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Titterness AK, Gräfe EL, Acosta C, Rodriguez C, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Developmental ethanol exposure produces deficits in long-term potentiation in vivo that persist following postnatal choline supplementation. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024. [PMID: 38850072 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is one of the leading causes of neurodevelopmental disorder for which there is a pressing need for an effective treatment. Recent studies have investigated the essential nutrient choline as a postnatal treatment option. Supplementation with choline has produced improvements in behavioral tasks related to learning and memory and reverted changes in methylation signature following third-trimester equivalent ethanol exposure. We examined whether there are related improvements in hippocampal synaptic plasticity in vivo. METHODS Sprague-Dawley offspring were administered binge-levels of ethanol from postnatal day (PND) 4 to 9, then treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) from PND 10 to 30. In vivo electrophysiology was performed on male and female offspring from PND 55 to 70. Long-term potentiation (LTP) was induced in the medial perforant pathway of the dentate gyrus using a theta-burst stimulation (TBS) protocol, and field-evoked postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were evoked for 60 min following the conditioning stimulus. RESULTS Developmental ethanol exposure caused long-lasting deficits in LTP of the slope of the evoked responses and in the amplitude of the population spike potentiation. Neither deficit was rescued by postnatal choline supplementation. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to our prior findings that choline can improve hippocampal plasticity (Nutrients, 2022, 14, 2004), here we found that deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity due to developmental ethanol exposure persisted into adulthood despite adolescent choline supplementation. Future research should examine more subtle changes in synaptic plasticity to identify synaptic changes that mirror behavioral improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Titterness
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - E L Gräfe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Acosta
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - C Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - J D Thomas
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - B R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Island Medical Program and Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Institute for Aging and Life-Long Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Wilson DA, Sullivan RM, Smiley JF, Saito M, Raineki C. Developmental alcohol exposure is exhausting: Sleep and the enduring consequences of alcohol exposure during development. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 158:105567. [PMID: 38309498 PMCID: PMC10923002 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105567] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading nongenetic cause of human intellectual impairment. The long-term impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure on health and well-being are diverse, including neuropathology leading to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional impairments. Additionally negative effects also occur on the physiological level, such as the endocrine, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Among these diverse impacts is sleep disruption. In this review, we describe how prenatal alcohol exposure affects sleep, and potential mechanisms of those effects. Furthermore, we outline the evidence that sleep disruption across the lifespan may be a mediator of some cognitive and behavioral impacts of developmental alcohol exposure, and thus may represent a promising target for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A Wilson
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Regina M Sullivan
- Emotional Brain Institute, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John F Smiley
- Division of Neurochemistry, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariko Saito
- Division of Neurochemistry, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlis Raineki
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada; Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
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3
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Calame DG, Wong JH, Panda P, Nguyen DT, Leong NC, Sangermano R, Patankar SG, Abdel-Hamid M, AlAbdi L, Safwat S, Flannery KP, Dardas Z, Fatih JM, Murali C, Kannan V, Lotze TE, Herman I, Ammouri F, Rezich B, Efthymiou S, Alavi S, Murphy D, Firoozfar Z, Nasab ME, Bahreini A, Ghasemi M, Haridy NA, Goldouzi HR, Eghbal F, Karimiani EG, Srinivasan VM, Gowda VK, Du H, Jhangiani SN, Coban-Akdemir Z, Marafi D, Rodan L, Isikay S, Rosenfeld JA, Ramanathan S, Staton M, Kerby C. Oberg, Clark RD, Wenman C, Loughlin S, Saad R, Ashraf T, Male A, Tadros S, Boostani R, Abdel-Salam GM, Zaki M, Abdalla E, Manzini MC, Pehlivan D, Posey JE, Gibbs RA, Houlden H, Alkuraya FS, Bujakowska K, Maroofian R, Lupski JR, Nguyen LN. Biallelic variation in the choline and ethanolamine transporter FLVCR1 underlies a pleiotropic disease spectrum from adult neurodegeneration to severe developmental disorders. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.02.09.24302464. [PMID: 38405817 PMCID: PMC10888986 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.09.24302464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
FLVCR1 encodes Feline leukemia virus subgroup C receptor 1 (FLVCR1), a solute carrier (SLC) transporter within the Major Facilitator Superfamily. FLVCR1 is a widely expressed transmembrane protein with plasma membrane and mitochondrial isoforms implicated in heme, choline, and ethanolamine transport. While Flvcr1 knockout mice die in utero with skeletal malformations and defective erythropoiesis reminiscent of Diamond-Blackfan anemia, rare biallelic pathogenic FLVCR1 variants are linked to childhood or adult-onset neurodegeneration of the retina, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. We ascertained from research and clinical exome sequencing 27 individuals from 20 unrelated families with biallelic ultra-rare missense and predicted loss-of-function (pLoF) FLVCR1 variant alleles. We characterize an expansive FLVCR1 phenotypic spectrum ranging from adult-onset retinitis pigmentosa to severe developmental disorders with microcephaly, reduced brain volume, epilepsy, spasticity, and premature death. The most severely affected individuals, including three individuals with homozygous pLoF variants, share traits with Flvcr1 knockout mice and Diamond-Blackfan anemia including macrocytic anemia and congenital skeletal malformations. Pathogenic FLVCR1 missense variants primarily lie within transmembrane domains and reduce choline and ethanolamine transport activity compared with wild-type FLVCR1 with minimal impact on FLVCR1 stability or subcellular localization. Several variants disrupt splicing in a mini-gene assay which may contribute to genotype-phenotype correlations. Taken together, these data support an allele-specific gene dosage model in which phenotypic severity reflects residual FLVCR1 activity. This study expands our understanding of Mendelian disorders of choline and ethanolamine transport and demonstrates the importance of choline and ethanolamine in neurodevelopment and neuronal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G. Calame
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jovi Huixin Wong
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228
| | - Puravi Panda
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228
| | - Dat Tuan Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228
| | - Nancy C.P. Leong
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228
| | - Riccardo Sangermano
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Sohil G. Patankar
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Mohamed Abdel-Hamid
- Medical Molecular Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Lama AlAbdi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sylvia Safwat
- Department of Genetics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Kyle P. Flannery
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, NY, USA
| | - Zain Dardas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jawid M. Fatih
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chaya Murali
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Varun Kannan
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timothy E. Lotze
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Isabella Herman
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Farah Ammouri
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
- The University of Kansas Health System, Westwood, KS, USA
| | - Brianna Rezich
- Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Stephanie Efthymiou
- Department of Neuromuscular diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, WC1N 3BG, London, UK
| | - Shahryar Alavi
- Department of Neuromuscular diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, WC1N 3BG, London, UK
| | - David Murphy
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Amir Bahreini
- KaryoGen, Isfahan, Iran
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Majid Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Reza Goldouzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Eghbal
- Department of Medical Genetics, Next Generation Genetic Polyclinic, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ghayoor Karimiani
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace London, London, UK
| | | | - Vykuntaraju K. Gowda
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore, India
| | - Haowei Du
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Zeynep Coban-Akdemir
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dana Marafi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Lance Rodan
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sedat Isikay
- Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Gaziantep, Turkey
| | - Jill A. Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Subhadra Ramanathan
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Michael Staton
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Kerby C. Oberg
- Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Robin D. Clark
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Catharina Wenman
- Rare & Inherited Disease Laboratory, NHS North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BH, UK
| | - Sam Loughlin
- Rare & Inherited Disease Laboratory, NHS North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BH, UK
| | - Ramy Saad
- North East Thames Regional Genetic Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tazeen Ashraf
- North East Thames Regional Genetic Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Alison Male
- North East Thames Regional Genetic Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Shereen Tadros
- North East Thames Regional Genetic Service, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Reza Boostani
- Department of Neurology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ghada M.H. Abdel-Salam
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maha Zaki
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ebtesam Abdalla
- Department of Genetics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - M. Chiara Manzini
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Child Health Institute of New Jersey, NY, USA
| | - Davut Pehlivan
- Section of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Posey
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Richard A. Gibbs
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, WC1N 3BG, London, UK
| | - Fowzan S. Alkuraya
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pediatrics, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kinga Bujakowska
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Reza Maroofian
- Department of Neuromuscular diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, WC1N 3BG, London, UK
| | - James R. Lupski
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Long Nam Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228
- Immunology Program, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456
- Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING), Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456
- Cardiovascular Disease Research (CVD) Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545
- Immunology Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456
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4
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May PA, Hasken JM, de Vries MM, Marais AS, Abdul-Rahman O, Robinson LK, Adam MP, Manning MA, Kalberg WO, Buckley D, Snell CL, Seedat S, Parry CD, Hoyme HE. Maternal risk factors for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Distal variables. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:319-344. [PMID: 38105110 PMCID: PMC10922553 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A variety of maternal risk factors for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have been described in the literature. Here, we conducted a multivariate analysis of a large array of potential distal influences on FASD risk. METHODS Interviews were conducted with 2515 mothers of first-grade students whose children were evaluated to assess risk for FASD. Topics included: physical/medical status, childbearing history, demographics, mental health, domestic violence, and trauma. Regression modeling utilized usual level of alcohol consumption by trimester and six selected distal variables (maternal head circumference, body mass index, age at pregnancy, gravidity, marital status, and formal years of education) to differentiate children with FASD from control children. RESULTS Despite individual variation in distal maternal risk factors among and within the mothers of children with each of the common diagnoses of FASD, patterns emerged that differentiated risk among mothers of children with FASD from mothers whose children were developing typically. Case-control comparisons indicate that mothers of children with FASD were significantly smaller physically, had higher gravidity and parity, and experienced more miscarriages and stillbirths, were less likely to be married, reported later pregnancy recognition, more depression, and lower formal educational achievement. They were also less engaged with a formal religion, were less happy, suffered more childhood trauma and interpersonal violence, were more likely to drink alone or with her partner, and drank to deal with anxiety, tension, and to be part of a group. Regression analysis showed that the predictor variables explain 57.5% of the variance in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) diagnoses, 30.1% of partial FAS (PFAS) diagnoses, and 46.4% of alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) diagnoses in children with FASD compared to controls. While the proximal variables explained most of the diagnostic variance, six distal variables explained 16.7% (1 /6 ) of the variance in FAS diagnoses, 13.9% (1 /7 ) of PFAS, and 12.1% (1 /8 ) of ARND. CONCLUSIONS Differences in distal FASD risks were identified. Complex models to quantify risk for FASD hold promise for guiding prevention/intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip A. May
