exhibit neurological changes and experience deficits in working memory and other executive functions. Suboptimal choline intake may contribute to these impairments, but this relationship has not been previously investigated in PKU. The objective of this study was to determine if choline intake is correlated with working memory performance, and if this relationship is modified by diagnosis and metabolic control. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study that included 40 adults with PKU and 40 demographically matched healthy adults. Web-based neurocognitive tests were used to assess working memory performance and 3-day dietary records were collected to evaluate nutrient intake. Recent and historical blood Phe concentrations were collected as measures of metabolic control. RESULTS Working memory performance was 0.32 z-scores (95% CI 0.06, 0.58) lower, on average, in participants with PKU compared to participants without PKU, and this difference was not modified by total choline intake (F[1,75] = 0.85, p = 0.36). However, in a subgroup with complete historical blood Phe data, increased total choline intake was related to improved working memory outcomes among participants with well controlled PKU (Phe = 360 µmol/L) after adjusting for intellectual ability and mid-childhood Phe concentrations (average change in working memory per 100 mg change in choline = 0.11; 95% CI 0.02, 0.20; p = 0.02). There also was a trend, albeit nonsignificant (p = 0.10), for this association to be attenuated with increased Phe concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Clinical monitoring of choline intake is essential for all individuals with PKU but may have important implications for working memory functioning among patients with good metabolic control. Results from this study should be confirmed in a larger controlled trial in people living with PKU.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meriah S Schoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 101 Woodruff Circle, Suite 7130, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Kelly M Boland
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Shawn E Christ
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Xiangqin Cui
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Usha Ramakrishnan
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas R Ziegler
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jessica A Alvarez
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rani H Singh
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 101 Woodruff Circle, Suite 7130, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bragg MG, Prado EL, Caswell BL, Arnold CD, George M, Oakes LM, Beckner AG, DeBolt MC, Bennett BJ, Maleta KM, Stewart CP. The association between plasma choline, growth and neurodevelopment among Malawian children aged 6-15 months enroled in an egg intervention trial. MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION 2023; 19:e13471. [PMID: 36567549 PMCID: PMC10019050 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Choline is an essential micronutrient that may influence growth and development; however, few studies have examined postnatal choline status and children's growth and development in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this observational analysis was to examine associations of plasma choline with growth and development among Malawian children aged 6-15 months enrolled in an egg intervention trial. Plasma choline and related metabolites (betaine, dimethylglycine and trimethylamine N-oxide) were measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up, along with anthropometric (length, weight, head circumference) and developmental assessments (the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool [MDAT], the Infant Orienting with Attention task [IOWA], a visual paired comparison [VPC] task and an elicited imitation [EI] task). In cross-sectional covariate-adjusted models, each 1 SD higher plasma choline was associated with lower length-for-age z-score (-0.09 SD [95% confidence interval, CI -0.17 to -0.01]), slower IOWA response time (8.84 ms [1.66-16.03]) and faster processing speed on the VPC task (-203.5 ms [-366.2 to -40.7]). In predictive models, baseline plasma choline was negatively associated with MDAT fine motor z-score at 6-month follow-up (-0.13 SD [-0.22 to -0.04]). There were no other significant associations of plasma choline with child measures. Similarly, associations of choline metabolites with growth and development were null except higher trimethylamine N-oxide was associated with slower information processing on the VPC task and higher memory scores on the EI task. In this cohort of children with low dietary choline intake, we conclude that there were no strong or consistent associations between plasma choline and growth and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan G. Bragg
- Department of NutritionUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
- AJ Drexel Autism InstituteDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Bess L. Caswell
- USDA Western Human Nutrition Research CenterDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charles D. Arnold
- Department of NutritionUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Matthews George
- School of Public Health and Family MedicineKamuzu University of Health SciencesBlantyreMalawi
| | - Lisa M. Oakes
- Center for Mind and BrainUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Aaron G. Beckner
- Center for Mind and BrainUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michaela C. DeBolt
- Center for Mind and BrainUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Kenneth M. Maleta
- School of Public Health and Family MedicineKamuzu University of Health SciencesBlantyreMalawi
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fitzgerald GS, Chuchta TG, McNay EC. Insulin‐like growth factor‐2 is a promising candidate for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:1449-1469. [PMID: 36971212 PMCID: PMC10173726 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Current AD treatments slow the rate of cognitive decline, but do not restore lost function. One reason for the low efficacy of current treatments is that they fail to target neurotrophic processes, which are thought to be essential for functional recovery. Bolstering neurotrophic processes may also be a viable strategy for preventative treatment, since structural losses are thought to underlie cognitive decline in AD. The challenge of identifying presymptomatic patients who might benefit from preventative treatment means that any such treatment must meet a high standard of safety and tolerability. The neurotrophic peptide insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF2) is a promising candidate for both treating and preventing AD-induced cognitive decline. Brain IGF2 expression declines in AD patients. In rodent models of AD, exogenous IGF2 modulates multiple aspects of AD pathology, resulting in (1) improved cognitive function; (2) stimulation of neurogenesis and synaptogenesis; and, (3) neuroprotection against cholinergic dysfunction and beta amyloid-induced neurotoxicity. Preclinical evidence suggests that IGF2 is likely to be safe and tolerable at therapeutic doses. In the preventative treatment context, the intranasal route of administration is likely to be the preferred method for achieving the therapeutic effect without risking adverse side effects. For patients already experiencing AD dementia, routes of administration that deliver IGF2 directly access the CNS may be necessary. Finally, we discuss several strategies for improving the translational validity of animal models used to study the therapeutic potential of IGF2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - E C McNay
- University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Baker JA, Bodnar TS, Breit KR, Weinberg J, Thomas JD. Choline Supplementation Alters Hippocampal Cytokine Levels in Adolescence and Adulthood in an Animal Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Cells 2023; 12:546. [PMID: 36831213 PMCID: PMC9953782 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol) exposure during pregnancy can adversely affect development, with long-lasting consequences that include neuroimmune, cognitive, and behavioral dysfunction. Alcohol-induced alterations in cytokine levels in the hippocampus may contribute to abnormal cognitive and behavioral outcomes in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Nutritional intervention with the essential nutrient choline can improve hippocampal-dependent behavioral impairments and may also influence neuroimmune function. Thus, we examined the effects of choline supplementation on hippocampal cytokine levels in adolescent and adult rats exposed to alcohol early in development. From postnatal day (PD) 4-9 (third trimester-equivalent), Sprague-Dawley rat pups received ethanol (5.25 g/kg/day) or sham intubations and were treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) or saline from PD 10-30; hippocampi were collected at PD 35 or PD 60. Age-specific ethanol-induced increases in interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and keratinocyte chemoattractant/human growth-regulated oncogene (KC/GRO) were identified in adulthood, but not adolescence, whereas persistent ethanol-induced increases of interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were present at both ages. Interestingly, choline supplementation reduced age-related changes in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) as well as mitigating the long-lasting increase in IFN-γ in ethanol-exposed adults. Moreover, choline influenced inflammatory tone by modulating ratios of pro- to -anti-inflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that ethanol-induced changes in hippocampal cytokine levels are more evident during adulthood than adolescence, and that choline can mitigate some effects of ethanol exposure on long-lasting inflammatory tone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Baker
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Tamara S. Bodnar
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Kristen R. Breit
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
- Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Obeid R, Derbyshire E, Schön C. Association between Maternal Choline, Fetal Brain Development, and Child Neurocognition: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Studies. Adv Nutr 2022; 13:2445-2457. [PMID: 36041182 PMCID: PMC9776654 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmac082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We studied associations between prenatal and early postnatal choline intake, brain development, and neurocognitive function of children. We conducted a systematic review followed by a meta-analysis and critical appraisal of human studies published from 1997 to 2021. Thirty publications were identified. The meta-analysis included 5 of 7 case-control studies studying neural tube defects (NTDs) in relation to maternal choline intakes/circulating concentrations. Low maternal choline intake/circulating concentrations were associated with a higher OR for NTDs among 1131 mothers of newborns with NTDs and 4439 control mothers (pooled estimate = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.67). The 95% prediction intervals were 0.78, 2.36. Findings and critical evaluation of 10 publications with interventional designs showed that higher maternal choline intakes during the second half of pregnancy and early postnatal period (550 mg up to 1 g/d on top of the diet) or a child intake of 513 to 625 mg/d from supplements were safe and likely to demonstrate favorable effects on several domains of child neurocognition, such as memory, attention, and visuospatial learning versus the comparators. Findings from observational studies (n = 13) partly supported the association between maternal choline intake/serum concentrations and child neurocognition, but there was low confidence in the use of plasma choline concentrations as a choline intake marker. In conclusion, low maternal choline intakes were associated with a higher OR for NTDs. The risk could be up to 2.36-fold in some populations. Despite limitations of available trials and observational studies, higher maternal choline intake was likely to be associated with better child neurocognition/neurodevelopment. The results should be used to guide choline intake recommendations in pregnancy and lactation, especially because most young women are not achieving the reference intake of choline. This meta-analysis is registered at PROSPERO as CRD42021233790.