- Nutrition Research Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, The University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Julie M. Hasken
- Nutrition Research Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, United States
| | - Marlene M. de Vries
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Anna-Susan Marais
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Omar Abdul-Rahman
- Department of Pediatrics, New York- Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine, Columbia University, 505 E 70 St, New York, NY 10021
| | - Luther K. Robinson
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, 1001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States
| | - Margaret P. Adam
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98175, USA
| | - Melanie A. Manning
- Department of Pathology and Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, United States
| | - Wendy O. Kalberg
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, The University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - David Buckley
- Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions, The University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States
| | - Cudore L. Snell
- School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington D.C., 20059, USA
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Charles D.H. Parry
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parowvallei, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
| | - H. Eugene Hoyme
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
- Sanford Children’s Genomic Medicine Consortium, Sanford Health, 1600 W. 22 St. Sioux Falls, SD, 57117, United States
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5
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Smith SM, Weathers TD, Virdee MS, Schwantes-An TH, Voruganti VS, Mattson SN, Coles CD, Kable JA, Sowell E, Wozniak JR, Wetherill L. Polymorphisms in the choline transporter SLC44A1 are associated with reduced cognitive performance in normotypic but not prenatal alcohol-exposed children. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119:117-126. [PMID: 38176775 PMCID: PMC10925855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choline is essential for healthy cognitive development. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs3199966(G), rs2771040(G)) within the choline transporter SLC44A1 increase risk for choline deficiency. In a choline intervention trial of children who experienced prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), these alleles are associated with improved cognition. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine if SNPs within SLC44A1 are differentially associated with cognition in children with PAE compared with normotypic controls (genotype × exposure). A secondary objective tested for an association of these SNPs and cognition in controls (genotype-only). DESIGN This is a secondary analysis of data from the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Participants (163 normotypic controls, 162 PAE) underwent psychological assessments and were genotyped within SLC44A1. Choline status was not assessed. Association analysis between genotype × exposure was performed using an additive genetic model and linear regression to identify the allelic effect. The primary outcome was the interaction between SLC44A1 genotype × exposure status with respect to cognition. The secondary outcome was the cognitive-genotype association in normotypic controls. RESULTS Genotype × exposure analysis identified 7 SNPs in SLC44A1, including rs3199966(G) and rs2771040(G), and in strong linkage (D' ≥ 0.87), that were associated (adjusted P ≤ 0.05) with reduced performance in measures of general cognition, nonverbal and quantitative reasoning, memory, and executive function (β, 1.92-3.91). In controls, carriers of rs3199966(GT or GG) had worsened cognitive performance than rs3199966(TT) carriers (β, 0.46-0.83; P < 0.0001), whereas cognitive performance did not differ by rs3199966 genotype in those with PAE. CONCLUSIONS Two functional alleles that increase vulnerability to choline deficiency, rs3199966(G) (Ser644Ala) and rs2771040(G) (3' untranslated region), are associated with worsened cognition in otherwise normotypic children. These alleles were previously associated with greater cognitive improvement in children with PAE who received supplemental choline. The findings endorse that choline benefits cognitive development in normotypic children and those with PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Smith
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States.
| | - Torri D Weathers
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Manjot S Virdee
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Venkata Saroja Voruganti
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Sarah N Mattson
- Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Claire D Coles
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Julie A Kable
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Sowell
- Department of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Psychology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Leah Wetherill
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Upreti D, Rouzer SK, Bowring A, Labbe E, Kumar R, Miranda RC, Mahnke AH. Microbiota and nutrition as risk and resiliency factors following prenatal alcohol exposure. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1182635. [PMID: 37397440 PMCID: PMC10308314 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol exposure in adulthood can result in inflammation, malnutrition, and altered gastroenteric microbiota, which may disrupt efficient nutrient extraction. Clinical and preclinical studies have documented convincingly that prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) also results in persistent inflammation and nutrition deficiencies, though research on the impact of PAE on the enteric microbiota is in its infancy. Importantly, other neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, have been linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis. The combined evidence from alcohol exposure in adulthood and from other neurodevelopmental disorders supports the hypothesis that gut microbiota dysbiosis is likely an etiological feature that contributes to negative developmental, including neurodevelopmental, consequences of PAE and results in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Here, we highlight published data that support a role for gut microbiota in healthy development and explore the implication of these studies for the role of altered microbiota in the lifelong health consequences of PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Amanda H. Mahnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Bryan, TX, United States
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7
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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.
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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
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8
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Breton-Larrivée M, Elder E, Legault LM, Langford-Avelar A, MacFarlane AJ, McGraw S. Mitigating the detrimental developmental impact of early fetal alcohol exposure using a maternal methyl donor-enriched diet. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22829. [PMID: 36856720 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201564r] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol exposure at any stage of pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a group of life-long conditions characterized by congenital malformations, as well as cognitive, behavioral, and emotional impairments. The teratogenic effects of alcohol have long been publicized; yet fetal alcohol exposure is one of the most common preventable causes of birth defects. Currently, alcohol abstinence during pregnancy is the best and only way to prevent FASD. However, alcohol consumption remains astoundingly prevalent among pregnant women; therefore, additional measures need to be made available to help protect the developing embryo before irreparable damage is done. Maternal nutritional interventions using methyl donors have been investigated as potential preventative measures to mitigate the adverse effects of fetal alcohol exposure. Here, we show that a single acute preimplantation (E2.5; 8-cell stage) fetal alcohol exposure (2 × 2.5 g/kg ethanol with a 2h interval) in mice leads to long-term FASD-like morphological phenotypes (e.g. growth restriction, brain malformations, skeletal delays) in late-gestation embryos (E18.5) and demonstrate that supplementing the maternal diet with a combination of four methyl donor nutrients, folic acid, choline, betaine, and vitamin B12, prior to conception and throughout gestation effectively reduces the incidence and severity of alcohol-induced morphological defects without altering DNA methylation status of imprinting control regions and regulation of associated imprinted genes. This study clearly supports that preimplantation embryos are vulnerable to the teratogenic effects of alcohol, emphasizes the dangers of maternal alcohol consumption during early gestation, and provides a potential proactive maternal nutritional intervention to minimize FASD progression, reinforcing the importance of adequate preconception and prenatal nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Breton-Larrivée
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Elder
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lisa-Marie Legault
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexandra Langford-Avelar
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Amanda J MacFarlane
- Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Evidence Center, Texas A&M University, Texas, Fort Worth, USA.,Department of Nutrition, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Serge McGraw
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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9
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Schriml LM, Lichenstein R, Bisordi K, Bearer C, Baron JA, Greene C. Modeling the enigma of complex disease etiology. J Transl Med 2023; 21:148. [PMID: 36829165 PMCID: PMC9957692 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-03987-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex diseases often present as a diagnosis riddle, further complicated by the combination of multiple phenotypes and diseases as features of other diseases. With the aim of enhancing the determination of key etiological factors, we developed and tested a complex disease model that encompasses diverse factors that in combination result in complex diseases. This model was developed to address the challenges of classifying complex diseases given the evolving nature of understanding of disease and interaction and contributions of genetic, environmental, and social factors. METHODS Here we present a new approach for modeling complex diseases that integrates the multiple contributing genetic, epigenetic, environmental, host and social pathogenic effects causing disease. The model was developed to provide a guide for capturing diverse mechanisms of complex diseases. Assessment of disease drivers for asthma, diabetes and fetal alcohol syndrome tested the model. RESULTS We provide a detailed rationale for a model representing the classification of complex disease using three test conditions of asthma, diabetes and fetal alcohol syndrome. Model assessment resulted in the reassessment of the three complex disease classifications and identified driving factors, thus improving the model. The model is robust and flexible to capture new information as the understanding of complex disease improves. CONCLUSIONS The Human Disease Ontology's Complex Disease model offers a mechanism for defining more accurate disease classification as a tool for more precise clinical diagnosis. This broader representation of complex disease, therefore, has implications for clinicians and researchers who are tasked with creating evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations and for public health tracking of complex disease. The new model facilitates the comparison of etiological factors between complex, common and rare diseases and is available at the Human Disease Ontology website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn M. Schriml
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264University of Maryland School of Medicine, Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Richard Lichenstein
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Katharine Bisordi
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Cynthia Bearer
- grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - J. Allen Baron
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264University of Maryland School of Medicine, Institute for Genome Sciences, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Carol Greene
- grid.411024.20000 0001 2175 4264University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
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10
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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.
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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
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11
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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.
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12
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Gimbel BA, Anthony ME, Ernst AM, Roediger DJ, de Water E, Eckerle JK, Boys CJ, Radke JP, Mueller BA, Fuglestad AJ, Zeisel SH, Georgieff MK, Wozniak JR. Long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of choline for neurodevelopment in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: corpus callosum white matter microstructure and neurocognitive outcomes. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:59. [PMID: 36526961 PMCID: PMC9756672 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09470-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a lifelong condition. Early interventions targeting core neurocognitive deficits have the potential to confer long-term neurodevelopmental benefits. Time-targeted choline supplementation is one such intervention that has been shown to provide neurodevelopmental benefits that emerge with age during childhood. We present a long-term follow-up study evaluating the neurodevelopmental effects of early choline supplementation in children with FASD approximately 7 years on average after an initial efficacy trial. METHODS The initial study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of choline vs. placebo in 2.5 to 5 year olds with FASD. Participants in this long-term follow-up study include 18 children (9 placebo; 9 choline) seen 7 years on average following initial trial completion. The mean age at follow-up was 11.0 years old. Diagnoses were 28% fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28% partial FAS, and 44% alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. The follow-up included measures of executive functioning and an MRI scan. RESULTS Children who received choline had better performance on several tasks of lower-order executive function (e.g., processing speed) and showed higher white matter microstructure organization (i.e., greater axon coherence) in the splenium of the corpus callosum compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary findings, although exploratory at this stage, highlight potential long-term benefits of choline as a neurodevelopmental intervention for FASD and suggest that choline may affect white matter development, representing a potential target of choline in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION Prior to enrollment, this trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT01149538 ) on June 23, 2010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A. Gimbel
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Mary E. Anthony
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Abigail M. Ernst
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Donovan J. Roediger
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | | | - Judith K. Eckerle
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | | | | | - Bryon A. Mueller
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Anita J. Fuglestad
- grid.266865.90000 0001 2109 4358University of North Florida, Jacksonville, USA
| | - Steven H. Zeisel
- grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Michael K. Georgieff
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
| | - Jeffrey R. Wozniak
- grid.17635.360000000419368657University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414 USA
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13
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Choline Improves Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Induced Changes in Male but Not Female Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213983. [PMID: 36430459 PMCID: PMC9694200 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline is an essential nutrient with many roles in brain development and function. Supplementation of choline in early development can have long-lasting benefits. Our experiments aimed to determine the efficacy of choline supplementation in a postnatal day (PND) 10 rat model of neonatal hypoxia ischemia (HI) at term using both male and female rat pups. Choline (100 mg/kg) or saline administration was initiated the day after birth and given daily for 10 or 14 consecutive days. We determined choline's effects on neurite outgrowth of sex-specific cultured cerebellar granule cells after HI with and without choline. The magnitude of tissue loss in the cerebrum was determined at 72 h after HI and in adult rats. The efficacy of choline supplementation in improving motor ability and learning, tested using eyeblink conditioning, were assessed in young adult male and female rats. Overall, we find that choline improves neurite outgrowth, short-term histological measures and learning ability in males. Surprisingly, choline did not benefit females, and appears to exacerbate HI-induced changes.
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14
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Fuglestad AJ, Miller NC, Fink BA, Boys CJ, Eckerle JK, Georgieff MK, Wozniak JR. Neurophysiological correlates of memory change in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders treated with choline. Front Psychol 2022; 13:936019. [PMID: 36225707 PMCID: PMC9548619 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.936019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Prenatal and early postnatal choline supplementation reduces cognitive and behavioral deficits in animal models of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In a previously published 9-month clinical trial of choline supplementation in children with FASD, we reported that postnatal choline was associated with improved performance on a hippocampal-dependent recognition memory task. The current paper describes the neurophysiological correlates of that memory performance for trial completers. Methods Children with FASD (N = 24) who were enrolled in a clinical trial of choline supplementation were followed for 9 months. Delayed recall on a 9-step elicited imitation task (EI) served as the behavioral measure of recognition memory. Neurophysiological correlates of memory were assessed via event-related potentials (ERP). Results Delayed recall on EI was correlated with two ERP components commonly associated with recognition memory in young children: middle latency negative component (Nc amplitude; range: r = -0.41 to r = -0.44) and positive slow wave (PSW area under the curve; range: r = -0.45 to r = -0.63). No significant ERP differences were observed between the choline and placebo groups at the conclusion of the trial. Conclusion Although the small sample size limits the ability to draw clear conclusions about the treatment effect of choline on ERP, the results suggest a relationship between memory performance and underlying neurophysiological status in FASD. This trial was registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita J. Fuglestad
- Department of Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Neely C. Miller
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Birgit A. Fink
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Christopher J. Boys
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Judith K. Eckerle
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Michael K. Georgieff
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States,Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jeffrey R. Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States,*Correspondence: Jeffrey R. Wozniak,
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15
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Choline Supplementation Modifies the Effects of Developmental Alcohol Exposure on Immune Responses in Adult Rats. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14142868. [PMID: 35889826 PMCID: PMC9316525 DOI: 10.3390/nu14142868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can disrupt the development of numerous systems, including the immune system. Indeed, alterations in cytokine levels may contribute to the neuropathological, behavioral, and cognitive problems, and other adverse outcomes observed in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Importantly, supplementation with the essential nutrient choline can improve performance in hippocampal-dependent behaviors; thus, the present study examined the effects of choline on plasma and hippocampal cytokines in adult rats exposed to ethanol in early development. From postnatal day (PD) 4–9 (third trimester equivalent), pups received ethanol (5.25 g/kg/day) or Sham intubations. Subjects were treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) or saline from PD10–30. On PD60, plasma and hippocampal tissue was collected before and after an immune challenge (lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 50 ug/kg). Prior to the immune challenge, ethanol-exposed subjects showed an overall increase in hippocampal pro-inflammatory cytokines, an effect mitigated by choline supplementation. In contrast, in the plasma, choline reduced LPS-related increases in pro-inflammatory markers, particularly in ethanol-exposed subjects. Thus, early choline supplementation may modify both brain and peripheral inflammation. These results suggest that early choline can mitigate some long-term effects of ethanol exposure on hippocampal inflammation, which may contribute to improved hippocampal function, and could also influence peripheral immune responses that may impact overall health.
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16
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Grafe EL, Wade MMM, Hodson CE, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Postnatal Choline Supplementation Rescues Deficits in Synaptic Plasticity Following Prenatal Ethanol Exposure. Nutrients 2022; 14:2004. [PMID: 35631142 PMCID: PMC9146219 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal ethanol exposure (PNEE) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental impairments, yet treatments for individuals with PNEE are limited. Importantly, postnatal supplementation with the essential nutrient choline can attenuate some adverse effects of PNEE on cognitive development; however, the mechanisms of action for choline supplementation remain unclear. This study used an animal model to determine if choline supplementation could restore hippocampal synaptic plasticity that is normally impaired by prenatal alcohol. Throughout gestation, pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were fed an ethanol liquid diet (35.5% ethanol-derived calories). Offspring were injected with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) from postnatal days (PD) 10-30, and then used for in vitro electrophysiology experiments as juveniles (PD 31-35). High-frequency conditioning stimuli were used to induce long-term potentiation (LTP) in the medial perforant path input to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. PNEE altered synaptic transmission in female offspring by increasing excitability, an effect that was mitigated with choline supplementation. In contrast, PNEE juvenile males had decreased LTP compared to controls, and this was rescued by choline supplementation. These data demonstrate sex-specific changes in plasticity following PNEE, and provide evidence that choline-related improvements in cognitive functioning may be due to its positive impact on hippocampal synaptic physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L. Grafe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Mira M. M. Wade
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Claire E. Hodson
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
| | - Jennifer D. Thomas
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92120, USA
| | - Brian R. Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; (E.L.G.); (M.M.M.W.); (C.E.H.); (B.R.C.)