Collapse
|
11
|
Wu Y, Espinosa KM, Barnett SD, Kapse A, Quistorff JL, Lopez C, Andescavage N, Pradhan S, Lu YC, Kapse K, Henderson D, Vezina G, Wessel D, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. Association of Elevated Maternal Psychological Distress, Altered Fetal Brain, and Offspring Cognitive and Social-Emotional Outcomes at 18 Months. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e229244. [PMID: 35486403 PMCID: PMC9055453 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.9244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Prenatal maternal psychological distress is associated with disturbances in fetal brain development. However, the association between altered fetal brain development, prenatal maternal psychological distress, and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the association of fetal brain development using 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumes, cortical folding, and metabolites in the setting of maternal psychological distress with infant 18-month neurodevelopment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Healthy mother-infant dyads were prospectively recruited into a longitudinal observational cohort study from January 2016 to October 2020 at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. Data analysis was performed from January 2016 to July 2021. EXPOSURES Prenatal maternal stress, anxiety, and depression. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prenatal maternal stress, anxiety, and depression were measured using validated self-report questionnaires. Fetal brain volumes and cortical folding were measured from 3-dimensional, reconstructed T2-weighted MRI scans. Fetal brain creatine and choline were quantified using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Infant neurodevelopment at 18 months was measured using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III and Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. The parenting stress in the parent-child dyad was measured using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form at 18-month testing. RESULTS The cohort consisted of 97 mother-infant dyads (mean [SD] maternal age, 34.79 [5.64] years) who underwent 184 fetal MRI visits (87 participants with 2 fetal studies each) with maternal psychological distress measures between 24 and 40 gestational weeks and completed follow-up infant neurodevelopmental testing. Prenatal maternal stress was negatively associated with infant cognitive performance (β = -0.51; 95% CI, -0.92 to -0.09; P = .01), and this association was mediated by fetal left hippocampal volume. In addition, prenatal maternal anxiety, stress, and depression were positively associated with all parenting stress measures at 18-month testing. Finally, fetal cortical local gyrification index and sulcal depth were negatively associated with infant social-emotional performance (local gyrification index: β = -54.62; 95% CI, -85.05 to -24.19; P < .001; sulcal depth: β = -14.22; 95% CI, -23.59 to -4.85; P = .002) and competence scores (local gyrification index: β = -24.01; 95% CI, -40.34 to -7.69; P = .003; sulcal depth: β = -7.53; 95% CI, -11.73 to -3.32; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study of 97 mother-infant dyads, fetal cortical local gyrification index and sulcal depth were associated with infant 18-month social-emotional and competence outcomes, and fetal left hippocampal volume mediated the association between prenatal maternal stress and infant cognitive outcome. These findings suggest that altered prenatal brain development in the setting of elevated maternal distress has adverse infant sociocognitive outcomes, and identifying early biomarkers associated with long-term neurodevelopment may assist in early targeted interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wu
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Scott D. Barnett
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Anushree Kapse
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Catherine Lopez
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | | | - Subechhya Pradhan
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Yuan-Chiao Lu
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Kushal Kapse
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Diedtra Henderson
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Gilbert Vezina
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - David Wessel
- Hospital and Specialty Services, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Adré J. du Plessis
- Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Developing Brain Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ames BN. Musings in the twilight of my career. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 178:219-225. [PMID: 34863877 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
I present a summary of my research during the last few decades of research which focused on understanding the biochemical basis for maintaining an optimum metabolism to support long-term health. I realized that adequate levels of ∼40 vitamins and minerals needed as cofactors in thousands of metabolic reactions were critical for maintaining a healthy metabolism, and thus for longevity and prevention of chronic disease. Inadequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals accelerates the risk of aging-associated diseases, leading to insidious damage. The Triage Theory provides a mechanistic rationale for such damage: shortage of a nutrient triggers a built-in rationing mechanism that allocates the scarce nutrient to proteins needed for immediate survival (survival proteins), at the expense of those needed for long-term survival (longevity proteins). Many as-yet-unknown longevity vitamins and proteins likely remain to be discovered. The fiber and nutrient-rich CHORI-bar was developed to fill gaps in inadequate diets; it yielded broadscale metabolic improvements. The health-related damages resulting from vitamin D deficiency and the positive effects of vitamin D supplementation were connected to numerous health-related problems, including the higher level of deficiency in people of color residing at northern latitudes. In general, prevention of degenerative diseases of aging requires expertise in metabolism, nutrition, biochemistry and regulatory functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce N Ames
- Emeritus, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Powers BE, Velazquez R, Strawderman MS, Ginsberg SD, Mufson EJ, Strupp BJ. Maternal Choline Supplementation as a Potential Therapy for Down Syndrome: Assessment of Effects Throughout the Lifespan. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:723046. [PMID: 34690739 PMCID: PMC8527982 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.723046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal choline supplementation (MCS) has emerged as a promising therapy to lessen the cognitive and affective dysfunction associated with Down syndrome (DS). Choline is an essential nutrient, especially important during pregnancy due to its wide-ranging ontogenetic roles. Using the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS, our group has demonstrated that supplementing the maternal diet with additional choline (4-5 × standard levels) during pregnancy and lactation improves spatial cognition, attention, and emotion regulation in the adult offspring. The behavioral benefits were associated with a rescue of septohippocampal circuit atrophy. These results have been replicated across a series of independent studies, although the magnitude of the cognitive benefit has varied. We hypothesized that this was due, at least in part, to differences in the age of the subjects at the time of testing. Here, we present new data that compares the effects of MCS on the attentional function of adult Ts65Dn offspring, which began testing at two different ages (6 vs. 12 months of age). These data replicate and extend the results of our previous reports, showing a clear pattern indicating that MCS has beneficial effects in Ts65Dn offspring throughout life, but that the magnitude of the benefit (relative to non-supplemented offspring) diminishes with aging, possibly because of the onset of Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathology. In light of growing evidence that increased maternal choline intake during pregnancy is beneficial to the cognitive and affective functioning of all offspring (e.g., neurotypical and DS), the addition of this nutrient to a prenatal vitamin regimen would be predicted to have population-wide benefits and provide early intervention for fetuses with DS, notably including babies born to mothers unaware that they are carrying a fetus with DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian E. Powers
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, United States
| | - Ramon Velazquez
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Arizona State University-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Myla S. Strawderman
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- New York University Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Departments of Translational Neuroscience and Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Barbara J. Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gámiz F, Gallo M. A Systematic Review of the Dietary Choline Impact on Cognition from a Psychobiological Approach: Insights from Animal Studies. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13061966. [PMID: 34201092 PMCID: PMC8229126 DOI: 10.3390/nu13061966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of dietary choline availability on cognition is currently being suggested by animal and human studies which have focused mainly on the early developmental stages. The aim of this review is to systematically search through the available rodent (rats and mice) research published during the last two decades that has assessed the effect of dietary choline interventions on cognition and related attentional and emotional processes for the entire life span. The review has been conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines covering peer-reviewed studies included in PubMed and Scopus databases. After excluding duplicates and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria we have reviewed a total of 44 articles published in 25 journals with the contribution of 146 authors. The results are analyzed based on the timing and duration of the dietary intervention and the behavioral tests applied, amongst other variables. Overall, the available results provide compelling support for the relevance of dietary choline in cognition. The beneficial effects of choline supplementation is more evident in recognition rather than in spatial memory tasks when assessing nonpathological samples whilst these effects extend to other relational memory tasks in neuropathological models. However, the limited number of studies that have evaluated other cognitive functions suggest a wider range of potential effects. More research is needed to draw conclusions about the critical variables and the nature of the impact on specific cognitive processes. The results are discussed on the terms of the theoretical framework underlying the relationship between the brain systems and cognition.