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17
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Carugati M, Goodlett CR, Cudd TA, Washburn SE. The effects of gestational choline supplementation on cerebellar Purkinje cell number in the sheep model of binge alcohol exposure during the first trimester-equivalent. Alcohol 2022; 100:11-21. [PMID: 35114358 PMCID: PMC8983574 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.01.002] [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: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) incur enduring brain damage and neurodevelopmental impairments from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Preclinical rodent models have demonstrated that choline supplementation during development can reduce the severity of adverse neurodevelopmental consequences of PAE. This study used the sheep model to evaluate dietary choline supplementation during pregnancy as a therapeutic intervention, testing the hypothesis that choline can ameliorate alcohol-induced cerebellar Purkinje cell loss. Pregnant ewes were randomly assigned either to a normal control [NC] group (n = 8), or to groups given intravenous infusions of alcohol (or saline) from gestational days 4-41 (the first trimester-equivalent). A weekly binge-drinking pattern was modeled, with three consecutive days of infusions of saline [SAL], 1.75 g/kg/day alcohol [1.75ALC], or 2.5 g/kg/day alcohol [2.5ALC] followed by four days off. Infused ewes were randomly assigned to receive dietary supplements throughout pregnancy of choline (10 mg/kg/day) or placebo (n = 8 per group). Mean blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) were significantly higher in the 2.5ALC groups (287 mg/dL) than the 1.75ALC groups (197 mg/dL). Lamb cerebella were harvested on postnatal day 180 and processed for stereological counts of Purkinje cells. Both alcohol doses caused significant reductions in Purkinje number relative to NC and SAL-Placebo groups, confirming previous findings. Effects of choline supplementation depended on infusion group: it significantly protected against Purkinje cell loss in the 2.5ALC group, had no effect in the 1.75ALC group, and significantly reduced numbers in the SAL-Choline group (though neither the SAL-Choline nor the SAL-Placebo group differed from the NC group). The protection by choline evident only in the 2.5ALC group suggests that multiple, BAC-dependent mechanisms of cerebellar damage may be activated with alcohol exposure in the first trimester, and that choline may protect against pathogenic mechanisms that emerge at higher BACs. These outcomes extend the evidence that early choline supplementation can mitigate some neurodevelopmental defects resulting from binge-like PAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Carugati
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and Michael E. DeBakey Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States
| | - Charles R Goodlett
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, United States
| | - Timothy A Cudd
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and Michael E. DeBakey Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States
| | - Shannon E Washburn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology and Michael E. DeBakey Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States.
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18
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Ritfeld GJ, Kable JA, Holton JE, Coles CD. Psychopharmacological Treatments in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Review. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022; 53:268-277. [PMID: 33502703 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01124-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric symptoms in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) present with high prevalence and morbidity, often across symptom domains, e.g. ADHD-like symptoms, emotional dysregulation and sleep problems. Polypharmacy is often used, but no empirically-based guidelines exist regarding optimal treatment for these children. Moreover, stimulant use in these children is controversial as their responsiveness may be different due to altered neural circuitry associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. The objective of this review is to give an overview of existing data on pharmacological treatments of neurobehavioral symptoms in FASD. Our literature review yielded limited and conflicting clinical data on the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for psychiatric symptoms in children with FASD, with some symptom domains lacking data altogether. We emphasize the need for clinical trials to guide pharmacological treatments in this complex population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby J Ritfeld
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Drive NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Julie A Kable
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Drive NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Holton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Drive NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Claire D Coles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Drive NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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19
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Kable JA, Coles CD, Keen CL, Uriu-Adams JY, Jones KL, Yevtushok L, Kulikovsky Y, Zymak-Zakutnya N, Dubchak I, Akhmedzhanova D, Wertelecki W, Chambers CD. The impact of micronutrient supplementation in alcohol-exposed pregnancies on reaction time responses of preschoolers in Ukraine. Alcohol 2022; 99:49-58. [PMID: 34942330 PMCID: PMC8844237 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The potential of micronutrients to ameliorate the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on attentional regulation skills was explored in a randomized clinical trial conducted in Ukraine. Women who differed in prenatal alcohol use were recruited during pregnancy and assigned to one of three groups [No study-provided supplements, Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement (MVM), or MVM plus Choline]. Their offspring were seen in the preschool period and a reaction time task was administered. Participants were asked to press a response button as quickly as possible as 30 stimuli from the same category (animals) were presented consecutively and then followed by six stimuli from a novel category (vehicles). Number correct, mean latency of the response over trials, and variability in the latency were analyzed separately by sex. During the initial animal trials, boys whose mothers received MVM during pregnancy had more correct responses and reduced response latency compared to boys whose mothers had no MVM treatment. During vehicle trials, maternal choline supplementation was associated with increased response speed in males without a PAE history. Females receiving supplements did not show the same benefits from micronutrient supplementation and were more adversely impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. Relationships between maternal levels of choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine (DMG) and task performance were also assessed. Although no effects were found for choline after adjusting for multiple comparisons, lower baseline DMG level was associated with greater accuracy and shorter latency of responses in the initial animal trials and shorter latency in the vehicle trials in female preschoolers. Level of betaine in Trimester 3 was associated with reduced variability in the latency of male responses during the animal trials. Maternal micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy appears to improve preschool reaction time performance, but the effects varied as a function of sex and PAE exposure status.
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Affiliation(s)
- JA Kable
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine,,Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - CD Coles
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine,,Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - CL Keen
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis
| | - JY Uriu-Adams
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis
| | - KL Jones
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego,,Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego
| | - L Yevtushok
- Rivne Regional Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne, Ukraine,,Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine,,OMNI-Net Ukraine Birth Defects Program
| | - Y Kulikovsky
- Rivne Regional Medical Diagnostic Center, Rivne, Ukraine,,OMNI-Net Ukraine Birth Defects Program
| | - N. Zymak-Zakutnya
- Khmelnytsky Perinatal Center, Khmelnytsky, Ukraine,,OMNI-Net Ukraine Birth Defects Program
| | - Iryna Dubchak
- Khmelnytsky Perinatal Center, Khmelnytsky, Ukraine,,OMNI-Net Ukraine Birth Defects Program
| | - D Akhmedzhanova
- Khmelnytsky Perinatal Center, Khmelnytsky, Ukraine,,OMNI-Net Ukraine Birth Defects Program
| | - W Wertelecki
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego,,OMNI-Net Ukraine Birth Defects Program
| | - CD Chambers
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego,,Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego
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20
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Prenatal and Postnatal Choline Supplementation in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14030688. [PMID: 35277047 PMCID: PMC8837993 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is common and represents a significant public health burden, yet very few interventions have been tested in FASD. Cognitive deficits are core features of FASD, ranging from broad intellectual impairment to selective problems in attention, executive functioning, memory, visual–perceptual/motor skills, social cognition, and academics. One potential intervention for the cognitive impairments associated with FASD is the essential nutrient choline, which is known to have numerous direct effects on brain and cognition in both typical and atypical development. We provide a summary of the literature supporting the use of choline as a neurodevelopmental intervention in those affected by prenatal alcohol. We first discuss how alcohol interferes with normal brain development. We then provide a comprehensive overview of the nutrient choline and discuss its role in typical brain development and its application in the optimization of brain development following early insult. Next, we review the preclinical literature that provides evidence of choline’s potential as an intervention following alcohol exposure. Then, we review a handful of existing human studies of choline supplementation in FASD. Lastly, we conclude with a review of practical considerations in choline supplementation, including dose, formulation, and feasibility in children.
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21
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SAMe, Choline, and Valproic Acid as Possible Epigenetic Drugs: Their Effects in Pregnancy with a Special Emphasis on Animal Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15020192. [PMID: 35215304 PMCID: PMC8879727 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the functions and main effects on pregnancy outcomes of three agents that have the ability to induce epigenetic modifications: valproic acid (VPA), a well-known teratogen that is a histone deacetylase inhibitor; S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), the most effective methyl donor; and choline, an important micronutrient involved in the one methyl group cycle and in the synthesis of SAMe. Our aim was to describe the possible effects of these compounds when administered during pregnancy on the developing embryo and fetus or, if administered postnatally, their effects on the developing child. These substances are able to modify gene expression and possibly alleviate neurobehavioral changes in disturbances that have epigenetic origins, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, Rett syndrome, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Valproic acid and SAMe are antagonistic epigenetic modulators whether administered in utero or postnatally. However, VPA is a major human teratogen and, whenever possible, should not be used by pregnant women. Most currently relevant data come from experimental animal studies that aimed to explore the possibility of using these substances as epigenetic modifiers and possible therapeutic agents. In experimental animals, each of these substances was able to alleviate the severity of several well-known diseases by inducing changes in the expression of affected genes or by other yet unknown mechanisms. We believe that additional studies are needed to further explore the possibility of using these substances, and similar compounds, for the treatment of ”epigenetic human diseases”.
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22
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Cusick SE, Barks A, Georgieff MK. Nutrition and Brain Development. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 53:131-165. [PMID: 34622395 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_244] [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: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
All nutrients are essential for brain development, but pre-clinical and clinical studies have revealed sensitive periods of brain development during which key nutrients are critical. An understanding of these nutrient-specific sensitive periods and the accompanying brain regions or processes that are developing can guide effective nutrition interventions as well as the choice of meaningful circuit-specific neurobehavioral tests to best determine outcome. For several nutrients including protein, iron, iodine, and choline, pre-clinical and clinical studies align to identify the same sensitive periods, while for other nutrients, such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, zinc, and vitamin D, pre-clinical models demonstrate benefit which is not consistently shown in clinical studies. This discordance of pre-clinical and clinical results is potentially due to key differences in the timing, dose, and/or duration of the nutritional intervention as well as the pre-existing nutritional status of the target population. In general, however, the optimal window of success for nutritional intervention to best support brain development is in late fetal and early postnatal life. Lack of essential nutrients during these times can lead to long-lasting dysfunction and significant loss of developmental potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Cusick
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Amanda Barks
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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23
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Lussier AA, Bodnar TS, Weinberg J. Intersection of Epigenetic and Immune Alterations: Implications for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Mental Health. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:788630. [PMID: 34924946 PMCID: PMC8680672 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.788630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure can impact virtually all body systems, resulting in a host of structural, neurocognitive, and behavioral abnormalities. Among the adverse impacts associated with prenatal alcohol exposure are alterations in immune function, including an increased incidence of infections and alterations in immune/neuroimmune parameters that last throughout the life-course. Epigenetic patterns are also highly sensitive to prenatal alcohol exposure, with widespread alcohol-related alterations to epigenetic profiles, including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNA expression. Importantly, epigenetic programs are crucial for immune system development, impacting key processes such as immune cell fate, differentiation, and activation. In addition to their role in development, epigenetic mechanisms are emerging as attractive candidates for the biological embedding of environmental factors on immune function and as mediators between early-life exposures and long-term health. Here, following an overview of the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on immune function and epigenetic patterns, we discuss the potential role for epigenetic mechanisms in reprogramming of immune function and the consequences for health and development. We highlight a range of both clinical and animal studies to provide insights into the array of immune genes impacted by alcohol-related epigenetic reprogramming. Finally, we discuss potential consequences of alcohol-related reprogramming of immune/neuroimmune functions and their effects on the increased susceptibility to mental health disorders. Overall, the collective findings from animal models and clinical studies highlight a compelling relationship between the immune system and epigenetic pathways. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the long-term and multisystem effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, laying the groundwork for possible novel interventions and therapeutic strategies to treat individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A Lussier
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Tamara S Bodnar
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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24
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Lussier AA, Bodnar TS, Moksa M, Hirst M, Kobor MS, Weinberg J. Prenatal Adversity Alters the Epigenetic Profile of the Prefrontal Cortex: Sexually Dimorphic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Food-Related Stress. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12111773. [PMID: 34828381 PMCID: PMC8622940 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal adversity or stress can have long-term consequences on developmental trajectories and health outcomes. Although the biological mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, have the potential to link early-life environments to alterations in physiological systems, with long-term functional implications. We investigated the consequences of two prenatal insults, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and food-related stress, on DNA methylation profiles of the rat brain during early development. As these insults can have sex-specific effects on biological outcomes, we analyzed epigenome-wide DNA methylation patterns in prefrontal cortex, a key brain region involved in cognition, executive function, and behavior, of both males and females. We found sex-dependent and sex-concordant influences of these insults on epigenetic patterns. These alterations occurred in genes and pathways related to brain development and immune function, suggesting that PAE and food-related stress may reprogram neurobiological/physiological systems partly through central epigenetic changes, and may do so in a sex-dependent manner. Such epigenetic changes may reflect the sex-specific effects of prenatal insults on long-term functional and health outcomes and have important implications for understanding possible mechanisms underlying fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre A. Lussier
- Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Correspondence: (A.A.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Tamara S. Bodnar
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada;
| | - Michelle Moksa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (M.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Martin Hirst
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (M.M.); (M.H.)
- Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4S6, Canada
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada;
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
- Program in Child and Brain Development, CIFAR, MaRS Centre, West Tower, 661 University Ave., Suite 505, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Joanne Weinberg
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada;
- Correspondence: (A.A.L.); (J.W.)
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25
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Grafe EL, Fontaine CJ, Thomas JD, Christie BR. Effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on choline-induced long-term depression in the hippocampus. J Neurophysiol 2021; 126:1622-1634. [PMID: 34495785 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00136.2021] [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: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Choline is an essential nutrient under evaluation as a cognitive enhancing treatment for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in clinical trials. As a result, there is increased pressure to identify therapeutic mechanism(s) of action. Choline is not only a precursor for several essential cell membrane components and signaling molecules but also has the potential to directly affect synaptic mechanisms that are believed important for cognitive processes. In the current work, we study how the direct application of choline can affect synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampal slices obtained from adolescent (postnatal days 21-28) Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus). The acute administration of choline chloride (2 mM) reliably induced a long-term depression (LTD) of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the DG in vitro. The depression required the involvement of M1 receptors, and the magnitude of the effect was similar in slices obtained from male and female animals. To further study the impact of choline in an animal model of FASD, we examined offspring from dams fed an ethanol-containing diet (35.5% ethanol-derived calories) throughout gestation. In slices from the adolescent animals that experienced prenatal ethanol exposure (PNEE), we found that the choline induced an LTD that uniquely involved the activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and M1 receptors. This study provides a novel insight into how choline can modulate hippocampal transmission at the level of the synapse and that it can have unique effects following PNEE.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Choline supplementation is a nutraceutical therapy with significant potential for a variety of developmental disorders; however, the mechanisms involved in its therapeutic effects remain poorly understood. Our research shows that choline directly impacts synaptic communication in the brain, inducing a long-term depression of synaptic efficacy in brain slices. The depression is equivalent in male and female animals, involves M1 receptors in control animals, but uniquely involves NMDA receptors in a model of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Grafe
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine J Fontaine
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jennifer D Thomas
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Brian R Christie
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Island Medical Program, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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26
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Kwan STC, Ricketts DK, Presswood BH, Smith SM, Mooney SM. Prenatal choline supplementation during mouse pregnancy has differential effects in alcohol-exposed fetal organs. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:2471-2484. [PMID: 34697823 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are preventable adverse outcomes consequent to prenatal alcohol exposure. Supplemental choline confers neuroprotection to the alcohol-exposed offspring, but its actions outside the brain are unclear. We previously reported that prenatal exposure of mice to 4.5 g/kg of alcohol decreased placental weight in females only, but decreased body weight and liver-to-body weight ratio and increased brain-to-body weight ratio in both sexes. Here we test the hypotheses that a lower alcohol dose will elicit similar outcomes, and that concurrent choline treatment will mitigate these outcomes. METHODS Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with alcohol (3 g/kg; Alc) or maltodextrin (MD) from embryonic day (E) 8.5-17.5. Some also received a subcutaneous injection of 100 mg/kg choline chloride (Alc + Cho, MD + Cho). Outcomes were evaluated on E17.5. RESULTS Alc dams had lower gestational weight gain than MD; this was normalized by choline. In males, Alc decreased placental weight whereas choline increased placental efficiency, and Alc + Cho (vs. MD) tended to further reduce placental weight and increase efficiency. Despite no significant alcohol effects on these measures, choline increased fetal body weight but not brain weight, thus reducing brain-to-body weight ratio in both sexes. This ratio was also lower in the Alc + Cho (vs. MD) fetuses. Alc reduced liver weight and the liver-to-body weight ratio; choline did not improve these. Placental weight and efficiency correlated with litter size, whereas placental efficiency correlated with fetal morphometric measurements. CONCLUSIONS Choline prevents an alcohol-induced reduction in gestational weight gain and fetal body weight and corrects fetal brain sparing, consistent with clinical findings of improvements in alcohol-exposed children born to mothers receiving choline supplementation. Importantly, we show that choline enhances placental efficiency in the alcohol-exposed offspring but does not normalize fetal liver growth. Our findings support choline supplementation during pregnancy to mitigate the severity of FASD and emphasize the need to examine choline's actions in different organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Ting Cecilia Kwan
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dane K Ricketts
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brandon H Presswood
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Susan M Smith
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sandra M Mooney
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Beneficial Effects of Plant Extracts and Bioactive Food Components in Childhood Supplementation. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093157. [PMID: 34579034 PMCID: PMC8464764 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The pivotal role of childhood nutrition has always roused a growing interest from the scientific community. Plant extracts and bioactive dietary components play a significant role in the maintenance of human health and wellness, with the potential to modulate risk factors and manage symptoms for a large number of common childhood disorders such as memory impairment, respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic derangements, and pathologies related to the oral cavity. This review is designed to highlight the health benefits of botanical extracts and bioactive dietary components in children as evidenced by clinical trials, considering their safety with regards to childhood sensibilities. The supplementation of children with the herbal extracts or bioactive components mentioned in this review leads to the conclusion that they are useful for treating various ailments, with no serious adverse events being reported. However, for the limited number of investigations specifically focused on the safety of such products in children, time is needed to expand the literature data covering the safety of childhood supplementation with botanical extract and bioactive food components.