Collapse
|
15
|
Moreno H, de Brugada I. Prenatal dietary choline supplementation modulates long-term memory development in rat offspring. Nutr Neurosci 2021; 24:417-425. [PMID: 31304891 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2019.1641294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Background: Previous studies on preclinical models have shown that giving supplemental choline during the embryonic period improves performance on memory tasks during adulthood. However, the effects of an early intervention on the development of cognitive functions in the immature brain have not been widely studied. In addition, it has been well established that short-term memory in rats emerges at an earlier stage than long-term memory.Objective: The aim of this work was to examine the effect of prenatal dietary choline supplementation on long-term memory development in rats.Methods: In order to assess long-term memory, we used an object-recognition task, which evaluates the ability to recall a previously presented stimulus. Pregnant rats were fed with the diets AIN 76-A standard (1.1 g choline/Kg food) or supplemented (5 g choline/Kg food) between embryonic days (E) 12 and E18. On the first post-natal day (PN 0), male offspring of the rats fed with the supplemented and standard diet were cross-fostered to rat dams fed a standard diet during pregnancy and tested at the age of PN21-22 or PN29-31 applying 24-hour retention tests.Results: The supplemented animals spent less time exploring the familiar object after a 24-hour retention interval, an effect that was observed in both the group tested at PN21-22 days of age and that tested at PN29-31 days. The non-supplemented rats only showed this effect in the group tested at PN29-31 days.Conclusions: These results suggest that prenatal supplementation with choline accelerates the development of long-term memory in rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hayarelis Moreno
- Department of Psychology of Education and Psychobiology, International University of La Rioja, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Isabel de Brugada
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Alashmali S, Walchuk C, Cadonic C, Albensi BC, Aliani M, Suh M. The effect of choline availability from gestation to early development on brain and retina functions and phospholipid composition in a male mouse model. Nutr Neurosci 2021; 25:1594-1608. [PMID: 33641632 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2021.1885229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although choline is essential for brain development and neural function, the effect of choline on retina function is not well understood. This study examined the effects of choline on neural tissues of brain and retina, and membrane phospholipid (PL) composition during fetal development. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were fed one of 4 choline modified diets: i) control (Cont, 2.5g/kg), ii) choline deficient (Def, 0g/kg), iii) supplemented with choline chloride (Cho, 10g/kg) and iv) supplemented with egg phosphatidylcholine (PC, 10g/kg). At postnatal day (PD) 21, pups were weaned onto their mothers' respective diets until PD 45. Spatial memory was measured using the Morris Water Maze; retina function by electroretinogram (ERG); and PL composition with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS Cho and PC supplementation enhanced cued learning and spatial memory abilities, respectively (p Def > PC > Cho, with no statistically significant alterations in cone-driven responses. There were no differences in the composition of major PLs in the brain and retina. In the brain, subclasses of ether PL, alkyl acyl- phosphatidylethanolamine (PEaa) and phosphatidylcholine (PCaa) were significantly greater among the PC supplemented group in comparison to the Def group. DISCUSSION These results indicate that while choline supplementation during gestation to an early developmental period is beneficial for spatial memory, contributions to retina function are minor. Assessment with a larger sample size of retinas could warrant the essentiality of choline for retina development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shoug Alashmali
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Chelsey Walchuk
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Hospital Research, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Chris Cadonic
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Benedict C Albensi
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Michel Aliani
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Hospital Research, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Miyoung Suh
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.,Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg, Canada.,Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine, St. Boniface Hospital Research, Winnipeg, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhong C, Lu Z, Che B, Qian S, Zheng X, Wang A, Bu X, Zhang J, Ju Z, Xu T, Zhang Y. Choline Pathway Nutrients and Metabolites and Cognitive Impairment After Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke 2021; 52:887-895. [PMID: 33467878 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.120.031903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Choline metabolism was suggested to play pathophysiological roles in nervous system and atherosclerosis development. However, little is known about the impacts of choline pathway nutrients and metabolites on poststroke cognitive impairment. We aimed to prospectively investigate the relationships between circulating choline, betaine, and trimethylamine N-oxide with cognitive impairment among acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS We derived data from CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke). Plasma choline, betaine, and trimethylamine N-oxide concentrations at baseline were measured in 617 participants. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Reclassification and calibration of models with choline-related biomarkers were evaluated. RESULTS Plasma choline and betaine were inversely associated with cognitive impairment. Compared with the lowest tertile, adjusted odds ratios of Mini-Mental State Examination-defined cognitive impairment for participants in the highest tertiles of choline and betaine were 0.59 (95% CI, 0.39-0.90) and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.39-0.92), respectively. In addition, both choline and betaine offered incremental predictive ability over the basic model with established risk factors, shown by increase in net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement. There were similar significant relationships between choline and betaine with cognitive impairment as defined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. However, plasma trimethylamine N-oxide was only associated with cognitive impairment evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination; the adjusted odds ratio was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.04-1.72) for each 1-SD increment of trimethylamine N-oxide. CONCLUSIONS Patients with higher choline and betaine levels had lower risk of cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke, supporting promising prognostic roles of choline pathway nutrients for poststroke cognitive impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chongke Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Zian Lu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Bizhong Che
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Sifan Qian
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Xiaowei Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Aili Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Xiaoqing Bu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, China (X.B.)
| | - Jintao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The 88th Hospital of PLA, Shandong, China (J.Z.)
| | - Zhong Ju
- Department of Neurology, Kerqin District First People's Hospital of Tongliao City, China (Z.J.)
| | - Tan Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| | - Yonghong Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China (C.Z., Z.L., B.C., S.Q., X.Z., A.W., T.X., Y.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Serum choline in extremely preterm infants declines with increasing parenteral nutrition. Eur J Nutr 2020; 60:1081-1089. [PMID: 32588218 PMCID: PMC7900091 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-020-02312-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Choline is an essential nutrient for fetal and infant growth and development. Parenteral nutrition used in neonatal care lack free choline but contain small amounts of lipid-bound choline in the form of phosphatidylcholine (PC). Here, we examined the longitudinal development of serum free choline and metabolically related compounds betaine and methionine in extremely preterm infants and how the concentrations were affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids the infants received during the first 28 postnatal days (PNDs).
Methods This prospective study included 87 infants born at gestational age (GA) < 28 weeks. Infant serum samples were collected PND 1, 7, 14, and 28, and at postmenstrual age (PMA) 32, 36, and 40 weeks. The serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Results The median (25th–75th percentile) serum concentrations of free choline, betaine, and methionine were 33.7 (26.2–41.2), 71.2 (53.2–100.8), and 25.6 (16.4–35.3) µM, respectively, at PND 1. The choline concentration decreased rapidly between PND one and PND seven [18.4 (14.1–26.4) µM], and then increased over the next 90 days, though never reaching PND one levels. There was a negative correlation between a high intake of parenteral fluids and serum-free choline.
Conclusion Circulating free choline in extremely preterm infants is negatively affected by the proportion of parenteral fluids administered. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02760472, April 29, 2016, retrospectively registered. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00394-020-02312-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
19
|
Derbyshire E, Obeid R. Choline, Neurological Development and Brain Function: A Systematic Review Focusing on the First 1000 Days. Nutrients 2020; 12:E1731. [PMID: 32531929 PMCID: PMC7352907 DOI: 10.3390/nu12061731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The foundations of neurodevelopment across an individual's lifespan are established in the first 1000 days of life (2 years). During this period an adequate supply of nutrients are essential for proper neurodevelopment and lifelong brain function. Of these, evidence for choline has been building but has not been widely collated using systematic approaches. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to identify the animal and human studies looking at inter-relationships between choline, neurological development, and brain function during the first 1000 days of life. The database PubMed was used, and reference lists were searched. In total, 813 publications were subject to the title/abstract review, and 38 animal and 16 human studies were included after evaluation. Findings suggest that supplementing the maternal or child's diet with choline over the first 1000 days of life could subsequently: (1) support normal brain development (animal and human evidence), (2) protect against neural and metabolic insults, particularly when the fetus is exposed to alcohol (animal and human evidence), and (3) improve neural and cognitive functioning (animal evidence). Overall, most offspring would benefit from increased choline supply during the first 1000 days of life, particularly in relation to helping facilitate normal brain development. Health policies and guidelines should consider re-evaluation to help communicate and impart potential choline benefits through diet and/or supplementation approaches across this critical life stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rima Obeid
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of the Saarland, Building 57, 66424 Homburg, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Choline: Exploring the Growing Science on Its Benefits for Moms and Babies. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11081823. [PMID: 31394787 PMCID: PMC6722688 DOI: 10.3390/nu11081823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of ensuring adequate choline intakes during pregnancy is increasingly recognized. Choline is critical for a number of physiological processes during the prenatal period with roles in membrane biosynthesis and tissue expansion, neurotransmission and brain development, and methyl group donation and gene expression. Studies in animals and humans have shown that supplementing the maternal diet with additional choline improves several pregnancy outcomes and protects against certain neural and metabolic insults. Most pregnant women in the U.S. are not achieving choline intake recommendations of 450 mg/day and would likely benefit from boosting their choline intakes through dietary and/or supplemental approaches.