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28
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Savage LM, Nunes PT, Gursky ZH, Milbocker KA, Klintsova AY. Midline Thalamic Damage Associated with Alcohol-Use Disorders: Disruption of Distinct Thalamocortical Pathways and Function. Neuropsychol Rev 2021; 31:447-471. [PMID: 32789537 PMCID: PMC7878584 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09450-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The thalamus, a significant part of the diencephalon, is a symmetrical and bilateral central brain structure. The thalamus is subdivided into three major groups of nuclei based on their function: sensorimotor nuclei (or principal/relay nuclei), limbic nuclei and nuclei bridging these two domains. Anatomically, nuclei within the thalamus are described by their location, such as anterior, medial, lateral, ventral, and posterior. In this review, we summarize the role of medial and midline thalamus in cognition, ranging from learning and memory to flexible adaptation. We focus on the discoveries in animal models of alcohol-related brain damage, which identify the loss of neurons in the medial and midline thalamus as drivers of cognitive dysfunction associated with alcohol use disorders. Models of developmental ethanol exposure and models of adult alcohol-related brain damage and are compared and contrasted, and it was revealed that there are similar (anterior thalamus) and different (intralaminar [adult exposure] versus ventral midline [developmental exposure]) thalamic pathology, as well as disruptions of thalamo-hippocampal and thalamo-cortical circuits. The final part of the review summarizes approaches to recover alcohol-related brain damage and cognitive and behavioral outcomes. These approaches include pharmacological, nutritional and behavioral interventions that demonstrated the potential to mitigate alcohol-related damage. In summary, the medial/midline thalamus is a significant contributor to cognition function, which is also sensitive to alcohol-related brain damage across the life span, and plays a role in alcohol-related cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Savage
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA.
| | - Polliana T Nunes
- Developmental Ethanol Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, 13902-6000, USA
| | - Zachary H Gursky
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Katrina A Milbocker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Anna Y Klintsova
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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29
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Mechanisms of Ethanol-Induced Cerebellar Ataxia: Underpinnings of Neuronal Death in the Cerebellum. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168678. [PMID: 34444449 PMCID: PMC8391842 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ethanol consumption remains a major concern at a world scale in terms of transient or irreversible neurological consequences, with motor, cognitive, or social consequences. Cerebellum is particularly vulnerable to ethanol, both during development and at the adult stage. In adults, chronic alcoholism elicits, in particular, cerebellar vermis atrophy, the anterior lobe of the cerebellum being highly vulnerable. Alcohol-dependent patients develop gait ataxia and lower limb postural tremor. Prenatal exposure to ethanol causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), characterized by permanent congenital disabilities in both motor and cognitive domains, including deficits in general intelligence, attention, executive function, language, memory, visual perception, and communication/social skills. Children with FASD show volume deficits in the anterior lobules related to sensorimotor functions (Lobules I, II, IV, V, and VI), and lobules related to cognitive functions (Crus II and Lobule VIIB). Various mechanisms underlie ethanol-induced cell death, with oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress being the main pro-apoptotic mechanisms in alcohol abuse and FASD. Oxidative and ER stresses are induced by thiamine deficiency, especially in alcohol abuse, and are exacerbated by neuroinflammation, particularly in fetal ethanol exposure. Furthermore, exposure to ethanol during the prenatal period interferes with neurotransmission, neurotrophic factors and retinoic acid-mediated signaling, and reduces the number of microglia, which diminishes expected cerebellar development. We highlight the spectrum of cerebellar damage induced by ethanol, emphasizing physiological-based clinical profiles and biological mechanisms leading to cell death and disorganized development.
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Ordenewitz LK, Weinmann T, Schlüter JA, Moder JE, Jung J, Kerber K, Greif-Kohistani N, Heinen F, Landgraf MN. Evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders - A systematic review. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2021; 33:50-60. [PMID: 34058625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brain function deficits cause strong negative impacts for the everyday lives of children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Therefore, evidence-based intervention programs that are specifically designed for patients with FASD are needed but still scarce. The aim of the presented article is a systematic literature review of evidence-based intervention strategies for children and adolescents with FASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in several relevant databases to identify randomized-controlled intervention studies for children and adolescents with FASD. RESULTS We identified 25 randomized-controlled studies regarding interventions in FASD. Overall, evidence indicating that some therapeutic interventions are effective in children and adolescents with FASD was found. Even though evidence-based interventions rarely lead to improvements of performance into a "normal range", those measures can alleviate negative consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure and relieve daily burdens. CONCLUSION There are only a few randomized-controlled trials regarding therapy research for children and adolescents with FASD. Their results indicate that especially the combination of parent and child sessions present a promising approach for the treatment of FASD. Positive treatment effects of interventions seem to be domain specific, except for interventions regarding self-regulation or social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa K Ordenewitz
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia A Schlüter
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Judith E Moder
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jessica Jung
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Kerber
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Naschla Greif-Kohistani
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Heinen
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Mirjam N Landgraf
- Department of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, LMU Center for Development and Children with Medical Complexity, German FASD Competence Center Bavaria, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
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Smith SM, Virdee MS, Eckerle JK, Sandness KE, Georgieff MK, Boys CJ, Zeisel SH, Wozniak JR. Polymorphisms in SLC44A1 are associated with cognitive improvement in children diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: an exploratory study of oral choline supplementation. Am J Clin Nutr 2021; 114:617-627. [PMID: 33876196 PMCID: PMC8326038 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The essential nutrient choline provides one-carbon units for metabolite synthesis and epigenetic regulation in tissues including brain. Dietary choline intake is often inadequate, and higher intakes are associated with improved cognitive function. OBJECTIVE Choline supplements confer cognitive improvement for those diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), a common set of neurodevelopmental impairments; however, the effect sizes have been modest. In this retrospective analysis, we report that genetic polymorphisms affecting choline utilization are associated with cognitive improvement following choline intervention. METHODS Fifty-two children from the upper midwestern United States and diagnosed with FASD, ages 2-5 y, were randomly assigned to receive choline (500 mg/d; n = 26) or placebo (n = 26) for 9 mo, and were genotyped for 384 choline-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Memory and cognition were assessed at enrollment, study terminus, and at 4-y follow-up for a subset. RESULTS When stratified by intervention (choline vs. placebo), 14-16 SNPs within the cellular choline transporter gene solute carrier family 44 member 1 (SLC44A1) were significantly associated with performance in an elicited imitation sequential memory task, wherein the effect alleles were associated with the greatest pre-/postintervention improvement. Of these, rs3199966 is a structural variant (S644A) and rs2771040 is a single-nucleotide variant within the 3' untranslated region of the plasma membrane isoform. An additive genetic model best explained the genotype associations. Lesser associations were observed for cognitive outcome and polymorphisms in flavin monooxygenase-3 (FMO3), methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase-1 (MTHFD1), fatty acid desaturase-2 (FADS2), and adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1). CONCLUSIONS These SLC44A1 variants were previously associated with greater vulnerability to choline deficiency. Our data potentially support the use of choline supplements to improve cognitive function in individuals diagnosed with FASD who carry these effect alleles. Although these findings require replication in both retrospective and prospective confirmatory trials, they emphasize the need to incorporate similar genetic analyses of choline-related polymorphisms in other FASD-choline trials, and to test for similar associations within the general FASD population. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01149538.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manjot S Virdee
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Judith K Eckerle
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kristin E Sandness
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michael K Georgieff
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christopher J Boys
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Steven H Zeisel
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, USA,Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Rockhold MN, Krueger AM, de Water E, Lindgren CW, Sandness KE, Eckerle JK, Schumacher MJ, Fink BA, Boys CJ, Carlson SM, Fuglestad AJ, Mattson SN, Jones KL, Riley EP, Wozniak JR. Executive and Social Functioning Across Development in Children and Adolescents With Prenatal Alcohol Exposure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:457-469. [PMID: 33349933 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is linked to a variety of neurodevelopmental challenges, including social functioning (SF) and executive functioning (EF) deficits. These deficits present differently across developmental stages from preschool age to adolescence. METHODS The post hoc analyses described here were conducted on data from 83 preschool-age children with PAE (early childhood group; ages 2.5 to 5.0) and 95 adolescents (49 with PAE, 46 controls; ages 8 to 16). Each child completed EF tasks as part of several prior studies. Parents completed social and communication inventories about their child's abilities. Thirty-three participants from the early childhood group returned for a 4-year follow-up and completed both SF and EF measures. RESULTS Both the early childhood and adolescent groups with PAE showed deficits in SF and EF. There was a relationship between SF and EF within the adolescent PAE group that was not present in the adolescent control group or the early childhood PAE group. However, at the 4-year follow-up (Mage = 8.45), participants originally in the early childhood PAE group also demonstrated this relationship. CONCLUSIONS These findings support previous research on EF/SF deficits in adolescents with PAE while also addressing a gap in the literature concerning early childhood research on this topic. Additionally, these findings suggest that the relationship between EF and SF deficits may strengthen throughout development. This line of research highlights potential sensitive periods for SF and EF training in children with PAE and suggests that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders programs consider targeting EF training as a component of social skill interventions.