Collapse
|
21
|
Wallace TC, Blusztajn JK, Caudill MA, Klatt KC, Zeisel SH. Choline: The Neurocognitive Essential Nutrient of Interest to Obstetricians and Gynecologists. J Diet Suppl 2019; 17:733-752. [DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2019.1639875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor C. Wallace
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Think Healthy Group, Inc, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jan Krzysztof Blusztajn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie A. Caudill
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Kevin C. Klatt
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven H. Zeisel
- Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bahrami A, Khayyatzadeh SS, Jaberi N, Tayefi M, Mohammadi F, Ferns GA, Sadeghnia HR, Ghayour-Mobarhan M. Common Polymorphisms in Genes Related to Vitamin D Metabolism Affect the Response of Cognitive Abilities to Vitamin D Supplementation. J Mol Neurosci 2019; 69:150-156. [PMID: 31313056 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
It is possible that vitamin D acts as a neurosteroid and that vitamin D deficiency may have an adverse impact on brain function and cognitive function. There are a few reports that have demonstrated an association between polymorphisms of genes involved in vitamin D metabolism and neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between common, functional vitamin D-associated gene variants and cognitive abilities and to investigate the effect size of this polymorphism on cognitive capabilities associated with high-dose vitamin D supplementation. A total of 319 healthy adolescents received a high dose of vitamin D (50,000 IU)/week for 9 weeks. A questionnaire was used to assess cognitive abilities at baseline and after treatment. The genotypes of the CYP2R1-rs10766197 and GC-rs4588 variants were determined using TaqMan genotyping techniques. At baseline, total cognitive ability scores were higher in the AA group who were homozygous for the uncommon allele, compared with the other (AG and GG) genotypes of the CYP2R1-rs10766197 polymorphism (104.9 ± 27.8 vs. 79.1 ± 38.8 vs. 73.1 ± 25.6; p < 0.001, respectively). During the supplementation period, cognitive ability scores increased in individuals with the AG and GG genotypes, while individuals with a AA genotype did not show significant change in total score after intervention (p = 0.17). For GC SNP (rs4588), no major differences at baseline and trial-net change of cognitive tasks score were observed between the genotypes under three genetic models (pSNP = 0.67). Vitamin D supplements have trait-dependent effects on cognitive performance that suggests a causal role for vitamin D in cognitive performance. The rs10766197 variant, near the CYP2R1 gene locus, significantly modified the efficacy of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation for its effects on improving cognitive abilities indicate that some subjects might require a higher dose to benefit from in terms of cognitive performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afsane Bahrami
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Sayyed Saeid Khayyatzadeh
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Najmeh Jaberi
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maryam Tayefi
- Clinical Research Unit, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Mohammadi
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Division of Medical Education, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Hamid Reza Sadeghnia
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Edwards CG, Walk AM, Cannavale CN, Flemming IR, Thompson SV, Reeser GR, Holscher HD, Khan NA. Dietary choline is related to neural efficiency during a selective attention task among middle-aged adults with overweight and obesity. Nutr Neurosci 2019; 24:269-278. [PMID: 31156061 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2019.1623456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Obesity is associated with poorer brain health and cognitive function. However, it is not clear whether specific dietary factors may provide neuroprotective effects among individuals with overweight and obesity. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of choline intake on neurophysiological markers of attentional control among young and middle-aged adults with overweight or obesity.Methods: 146 adults with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (34.0 ± 5.9 years, 57 males) participated in the study. Behavioral performance (accuracy and reaction time) and neuroelectric indices (event-related brain potentials [ERPs]) of attentional inhibition were assessed during a Flanker task. Specifically, the amplitude and latency of the P3 waveform in a central-parietal region of interest (ROI) were used to index attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively. Choline intake and overall diet quality (Healthy Eating Index [HEI-2015]) were assessed using 7-day diet records. Intelligence Quotient was assessed using the Kaufman-Brief Intelligence Test. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between habitual dietary choline intake and cognitive outcomes following adjustment of demographic factors, IQ, HEI-2015, and BMI.Results: Choline intake was selectively associated with a lower peak amplitude of the P300 waveform during incongruent trials (β = -0.25, p = <0.01). No significant relationships were observed for accuracy or reaction time.Discussion: Higher choline intake is associated with more efficient neural processing among adults with overweight and obesity. Intervention are necessary to determine whether choline consumption provides neuroprotective effects for executive function among individuals with elevated weight status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlyn G Edwards
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Anne M Walk
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Isabel R Flemming
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sharon V Thompson
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Ginger R Reeser
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Hannah D Holscher
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Naiman A Khan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.,Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.,Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
One-Carbon Metabolism Links Nutrition Intake to Embryonic Development via Epigenetic Mechanisms. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:3894101. [PMID: 30956668 PMCID: PMC6431457 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3894101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Beyond energy production, nutrient metabolism plays a crucial role in stem cell lineage determination. Changes in metabolism based on nutrient availability and dietary habits impact stem cell identity. Evidence suggests a strong link between metabolism and epigenetic mechanisms occurring during embryonic development and later life of offspring. Metabolism regulates epigenetic mechanisms such as modifications of DNA, histones, and microRNAs. In turn, these epigenetic mechanisms regulate metabolic pathways to modify the metabolome. One-carbon metabolism (OCM) is a crucial metabolic process involving transfer of the methyl groups leading to regulation of multiple cellular activities. OCM cycles and its related micronutrients are ubiquitously present in stem cells and feed into the epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we briefly introduce the OCM process and involved micronutrients and discuss OCM-associated epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs. We further consider the underlying OCM-mediated link between nutrition and epigenetic modifications in embryonic development.
Collapse
|
25
|
Wallace TC, Blusztajn JK, Caudill MA, Klatt KC, Natker E, Zeisel SH, Zelman KM. Choline: The Underconsumed and Underappreciated Essential Nutrient. NUTRITION TODAY 2018; 53:240-253. [PMID: 30853718 PMCID: PMC6259877 DOI: 10.1097/nt.0000000000000302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Choline has been recognized as an essential nutrient by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Medicine since 1998. Its metabolites have structural, metabolic, and regulatory roles within the body. Humans can endogenously produce small amounts of choline via the hepatic phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase pathway. However, the nutrient must be consumed exogenously to prevent signs of deficiency. The Adequate Intake (AI) for choline was calculated at a time when dietary intakes across the population were unknown for the nutrient. Unlike the traditional National Academy of Medicine approach of calculating an AI based on observed or experimentally determined approximations or estimates of intake by a group (or groups) of healthy individuals, calculation of the AI for choline was informed in part by a depletion-repletion study in adult men who, upon becoming deficient, developed signs of liver damage. The AI for other gender and life-stage groups was calculated based on standard reference weights, except for infants 0 to 6 months, whose AI reflects the observed mean intake from consuming human breast milk. Recent analyses indicate that large portions of the population (ie, approximately 90% of Americans), including most pregnant and lactating women, are well below the AI for choline. Moreover, the food patterns recommended by the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are currently insufficient to meet the AI for choline in most age-sex groups. An individual's requirement for choline is dependent on common genetic variants in genes required for choline, folate, and 1-carbon metabolism, potentially increasing more than one-third of the population's susceptibly to organ dysfunction. The American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics have both recently reaffirmed the importance of choline during pregnancy and lactation. New and emerging evidence suggests that maternal choline intake during pregnancy, and possibly lactation, has lasting beneficial neurocognitive effects on the offspring. Because choline is found predominantly in animal-derived foods, vegetarians and vegans may have a greater risk for inadequacy. With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommending expansion of dietary information for pregnant women, and the inclusion of recommendations for infants and toddlers 0 to 2 years, better communication of the role that choline plays, particularly in the area of neurocognitive development, is critical. This narrative review summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and discussions from the 2018 Choline Science Summit, held in Washington, DC, in February 2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor C Wallace
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| | - Jan Krzysztof Blusztajn
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| | - Marie A Caudill
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| | - Kevin C Klatt
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| | - Elana Natker
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| | - Steven H Zeisel
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| | - Kathleen M Zelman
- is the principal and CEO at the Think Healthy Group, Inc, and is a adjunct professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University
- is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine
- is a professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is a PhD candidate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University
- is the principal at Sage Leaf Communications
- is the director of the University of North Carolina Nutrition Research Institute, the director of the University of North Carolina Obesity Research Center, and aprofessor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina
- is the principal of Nonsense Nutrition and has served as the Director of Nutrition for WebMD
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Wiedeman AM, Chau CMY, Grunau RE, McCarthy D, Yurko-Mauro K, Dyer RA, Innis SM, Devlin AM. Plasma Betaine Is Positively Associated with Developmental Outcomes in Healthy Toddlers at Age 2 Years Who Are Not Meeting the Recommended Adequate Intake for Dietary Choline. J Nutr 2018; 148:1309-1314. [PMID: 29986040 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Choline is an important nutrient during development. However, there are limited data on dietary choline intake and status in toddlers and the relation to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Objective This study assessed dietary choline intake and status in healthy toddlers at ages 1 and 2 y and determined the relation to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods This is a secondary analysis of data from healthy toddlers enrolled in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation between ages 1 and 2 y. Dietary intakes of betaine and choline were estimated by 3-d food records; plasma free choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Developmental outcomes were assessed at age 2 y with the use of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III), Cognitive and Language composites, and the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery-VMI). Results The mean ± SD daily intake for total choline at age 1 y was 174 ± 56.2 mg/d and increased (P < 0.001) to 205 ± 67.5 mg/d at age 2 y. At ages 1 and 2 y, 71.8% and 55.8%, respectively, of toddlers did not meet the recommended 200-mg/d Adequate Intake (AI) for dietary choline. At age 1 y, mean ± SD plasma free choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine concentrations were 10.4 ± 3.3, 41.1 ± 15.4, and 4.1 ± 1.9 µmol/L, respectively. Plasma free choline (8.5 ± 2.3 µmol/L) and dimethylglycine (3.2 ± 1.3 µmol/L) concentrations were lower (P < 0.001) at age 2 y. Plasma betaine concentrations were positively associated with the Beery-VMI (β = 0.270; 95% CI: 0.026, 0.513; P = 0.03) at age 2 y. Conclusions These findings suggest that most toddlers are not meeting the recommended AI for dietary choline and that higher plasma betaine concentrations are associated with better visual-motor development at age 2 y. Further work is required to investigate choline metabolism and its role in neurodevelopment in toddlers. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01263912.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra M Wiedeman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cecil M Y Chau
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ruth E Grunau
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | | | - Roger A Dyer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sheila M Innis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Angela M Devlin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Herault Y, Delabar JM, Fisher EMC, Tybulewicz VLJ, Yu E, Brault V. Rodent models in Down syndrome research: impact and future opportunities. Dis Model Mech 2018; 10:1165-1186. [PMID: 28993310 PMCID: PMC5665454 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.029728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21. To date, a multiplicity of mouse models with Down-syndrome-related features has been developed to understand this complex human chromosomal disorder. These mouse models have been important for determining genotype-phenotype relationships and identification of dosage-sensitive genes involved in the pathophysiology of the condition, and in exploring the impact of the additional chromosome on the whole genome. Mouse models of Down syndrome have also been used to test therapeutic strategies. Here, we provide an overview of research in the last 15 years dedicated to the development and application of rodent models for Down syndrome. We also speculate on possible and probable future directions of research in this fast-moving field. As our understanding of the syndrome improves and genome engineering technologies evolve, it is necessary to coordinate efforts to make all Down syndrome models available to the community, to test therapeutics in models that replicate the whole trisomy and design new animal models to promote further discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Summary: Mouse models have boosted therapeutic options for Down syndrome, and improved models are being developed to better understand the pathophysiology of this genetic condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yann Herault
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France .,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France.,T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris
| | - Jean M Delabar
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, UMR8251, CNRS, 75205 Paris, France.,INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle épinière, ICM, 75013 Paris, France.,Brain and Spine Institute (ICM) CNRS UMR7225, INSERM UMRS 975, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,LonDownS Consortium, London, W1T 7NF UK
| | - Victor L J Tybulewicz
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,LonDownS Consortium, London, W1T 7NF UK.,The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.,Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Eugene Yu
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,The Children's Guild Foundation Down Syndrome Research Program, Department of Cancer Genetics and Genetics Program, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Roswell Park Division of Graduate School, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Program, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Veronique Brault
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Akison LK, Kuo J, Reid N, Boyd RN, Moritz KM. Effect of Choline Supplementation on Neurological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Outcomes in Offspring Arising from Alcohol Exposure During Development: A Quantitative Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1591-1611. [PMID: 29928762 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure results in cognitive, behavioral, and neurological deficits in offspring. There is an urgent need for safe and effective treatments to overcome these effects. Maternal choline supplementation has been identified as a potential intervention. Our objective was to review preclinical and clinical studies using choline supplementation in known cases of fetal alcohol exposure to determine its effectiveness in ameliorating deficits in offspring. A systematic search of 6 electronic databases was conducted and studies selected by reviewing titles/abstracts against specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Study characteristics, population demographics, alcohol exposure, and intervention methods were tabulated, and quality of reporting was assessed. Data on cognitive, behavioral, and neurological outcomes were extracted and tabulated. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine treatment effects for individual study outcomes. A total of 189 studies were retrieved following duplicate removal. Of these, 22 studies (2 randomized controlled trials, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 18 preclinical studies) met the full inclusion/exclusion criteria. Choline interventions were administered at different times relative to alcohol exposure, impacting on their success to prevent deficits for specific outcomes. Only 1 clinical study showed significant improvements in information processing in 6-month-old infants from mothers treated with choline during pregnancy. Preclinical studies showed significant amelioration of deficits due to prenatal alcohol exposure across a wide variety of outcomes, including epigenetic/molecular changes, gross motor, memory, and executive function. This review suggests that choline supplementation has the potential to ameliorate specific behavioral, neurological, and cognitive deficits in offspring caused by fetal alcohol exposure, at least in preclinical studies. As only 1 clinical study has shown benefit, we recommend more clinical trials be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of choline in preventing deficits across a wider range of cognitive domains in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K Akison
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jenny Kuo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Natasha Reid
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Roslyn N Boyd
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Child Health Research Centre, Centre for Children's Health Research, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Karen M Moritz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Moreno H, Hall G, Gallo M, de Brugada I. Dietary choline supplementation in adult rats improves performance on a test of recognition memory. Behav Brain Res 2018; 353:210-217. [PMID: 29694911 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In two experiments adult rats (aged at least 6 months at the start of the procedure) received a diet enriched with added choline for a period of 10 weeks; control subjects were maintained on a standard diet during this time. All rats then underwent the spontaneous object recognition (SOR) procedure in which they were exposed to a pair of objects and then tested, after a retention interval, to a display with one object changed. Exploration of the changed object indicates retention and use of information acquired during the exposure phase. All subjects showed retention with a 24-h interval (Experiments 1 and 2) and when retested after a further 24 h (Experiment 1). But when tested for the first time after a 48-h interval (Experiment 2), control subjects showed no evidence of retention, exploring both objects equally, whereas those given the dietary supplement continued to show a preference for the changed object. This supports the conclusion that dietary choline supplementation can enhance performance on a task regarded as a test of declarative memory, and will do so even when the supplementations is given in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hayarelis Moreno
- Department of Psychology of Education and Psychobiology, International University of La Rioja, Spain.
| | - Geoffrey Hall
- Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Milagros Gallo
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Spain
| | - Isabel de Brugada
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada, Spain; CIMCYC (University of Granada), Spain
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wallace TC. A Comprehensive Review of Eggs, Choline, and Lutein on Cognition Across the Life-span. J Am Coll Nutr 2018; 37:269-285. [DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2017.1423248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor C. Wallace
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia; Think Healthy Group, Inc., Washington, DC
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Caudill MA, Strupp BJ, Muscalu L, Nevins JEH, Canfield RL. Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study. FASEB J 2018; 32:2172-2180. [PMID: 29217669 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700692rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie A Caudill
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Barbara J Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; and
| | - Laura Muscalu
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.,Department of Psychology, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Julie E H Nevins
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Richard L Canfield
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Nam J, Greenwald E, Jack-Roberts C, Ajeeb TT, Malysheva OV, Caudill MA, Axen K, Saxena A, Semernina E, Nanobashvili K, Jiang X. Choline prevents fetal overgrowth and normalizes placental fatty acid and glucose metabolism in a mouse model of maternal obesity. J Nutr Biochem 2017; 49:80-88. [PMID: 28915389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Maternal obesity increases placental transport of macronutrients, resulting in fetal overgrowth and obesity later in life. Choline participates in fatty acid metabolism, serves as a methyl donor and influences growth signaling, which may modify placental macronutrient homeostasis and affect fetal growth. Using a mouse model of maternal obesity, we assessed the effect of maternal choline supplementation on preventing fetal overgrowth and restoring placental macronutrient homeostasis. C57BL/6J mice were fed either a high-fat (HF, 60% kcal from fat) diet or a normal (NF, 10% kcal from fat) diet with a drinking supply of either 25 mM choline chloride or control purified water, respectively, beginning 4 weeks prior to mating until gestational day 12.5. Fetal and placental weight, metabolites and gene expression were measured. HF feeding significantly (P<.05) increased placental and fetal weight in the HF-control (HFCO) versus NF-control (NFCO) animals, whereas the HF choline-supplemented (HFCS) group effectively normalized placental and fetal weight to the levels of the NFCO group. Compared to HFCO, the HFCS group had lower (P<.05) glucose transporter 1 and fatty acid transport protein 1 expression as well as lower accumulation of glycogen in the placenta. The HFCS group also had lower (P<.05) placental 4E-binding protein 1 and ribosomal protein s6 phosphorylation, which are indicators of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 activation favoring macronutrient anabolism. In summary, our results suggest that maternal choline supplementation prevented fetal overgrowth in obese mice at midgestation and improved biomarkers of placental macronutrient homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juha Nam
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Esther Greenwald
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Chauntelle Jack-Roberts
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Tamara T Ajeeb
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; Department of Clinical Nutrition, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Olga V Malysheva
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Marie A Caudill
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Kathleen Axen
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Anjana Saxena
- Department of Biology, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Ekaterina Semernina
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Khatia Nanobashvili
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
Abstract. A growing body of research suggests that physical activity, healthy eating, and music can, either directly or indirectly, have positive effects on our brain and cognition. More specifically, exercising and eating seem to enhance cognitive abilities, such as memory, creativity, and perception. They also improve academic performance and play a protective role from many degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Concerning music, research has shown that there exists a general positive relation between music aptitude and cognitive functioning. Furthermore, the presence of music seems to create a positive mood and a higher arousal, which translates into better performance in many cognitive tasks. This literature review provides an overview of the major empirical findings in this domain. Studies on both healthy and clinical individuals are reviewed and discussed. We conclude with suggestions for educators, policymakers, people in helping professions, and any others interested in making informed decisions about possible ways to nurture their own brain or the brain of the people they are trying to help. We also provide suggestions for additional research on this important topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Misuraca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e della Formazione, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvana Miceli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e della Formazione, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