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Waddell J, Hill E, Tang S, Jiang L, Xu S, Mooney SM. Choline Plus Working Memory Training Improves Prenatal Alcohol-Induced Deficits in Cognitive Flexibility and Functional Connectivity in Adulthood in Rats. Nutrients 2020; 12:E3513. [PMID: 33202683 PMCID: PMC7696837 DOI: 10.3390/nu12113513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the leading known cause of intellectual disability, and may manifest as deficits in cognitive function, including working memory. Working memory capacity and accuracy increases during adolescence when neurons in the prefrontal cortex undergo refinement. Rats exposed to low doses of ethanol prenatally show deficits in working memory during adolescence, and in cognitive flexibility in young adulthood. The cholinergic system plays a crucial role in learning and memory processes. Here we report that the combination of choline and training on a working memory task during adolescence significantly improved cognitive flexibility (performance on an attentional set shifting task) in young adulthood: 92% of all females and 81% of control males formed an attentional set, but only 36% of ethanol-exposed males did. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that functional connectivity among brain regions was different between the sexes, and was altered by prenatal ethanol exposure and by choline + training. Connectivity, particularly between prefrontal cortex and striatum, was also different in males that formed a set compared with those that did not. Together, these findings indicate that prenatal exposure to low doses of ethanol has persistent effects on brain functional connectivity and behavior, that these effects are sex-dependent, and that an adolescent intervention could mitigate some of the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaylyn Waddell
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.H.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Elizabeth Hill
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.H.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Shiyu Tang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (S.T.); (L.J.); (S.X.)
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (S.T.); (L.J.); (S.X.)
| | - Su Xu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (S.T.); (L.J.); (S.X.)
| | - Sandra M. Mooney
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (E.H.); (S.M.M.)
- Department of Nutrition, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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de Water E, Krueger AM, Lindgren CW, Fuglestad AJ, Rockhold MN, Sandness KE, Eckerle JK, Fink BA, Boys CJ, Wozniak JR. Early delay of gratification predicts later inhibitory control and academic performance in children with prenatal alcohol exposure. Child Neuropsychol 2020; 27:109-124. [PMID: 32772789 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2020.1798372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) affects 2-5% of the children in the United States. In the preschool age-range, inhibitory deficits frequently manifest as impaired ability to delay gratification, which is associated with deficits in cognitive flexibility in these children. The goal of this longitudinal study was to determine whether the ability to delay gratification in preschool children with FASD is (1) associated with broader manifestations in temperament and behavior; (2) predictive of later inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory in middle childhood; and (3) predictive of later parent-reported behavioral problems and school functioning in middle childhood. Forty-seven children with FASD, ages 2.5-5 years were administered a delay of gratification task in which they chose between receiving 2 snacks immediately or 10 snacks after waiting for 10 min. Two groups were defined based on a median split of waiting time. Four years later, 29 children completed measures of inhibitory control (Flanker task), cognitive flexibility (Dimensional Change Card Sort Test), and working memory (Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales), and their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist as a measure of the child's behavioral problems and school functioning. Children with longer wait times on the delay of gratification task in preschool showed better inhibitory control on the Flanker task in middle childhood and better parent-reported school functioning in English. These findings indicate that early inhibitory capacity persists into middle childhood in those with FASD, and may be a promising target for early intervention to improve later cognitive outcomes in these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik de Water
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alyssa M Krueger
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christopher W Lindgren
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Anita J Fuglestad
- Department of Psychology, University of North Florida , Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Madeline N Rockhold
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kristin E Sandness
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Judith K Eckerle
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Birgit A Fink
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Christopher J Boys
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Treatment algorithm for the use of psychopharmacological agents in individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol and/or with diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). JOURNAL OF POPULATION THERAPEUTICS AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY 2020; 27:e1-e13. [PMID: 32757546 DOI: 10.15586/jptcp.v27i3.681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Psychotropic medication treatment of individuals who have experienced prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has lagged behind psychosocial interventions. Multiple psychotropic medications are often prescribed for those diagnosed with a range of neurodevelopmental disabilities and impairments of PAE (neurodevelopmental disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and/or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder [ND-PAE/FASD]). Despite the diverse comorbid mental disorders, there are no specific guidelines for psychotropic medications for individuals with ND-PAE/FASD. When prescribed, concerned family members and caregivers of individuals with ND-PAE/FASD reported that polypharmacy, which was typical and adverse effects render the psychotropic medications ineffective. The objective of this work was to generate a treatment algorithm for the use of psychopharmacological agents specifically for individuals with ND-PAE/FASD. The development of decision tree for use to prescribe psychotropic medications incorporated findings from previous research and the collective clinical experience of a multidisciplinary and international panel of experts who work with individuals with ND-PAE/FASD, including an algorithm specialist. After multiple meetings and discussions, the experts reached consensus on how best to streamline prescribing along neurodevelopmental clusters. These were subdivided into four ligand-specific, receptor-acting medication targets (hyperarousal, emotional dysregulation, hyperactive/neurocognitive, and cognitive inflexibility). Each cluster is represented by a list of common symptoms. The experts recommended that prescribers first ensure adequate psychosocial and environmental, including sufficient dietary, exercise, and sleep support before prescribing psychotropic medications. Treatment then progresses through three steps of psychotropic medications for each cluster. To support established treatment goals, the most function impairing clusters are targeted first.
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Cheatham CL. Nutritional Factors in Fetal and Infant Brain Development. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM 2020; 75 Suppl 1:20-32. [PMID: 32564018 DOI: 10.1159/000508052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Fetal and infant brain development determine the trajectory of the organism across the lifespan. Optimal maternal and infant nutrition during the period of rapid brain development is vital to the integrity of the neural substrate for subsequent lifelong functions. The goal of this review is to educate the reader on the effects of fetal and infant nutrition on the developing human brain. A review of the literature reveals 6 nutrients that have been studied with respect to maternal nutrition and subsequent offspring brain development: folate, iodine, iron, vitamin D, choline, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3). The research is discussed with a focus on the timing of nutrient needs (preconception, prenatally, and postnatally) as well as potential confounding and unobserved variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol L Cheatham
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA,
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37
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Wozniak JR, Fink BA, Fuglestad AJ, Eckerle JK, Boys CJ, Sandness KE, Radke JP, Miller NC, Lindgren C, Brearley AM, Zeisel SH, Georgieff MK. Four-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of choline for neurodevelopment in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2020; 12:9. [PMID: 32164522 PMCID: PMC7066854 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09312-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the high prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), there are few interventions targeting its core neurocognitive and behavioral deficits. FASD is often conceptualized as static and permanent, but interventions that capitalize on brain plasticity and critical developmental windows are emerging. We present a long-term follow-up study evaluating the neurodevelopmental effects of choline supplementation in children with FASD 4 years after an initial efficacy trial. METHODS The initial study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of choline vs. placebo in 2-5-year-olds with FASD. Participants include 31 children (16 placebo; 15 choline) seen 4 years after trial completion. The mean age at follow-up was 8.6 years. Diagnoses were 12.9% fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 41.9% partial FAS, and 45.1% alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder. The follow-up included measures of intelligence, memory, executive functioning, and behavior. RESULTS Children who received choline had higher non-verbal intelligence, higher visual-spatial skill, higher working memory ability, better verbal memory, and fewer behavioral symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder than the placebo group. No differences were seen for verbal intelligence, visual memory, or other executive functions. CONCLUSIONS These data support choline as a potential neurodevelopmental intervention for FASD and highlight the need for long-term follow-up to capture treatment effects on neurodevelopmental trajectories. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.Gov #NCT01149538; Registered: June 23, 2010; first enrollment July 2, 2010.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Wozniak
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, F282 / 2A West, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA.
| | - Birgit A Fink
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Neely C Miller
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Ann M Brearley
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Steven H Zeisel
- University of North Carolina, Nutrition Research Institute, Kannapolis, NC, USA
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Bottom RT, Abbott CW, Huffman KJ. Rescue of ethanol-induced FASD-like phenotypes via prenatal co-administration of choline. Neuropharmacology 2020; 168:107990. [PMID: 32044264 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.107990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can generate a multitude of deficits in the offspring. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, or FASD, describe a palette of potentially life-long phenotypes that result from exposure to ethanol during human gestation. There is no cure for FASD and cognitive-behavioral therapies typically have low success rates, especially in severe cases. The neocortex, responsible for complex cognitive and behavioral function, is altered by prenatal ethanol exposure (PrEE). Supplementation with choline, an essential nutrient, during the prenatal ethanol insult has been associated with a reduction of negative outcomes associated with PrEE. However, choline's ability to prevent deficits within the developing neocortex, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. Here, we exposed pregnant mice to 25% ethanol in addition to a 642 mg/L choline chloride supplement throughout gestation to determine the impact of choline supplementation on neocortical and behavioral development in ethanol-exposed offspring. We found that concurrent choline supplementation prevented gross developmental abnormalities associated with PrEE including reduced body weight, brain weight, and cortical length as well as partially ameliorated PrEE-induced abnormalities in intraneocortical circuitry. Additionally, choline supplementation prevented altered expression of RZRβ and Id2, two genes implicated in postmitotic patterning of neocortex, and global DNA hypomethylation within developing neocortex. Lastly, choline supplementation prevented sensorimotor behavioral dysfunction and partially ameliorated increased anxiety-like behavior observed in PrEE mice, as assessed by the Suok and Ledge tests. Our results suggest that choline supplementation may represent a potent preventative measure for the adverse outcomes associated with PrEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley T Bottom
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Charles W Abbott
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Kelly J Huffman
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA; Dept. of Psychology, University of California, Riverside; 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
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Reversal of neurobehavioral teratogenicity in animal models and human: Three decades of progress. Brain Res Bull 2019; 150:328-342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Adebiyi BO, Mukumbang FC, Erasmus C. The Distribution of Available Prevention and Management Interventions for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (2007 to 2017): Implications for Collaborative Actions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16122244. [PMID: 31242673 PMCID: PMC6617245 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The global prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) remains high despite the various preventive and management interventions that have been designed and implemented to tackle the issue in various settings. The aim of the scoping review is to identify and classify prevention and management interventions of FASD reported globally across the life span and to map the concentration of these interventions across the globe. We searched some selected databases with predefined terms. Framework and narrative approaches were used to synthesize and report on the findings. Thirty-two prevention intervention studies and 41 management interventions studies were identified. All the interventions were reported to be effective or showed promising outcomes for the prevention and management of FASD, except four. Although Europe and Africa have a relatively higher prevalence of FASD, the lowest number of interventions to address FASD were identified in these regions. Most of the interventions for FASD were reported in North America with comparatively lower FASD prevalence. The uneven distribution of interventions designed for FASD vis-à-vis the burden of FASD in the different regions calls for a concerted effort for knowledge and intervention sharing to enhance the design of contextually sensitive preventive and management policy in the different regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babatope O Adebiyi
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 8001, South Africa.