| | - Ursina Teuscher
- Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Idrus NM, Breit KR, Thomas JD. Dietary choline levels modify the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2017; 59:43-52. [PMID: 27888055 PMCID: PMC5770193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause a range of physical and behavioral alterations; however, the outcome among children exposed to alcohol during pregnancy varies widely. Some of this variation may be due to nutritional factors. Indeed, higher rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are observed in countries where malnutrition is prevalent. Epidemiological studies have shown that many pregnant women throughout the world may not be consuming adequate levels of choline, an essential nutrient critical for brain development, and a methyl donor. In this study, we examined the influence of dietary choline deficiency on the severity of fetal alcohol effects. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive diets containing 40, 70, or 100% recommended choline levels. A group from each diet condition was exposed to ethanol (6.0g/kg/day) from gestational day 5 to 20 via intubation. Pair-fed and ad lib lab chow control groups were also included. Physical and behavioral development was measured in the offspring. Prenatal alcohol exposure delayed motor development, and 40% choline altered performance on the cliff avoidance task, independent of one another. However, the combination of low choline and prenatal alcohol produced the most severe impairments in development. Subjects exposed to ethanol and fed the 40% choline diet exhibited delayed eye openings, significantly fewer successes in hindlimb coordination, and were significantly overactive compared to all other groups. These data suggest that suboptimal intake of a single nutrient can exacerbate some of ethanol's teratogenic effects, a finding with important implications for the prevention of FASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nirelia M Idrus
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Kristen R Breit
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Jennifer D Thomas
- Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Nguyen TT, Risbud RD, Mattson SN, Chambers CD, Thomas JD. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of choline supplementation in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Am J Clin Nutr 2016; 104:1683-1692. [PMID: 27806977 PMCID: PMC5118735 DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.116.142075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure results in a broad range of cognitive and behavioral impairments. Because of the long-lasting problems that are associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), the development of effective treatment programs is critical. Preclinical animal studies have shown that choline, which is an essential nutrient, can attenuate the severity of alcohol-related cognitive impairments. OBJECTIVE We aimed to translate preclinical findings to a clinical population to investigate whether choline supplementation can ameliorate the severity of memory, executive function, and attention deficits in children with FASDs. DESIGN In the current study, which was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we explored the effectiveness of a choline intervention for children with FASDs who were aged 5-10 y. Fifty-five children with confirmed histories of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure were randomly assigned to either the choline (n = 29) or placebo (n = 26) treatment arms. Participants in the choline group received 625 mg choline/d for 6 wk, whereas subjects in the placebo group received an equivalent dose of an inactive placebo treatment. Primary outcomes, including the performance on neuropsychological measures of memory, executive function, and attention and hyperactivity, were assessed at baseline and postintervention. RESULTS Compared with the placebo group, participants in the choline group did not differentially improve in cognitive performance in any domain. Treatment compliance and mean dietary choline intake were not predictive of treatment outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Findings of the current study do not support that choline, administered at a dose of 625 mg/d for 6 wk, is an effective intervention for school-aged (5-10 y old) children with FASDs. This research provides important information about choline's therapeutic window. Combined with other studies of choline and nutritional interventions in this population, this study emphasizes a further need for the continued study of the role of nutritional status and supplementation in children with FASDs and the contributions of nutrition to neurocognition. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01911299.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya T Nguyen
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA; .,Departments of Psychiatry
| | - Rashmi D Risbud
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| | - Christina D Chambers
- Pediatrics, and.,Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA; and
| | - Jennifer D Thomas
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kelley CM, Ash JA, Powers BE, Velazquez R, Alldred MJ, Ikonomovic MD, Ginsberg SD, Strupp BJ, Mufson EJ. Effects of Maternal Choline Supplementation on the Septohippocampal Cholinergic System in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome. Curr Alzheimer Res 2016; 13:84-96. [PMID: 26391045 DOI: 10.2174/1567205012666150921100515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, is marked by intellectual disability (ID) and early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology including hippocampal cholinergic projection system degeneration. Here we determined the effects of age and maternal choline supplementation (MCS) on hippocampal cholinergic deficits in Ts65Dn mice compared to 2N mice sacrificed at 6-8 and 14-18 months of age. Ts65Dn mice and disomic (2N) littermates sacrificed at ages 6-8 and 14-18 mos were used for an aging study and Ts65Dn and 2N mice derived from Ts65Dn dams were maintained on either a choline-supplemented or a choline-controlled diet (conception to weaning) and examined at 14-18 mos for MCS studies. In the latter, mice were behaviorally tested on the radial arm Morris water maze (RAWM) and hippocampal tissue was examined for intensity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity. Hippocampal ChAT activity was evaluated in a separate cohort. ChAT-positive fiber innervation was significantly higher in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus in Ts65Dn mice compared with 2N mice, independent of age or maternal diet. Similarly, hippocampal ChAT activity was significantly elevated in Ts65Dn mice compared to 2N mice, independent of maternal diet. A significant increase with age was seen in hippocampal cholinergic innervation of 2N mice, but not Ts65Dn mice. Degree of ChAT intensity correlated negatively with spatial memory ability in unsupplemented 2N and Ts65Dn mice, but positively in MCS 2N mice. The increased innervation produced by MCS appears to improve hippocampal function, making this a therapy that may be exploited for future translational approaches in human DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elliott J Mufson
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Dept. Neurobiology, Phoenix, AZ 85031, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Strupp BJ, Powers BE, Velazquez R, Ash JA, Kelley CM, Alldred MJ, Strawderman M, Caudill MA, Mufson EJ, Ginsberg SD. Maternal Choline Supplementation: A Potential Prenatal Treatment for Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2016; 13:97-106. [PMID: 26391046 DOI: 10.2174/1567205012666150921100311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although Down syndrome (DS) can be diagnosed prenatally, currently there are no effective treatments to lessen the intellectual disability (ID) which is a hallmark of this disorder. Furthermore, starting as early as the third decade of life, DS individuals exhibit the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with subsequent dementia, adding substantial emotional and financial burden to their families and society at large. A potential therapeutic strategy emerging from the study of trisomic mouse models of DS is to supplement the maternal diet with additional choline during pregnancy and lactation. Studies demonstrate that maternal choline supplementation (MCS) markedly improves spatial cognition and attentional function, as well as normalizes adult hippocampal neurogenesis and offers protection to basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS. These effects on neurogenesis and BFCNs correlate significantly with spatial cognition, suggesting functional relationships. In this review, we highlight some of these provocative findings, which suggest that supplementing the maternal diet with additional choline may serve as an effective and safe prenatal strategy for improving cognitive, affective, and neural functioning in DS. In light of growing evidence that all pregnancies would benefit from increased maternal choline intake, this type of recommendation could be given to all pregnant women, thereby providing a very early intervention for individuals with DS, and include babies born to mothers unaware that they are carrying a fetus with DS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Yu L, Chen Y, Wang W, Xiao Z, Hong Y. Multi-Vitamin B Supplementation Reverses Hypoxia-Induced Tau Hyperphosphorylation and Improves Memory Function in Adult Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 54:297-306. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-160329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
39
|
Jiang X, Greenwald E, Jack-Roberts C. Effects of Choline on DNA Methylation and Macronutrient Metabolic Gene Expression in In Vitro Models of Hyperglycemia. Nutr Metab Insights 2016; 9:11-7. [PMID: 27081315 PMCID: PMC4825771 DOI: 10.4137/nmi.s29465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline is an essential nutrient that plays an important role in lipid metabolism and DNA methylation. Studies in rodents suggest that choline may adversely affect glycemic control, yet studies in humans are lacking. Using the human hepatic and placental cells, HepG2 and BeWo, respectively, we examined the interaction between choline and glucose treatments. In HepG2 cells, choline supplementation (1 mM) increased global DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase expression in both low-glucose (5 mM) and high-glucose (35 mM) conditions. Choline supplementation increased the expression of peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1), which mediates fatty acid β-oxidation, especially in the high-glucose condition. High-glucose exposure increased the transcription of the gluconeogenic gene phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), while choline supplementation mitigated such increase. Compared to HepG2 cells, the placenta-derived BeWo cells were relatively unresponsive to either high-glucose or -choline treatment. In conclusion, choline and glucose interacted to affect macronutrient metabolic genes, yet there was no indication that choline may worsen glycemic control in these in vitro human cell culture models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyin Jiang
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Esther Greenwald
- Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Schneider RD, Thomas JD. Adolescent Choline Supplementation Attenuates Working Memory Deficits in Rats Exposed to Alcohol During the Third Trimester Equivalent. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2016; 40:897-905. [PMID: 27038598 PMCID: PMC5763508 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children exposed to alcohol prenatally may suffer from behavioral and cognitive alterations that adversely affect their quality of life. Animal studies have shown that perinatal supplementation with the nutrient choline can attenuate ethanol's adverse effects on development; however, it is not clear how late in development choline can be administered and still effectively reduce the consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. Using a rodent model, this study examined whether choline supplementation is effective in mitigating alcohol's teratogenic effects when administered during adolescence/young adulthood. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to alcohol (5.25 g/kg/d) during the third trimester equivalent brain growth spurt, which occurs from postnatal day (PD) 4 to 9, via oral intubation. Sham-intubated and nontreated controls were included. Subjects were treated with 100 mg/kg/d choline chloride or vehicle from PD 40 to 60, a period equivalent to young adulthood in the rat. After the choline treatment had ceased, subjects were tested on a series of behavioral tasks: open field activity (PD 61 to 64), Morris water maze spatial learning (PD 65 to 73), and spatial working memory (PD 87 to 91). RESULTS Ethanol-exposed subjects were overactive in the activity chambers and impaired on both the spatial and the working memory versions of the Morris water maze. Choline treatment failed to attenuate alcohol-related overactivity in the open field and deficits in Morris water maze performance. In contrast, choline supplementation significantly mitigated alcohol-related deficits in working memory, which may suggest that choline administration at this later developmental time affects functioning of the prefrontal cortex. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that adolescent choline supplementation can attenuate some, but not all, of the behavioral deficits associated with early developmental alcohol exposure. The results of this study indicate that dietary intervention may reduce some fetal alcohol effects, even when administered later in life, findings with important implications for adolescents and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald D Schneider
- Department of Psychology (RDS, JDT), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Jennifer D Thomas
- Department of Psychology (RDS, JDT), Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
McBreairty LE, Bertolo RF. The dynamics of methionine supply and demand during early development. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2016; 41:581-7. [PMID: 27177124 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2015-0577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Methionine is an indispensable amino acid that, when not incorporated into protein, is converted into the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine as entry into the methionine cycle. Following transmethylation, homocysteine is either remethylated to reform methionine or irreversibly trans-sulfurated to form cysteine. Methionine flux to transmethylation and to protein synthesis are both high in the neonate and this review focuses on the dynamics of methionine supply and demand during early development, when growth requires expansion of pools of protein and transmethylation products such as creatine and phosphatidylcholine (PC). The nutrients folate and betaine (derived from choline) donate a methyl group during remethylation, providing an endogenous supply of methionine to meet the methionine demand. During early development, variability in the dietary supply of these methionine cycle-related nutrients can affect both the supply and the demand of methionine. For example, a greater need for creatine synthesis can limit methionine availability for protein and PC synthesis, whereas increased availability of remethylation nutrients can increase protein synthesis if dietary methionine is limiting. Moreover, changes to methyl group availability early in life can lead to permanent changes in epigenetic patterns of DNA methylation, which have been implicated in the early origins of adult disease phenomena. This review aims to summarize how changes in methyl supply and demand can affect the availability of methionine for various functions and highlights the importance of variability in methionine-related nutrients in the infant diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E McBreairty
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Robert F Bertolo
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
|
43
|
Kable JA, Coles CD, Keen CL, Uriu-Adams JY, Jones KL, Yevtushok L, Kulikovsky Y, Wertelecki W, Pedersen TL, Chambers CD. The impact of micronutrient supplementation in alcohol-exposed pregnancies on information processing skills in Ukrainian infants. Alcohol 2015; 49:647-56. [PMID: 26493109 PMCID: PMC4636447 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The potential of micronutrients to ameliorate the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) was explored in a clinical trial conducted in Ukraine. Cardiac orienting responses (ORs) during a habituation/dishabituation learning paradigm were obtained from 6 to 12 month-olds to assess neurophysiological encoding and memory. Women who differed in prenatal alcohol use were recruited during pregnancy and assigned to a group (No study-provided supplements, multivitamin/mineral supplement, or multivitamin/mineral supplement plus choline supplement). Heart rate was collected for 30 s prior to stimulus onset and 12 s post-stimulus onset. Difference values (∆HR) for the first 3 trials of each condition were aggregated for analysis. Gestational blood samples were collected to assess maternal nutritional status and changes as a function of the intervention. Choline supplementation resulted in a greater ∆HR on the visual habituation trials for all infants and for the infants with no PAE on the dishabituation trials. The latency of the response was reduced in both conditions for all infants whose mothers received choline supplementation. Change in gestational choline level was positively related to ∆HR during habituation trials and levels of one choline metabolite, dimethylglycine (DMG), predicted ∆HR during habituation trials and latency of responses. A trend was found between DMG and ∆HR on the dishabituation trials and latency of the response. Supplementation did not affect ORs to auditory stimuli. Choline supplementation when administered together with routinely recommended multivitamin/mineral prenatal supplements during pregnancy may provide a beneficial impact to basic learning mechanisms involved in encoding and memory of environmental events in alcohol-exposed pregnancies as well as non- or low alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Changes in maternal nutrient status suggested that one mechanism by which choline supplementation may positively impact brain development is through prevention of fetal alcohol-related depletion of DMG, a metabolic nutrient that can protect against overproduction of glycine, during critical periods of neurogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J A Kable
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, USA.
| | - C D Coles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - C L Keen
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - J Y Uriu-Adams
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - K L Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - L Yevtushok
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Rivne Regional Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne Province, Ukraine
| | - Y Kulikovsky
- OMNI-Net for Children International Charitable Fund, Rivne Regional Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne Province, Ukraine
| | - W Wertelecki
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA; Department of Medical Genetics, University of South Alabama, USA
| | - T L Pedersen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
| | - C D Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Leermakers ETM, Moreira EM, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Darweesh SKL, Visser T, Voortman T, Bautista PK, Chowdhury R, Gorman D, Bramer WM, Felix JF, Franco OH. Effects of choline on health across the life course: a systematic review. Nutr Rev 2015; 73:500-22. [PMID: 26108618 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuv010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Choline is a precursor of both betaine and acetylcholine and might, therefore, influence cardiovascular and cognitive outcomes. There has been concern, however, that it may influence blood lipid levels because it is an essential component of very-low-density lipoproteins. OBJECTIVE The aim was to systematically review, using PRISMA guidelines, the literature pertaining to the effects of choline on body composition and on metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological outcomes in different life stages. DATA SOURCES The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to July 2014. DATA EXTRACTION Fifty relevant articles were identified. These comprised trials and cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies that assessed blood levels of choline, dietary intake of choline, and supplementation with choline in a population free of diseases at baseline. DATA SYNTHESIS There is some observational evidence that choline during pregnancy may be beneficial for the neurological health of the child. In adults, choline may have beneficial effects on cognition, but high-quality (intervention) studies are lacking. Results on the effects of choline on body composition, blood lipids, and cardiovascular health were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS Evidence to confirm the suggested effects of choline on health in different stages of life is scarce. Potential effects of choline need to be confirmed by intervention studies. Possible harmful effects on cardiometabolic health need careful evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth T M Leermakers
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eduardo M Moreira
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jessica C Kiefte-de Jong
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sirwan K L Darweesh
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thirsa Visser
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Trudy Voortman
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Paula K Bautista
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rajiv Chowdhury
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Donal Gorman
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wichor M Bramer
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janine F Felix
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Oscar H Franco
- E.T.M. Leermakers, E.M. Moreira, J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, S.K.L. Darweesh, T. Visser, T. Voortman, P.K. Bautista, J.F. Felix, and O.H. Franco are with the Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands. R. Chowdhury and D. Gorman are with the Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 8RN, United Kingdom. W.M. Bramer is with the Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Davenport C, Yan J, Taesuwan S, Shields K, West AA, Jiang X, Perry CA, Malysheva OV, Stabler SP, Allen RH, Caudill MA. Choline intakes exceeding recommendations during human lactation improve breast milk choline content by increasing PEMT pathway metabolites. J Nutr Biochem 2015; 26:903-11. [PMID: 26025328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Demand for the vital nutrient choline is high during lactation; however, few studies have examined choline metabolism and requirements in this reproductive state. The present study sought to discern the effects of lactation and varied choline intake on maternal biomarkers of choline metabolism and breast milk choline content. Lactating (n=28) and control (n=21) women were randomized to 480 or 930 mg choline/day for 10-12 weeks as part of a controlled feeding study. During the last 4-6 weeks, 20% of the total choline intake was provided as an isotopically labeled choline tracer (methyl-d9-choline). Blood, urine and breast milk samples were collected for choline metabolite quantification, enrichment measurements, and gene expression analysis of choline metabolic genes. Lactating (vs. control) women exhibited higher (P < .001) plasma choline concentrations but lower (P ≤ .002) urinary excretion of choline metabolites, decreased use of choline as a methyl donor (e.g., lower enrichment of d6-dimethylglycine, P ≤ .08) and lower (P ≤ .02) leukocyte expression of most choline-metabolizing genes. A higher choline intake during lactation differentially influenced breast milk d9- vs. d3-choline metabolite enrichment. Increases (P ≤ .03) were detected among the d3-metabolites, which are generated endogenously via the hepatic phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT), but not among the d9-metabolites generated from intact exogenous choline. These data suggest that lactation induces metabolic adaptations that increase the supply of intact choline to the mammary epithelium, and that extra maternal choline enhances breast milk choline content by increasing supply of PEMT-derived choline metabolites. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01127022.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Davenport
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jian Yan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Siraphat Taesuwan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Kelsey Shields
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Allyson A West
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Cydne A Perry
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Olga V Malysheva
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sally P Stabler
- Department of Medicine and Division of Hematology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Robert H Allen
- Department of Medicine and Division of Hematology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Marie A Caudill
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Debnath M, Venkatasubramanian G, Berk M. Fetal programming of schizophrenia: select mechanisms. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 49:90-104. [PMID: 25496904 PMCID: PMC7112550 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence indicates that schizophrenia is associated with adverse intrauterine experiences. An adverse or suboptimal fetal environment can cause irreversible changes in brain that can subsequently exert long-lasting effects through resetting a diverse array of biological systems including endocrine, immune and nervous. It is evident from animal and imaging studies that subtle variations in the intrauterine environment can cause recognizable differences in brain structure and cognitive functions in the offspring. A wide variety of environmental factors may play a role in precipitating the emergent developmental dysregulation and the consequent evolution of psychiatric traits in early adulthood by inducing inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative stress (IO&NS) pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and epigenetic dysregulation. However, the precise mechanisms behind such relationships and the specificity of the risk factors for schizophrenia remain exploratory. Considering the paucity of knowledge on fetal programming of schizophrenia, it is timely to consolidate the recent advances in the field and put forward an integrated overview of the mechanisms associated with fetal origin of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monojit Debnath
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore 560029, India.
| | - Ganesan Venkatasubramanian
- Translational Psychiatry Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre and Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029, India
| | - Michael Berk
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gardiner KJ. Pharmacological approaches to improving cognitive function in Down syndrome: current status and considerations. Drug Des Devel Ther 2014; 9:103-25. [PMID: 25552901 PMCID: PMC4277121 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s51476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), also known as trisomy 21, is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID). Although ID can be mild, the average intelligence quotient is in the range of 40-50. All individuals with DS will also develop the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by the age of 30-40 years, and approximately half will display an AD-like dementia by the age of 60 years. DS is caused by an extra copy of the long arm of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) and the consequent elevated levels of expression, due to dosage, of trisomic genes. Despite a worldwide incidence of one in 700-1,000 live births, there are currently no pharmacological treatments available for ID or AD in DS. However, over the last several years, very promising results have been obtained with a mouse model of DS, the Ts65Dn. A diverse array of drugs has been shown to rescue, or partially rescue, DS-relevant deficits in learning and memory and abnormalities in cellular and electrophysiological features seen in the Ts65Dn. These results suggest that some level of amelioration or prevention of cognitive deficits in people with DS may be possible. Here, we review information from the preclinical evaluations in the Ts65Dn, how drugs were selected, how efficacy was judged, and how outcomes differ, or not, among studies. We also summarize the current state of human clinical trials for ID and AD in DS. Lastly, we describe the genetic limitations of the Ts65Dn as a model of DS, and in the preclinical testing of pharmacotherapeutics, and suggest additional targets to be considered for potential pharmacotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katheleen J Gardiner
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
An animal model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Trace conditioning as a window to inform memory deficits and intervention tactics. Physiol Behav 2014; 148:36-44. [PMID: 25477227 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) afford the unique capacity to precisely control timing of alcohol exposure and alcohol exposure amounts in the developing animal. These models have powerfully informed neurophysiological alterations associated with fetal and perinatal alcohol. In two experiments presented here we expand use of the Pavlovian Trace Conditioning procedure to examine cognitive deficits and intervention strategies in a rat model of FASD. Rat pups were exposed to 5g/kg/day ethanol on postnatal days (PD) 4-9, simulating alcohol exposure in the third trimester in humans. During early adolescence, approximately PD 30, the rats were trained in the trace conditioning task in which a light conditioned stimulus (CS) and shock unconditioned stimulus (US) were paired but separated by a 10-s stimulus free trace interval. Learning was assessed in freezing behavior during shock-free tests. Experiment 1 revealed that neonatal ethanol exposure significantly impaired hippocampus-dependent trace conditioning relative to controls. In Experiment 2 a serial compound conditioning procedure known as 'gap filling' completely reversed the ethanol-induced deficit in trace conditioning. We also discuss prior data regarding the beneficial effects of supplemental choline and novel preliminary data regarding the pharmacological cognitive enhancer physostigmine, both of which mitigate the alcohol-induced cognitive deficit otherwise seen in trace conditioning controls. We suggest trace conditioning as a useful tool for characterizing some of the core cognitive deficits seen in FASD, and as a model for developing effective environmental as well as nutritional and pharmacological interventions.
Collapse
|
49
|
Ash JA, Velazquez R, Kelley CM, Powers BE, Ginsberg SD, Mufson EJ, Strupp BJ. Maternal choline supplementation improves spatial mapping and increases basal forebrain cholinergic neuron number and size in aged Ts65Dn mice. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 70:32-42. [PMID: 24932939 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is marked by intellectual disability (ID) and early-onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, including basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) degeneration. The present study tested the hypothesis that maternal choline supplementation (MCS) improves spatial mapping and protects against BFCN degeneration in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS and AD. During pregnancy and lactation, dams were assigned to either a choline sufficient (1.1g/kg choline chloride) or choline supplemented (5.0g/kg choline chloride) diet. Between 13 and 17months of age, offspring were tested in the radial arm water maze (RAWM) to examine spatial mapping followed by unbiased quantitative morphometry of BFCNs. Spatial mapping was significantly impaired in unsupplemented Ts65Dn mice relative to normal disomic (2N) littermates. Additionally, a significantly lower number and density of medial septum (MS) hippocampal projection BFCNs was also found in unsupplemented Ts65Dn mice. Notably, MCS significantly improved spatial mapping and increased number, density, and size of MS BFCNs in Ts65Dn offspring. Moreover, the density and number of MS BFCNs correlated significantly with spatial memory proficiency, providing support for a functional relationship between these behavioral and morphometric effects of MCS for trisomic offspring. Thus, increasing maternal choline intake during pregnancy may represent a safe and effective treatment approach for expectant mothers carrying a DS fetus, as well as a possible means of BFCN neuroprotection during aging for the population at large.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Ash
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ramon Velazquez
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Christy M Kelley
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Brian E Powers
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology & Neuroscience, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10962, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Barbara J Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Hunt PS, Jacobson SE, Kim S. Supplemental choline does not attenuate the effects of neonatal ethanol administration on habituation of the heart rate orienting response in rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2014; 44:121-5. [PMID: 24907459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Revised: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Several studies using rodent subjects have now shown that extra dietary choline may prevent or even reverse the deleterious effects of pre- and early post-natal ethanol administration. Choline supplementation has been shown to attenuate many, although not all, of ethanol's effects on brain development and behavior. Our laboratory has consistently reported impaired habituation of the heart rate orienting response to a novel olfactory stimulus in animals exposed to ethanol on postnatal days (PD) 4-9. Here we examine whether supplemental choline given both during and after ethanol administration could alleviate these ethanol-induced deficits. Subjects were given 5g/kg/day ethanol or sham intubations on PD 4-9. Half of the subjects in each group were given a single daily s.c. injection of choline chloride on PD 4-20, while the other half were injected daily with saline. Pups were tested for heart rate orienting and response habituation in a single test session on PD 23. Results replicated the ethanol-induced impairment in response habituation. However, choline supplementation had no effect on orienting or habituation in either neonatal treatment group. These findings indicate that habituation deficits induced by ethanol are not alleviated by extra dietary choline using these parameters. Choline holds great promise as a treatment for some fetal alcohol effects, but is not an effective treatment for all ethanol-related deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S Hunt
- Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary, United States.
| | - Sarah E Jacobson
- Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary, United States
| | - Sarah Kim
- Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary, United States
| |
Collapse
|