| | - Ferdinand C Mukumbang
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 8001, South Africa.
| | - Charlene Erasmus
- Child and Family Studies, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 8001, South Africa.
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Heroux NA, Horgan CJ, Rosen JB, Stanton ME. Cholinergic rescue of neurocognitive insult following third-trimester equivalent alcohol exposure in rats. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2019; 163:107030. [PMID: 31185278 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2019.107030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal ethanol exposure during the third trimester equivalent of human pregnancy in the rat significantly impairs hippocampal and prefrontal neurobehavioral functioning. Postnatal day [PD] 4-9 ethanol exposure in rats disrupts long-term context memory formation, resulting in abolished post-shock and retention test freezing in a variant of contextual fear conditioning called the Context Preexposure Facilitation Effect (CPFE). This behavioral impairment is accompanied by disrupted medial prefrontal, but not dorsal hippocampal expression of the immediate early genes (IEGs) c-Fos, Arc, Egr-1, and Npas4 (Heroux, Robinson-Drummer, Kawan, Rosen, & Stanton, 2019). The current experiment examined if systemic administration of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine (PHY) prior to context learning would rescue prefrontal IEG expression and freezing in the CPFE. From PD4-9, Long-Evans rats received oral intubation of ethanol (EtOH; 5.25 g/kg/day) or sham-intubation (SI). Rats received a systemic injection of saline (SAL) or PHY (0.01 mg/kg) prior to all three phases (Experiment 1) or just context exposure (Experiment 2) in the CPFE from PD31-33. A subset of rats were sacrificed 30 min after context learning to assay changes in IEG expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), and ventral hippocampus (vHPC). Administration of PHY prior to all three phases or just context learning rescued both post-shock and retention test freezing in the CPFE in EtOH rats without altering performance in SI rats. EtOH-SAL rats had significantly reduced mPFC but not dHPC expression of c-Fos, Arc, Egr-1, and Npas4. EtOH-PHY treatment rescued mPFC expression of c-Fos in ethanol-exposed rats and increased Arc and Npas4 regardless of dosing condition. While there was no effect of PHY on dHPC or vHPC expression of Arc, Egr-1, or Npas4, this treatment significantly boosted hippocampal expression of c-Fos regardless of ethanol treatment. These findings implicate impaired cholinergic and prefrontal function in cognitive deficits arising from 3rd-trimester equivalent alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Heroux
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - Colin J Horgan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Rosen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
| | - Mark E Stanton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States
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Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Lancet Neurol 2019; 18:760-770. [PMID: 31160204 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although prenatal alcohol exposure causes craniofacial anomalies, growth retardation, neurological abnormalities, cognitive impairment, and birth defects, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is underdiagnosed. Global prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is 0·77%, with a higher prevalence of 2-5% in Europe and North America, highlighting the need for increased diagnosis and treatment. However, diagnosis remains challenging because of the poor reliability of self-reported maternal drinking histories, an absence of sensitive biomarkers, and the infrequency of diagnostic dysmorphic facial features among individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Different diagnostic systems and disagreements over criteria have slowed progress in the diagnosis and management of the disorder. Neuroimaging shows abnormalities in brain structure, cortical development, white matter microstructure, and functional connectivity in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. These abnormalities modify developmental trajectories and are associated with deficits in cognition, executive function, memory, vision, hearing, motor skills, behaviour, and social adaptation. Promising trials of nutritional interventions and cognitive rehabilitation therapies are underway, with the aim of treating cognitive deficits in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
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O'Neill J, O'Connor MJ, Yee V, Ly R, Narr K, Alger JR, Levitt JG. Differential neuroimaging indices in prefrontal white matter in prenatal alcohol-associated ADHD versus idiopathic ADHD. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:797-811. [PMID: 30694611 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) but also in patients without prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Many patients diagnosed with idiopathic ADHD may actually have ADHD and covert PAE, a treatment-relevant distinction. METHODS We compared proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI; N = 44) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; N = 46) of the anterior corona radiata (ACR)-a key fiber tract in models of ADHD-at 1.5 T in children with ADHD with PAE (ADHD+PAE), children with ADHD without PAE (ADHD-PAE), children without ADHD with PAE (non-ADHD+PAE), and children with neither ADHD nor PAE (non-ADHD-PAE, i.e., typically developing controls). Levels of choline-compounds (Cho) were the main MRSI endpoint, given interest in dietary choline for FASD; the main DTI endpoint was fractional anisotropy (FA), as ACR FA may reflect ADHD-relevant executive control functions. RESULTS For ACR Cho, there was an ADHD-by-PAE interaction (p = 0.038) whereby ACR Cho was 26.7% lower in ADHD+PAE than in ADHD-PAE children (p < 0.0005), but there was no significant ACR Cho difference between non-ADHD+PAE and non-ADHD-PAE children. Voxelwise false-discovery rate (FDR)-corrected analysis of DTI revealed significantly (q ≤ 0.0101-0.05) lower FA in ACR for subjects with PAE (ADHD+PAE or non-ADHD+PAE) than for subjects without PAE (ADHD-PAE or non-ADHD-PAE). There was no significant effect of ADHD on FA. Thus, in overlapping samples, effects of PAE on Cho and FA were observed in the same white-matter tract. CONCLUSIONS These findings point to tract focal, white-matter pathology possibly specific for ADHD+PAE subjects. Low Cho may derive from abnormal choline metabolism; low FA suggests suboptimal white-matter integrity in PAE. More advanced MRSI and DTI-and neurocognitive assessments-may better distinguish ADHD+PAE from ADHD-PAE, helping identify covert cases of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph O'Neill
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mary J O'Connor
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Victor Yee
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ronald Ly
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Katherine Narr
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jeffrey R Alger
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Neurospectroscopics, Inc., Encino, California
| | - Jennifer G Levitt
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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Iron as a model nutrient for understanding the nutritional origins of neuropsychiatric disease. Pediatr Res 2019; 85:176-182. [PMID: 30341413 PMCID: PMC6353667 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-018-0204-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adequate nutrition during the pre- and early-postnatal periods plays a critical role in programming early neurodevelopment. Disruption of neurodevelopment by nutritional deficiencies can result not only in lasting functional deficits, but increased risk of neuropsychiatric disease in adulthood. Historical periods of famine such as the Dutch Hunger Winter and the Chinese Famine have provided foundational evidence for the long-term effects of developmental malnutrition on neuropsychiatric outcomes. Because neurodevelopment is a complex process that consists of many nutrient- and brain-region-specific critical periods, subsequent clinical and pre-clinical studies have aimed to elucidate the specific roles of individual macro- and micronutrient deficiencies in neurodevelopment and neuropsychiatric pathologies. This review will discuss developmental iron deficiency (ID), the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide, as a paradigm for understanding the role of early-life nutrition in neurodevelopment and risk of neuropsychiatric disease. We will review the epidemiologic data linking ID to neuropsychiatric dysfunction, as well as the underlying structural, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that are thought to underlie these lasting effects. Understanding the mechanisms driving lasting dysfunction and disease risk is critical for development and implementation of nutritional policies aimed at preventing nutritional deficiencies and their long-term sequelae.
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Gitik M, Holliday ED, Leung M, Yuan Q, Logue SF, Tikkanen R, Goldman D, Gould TJ. Choline ameliorates adult learning deficits and reverses epigenetic modification of chromatin remodeling factors related to adolescent nicotine exposure. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 155:239-248. [PMID: 30099202 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Earlier initiation of smoking correlates with higher risk of nicotine dependence, mental health problems, and cognitive impairments. Additionally, exposure to nicotine and/or tobacco smoke during critical developmental periods is associated with lasting epigenetic modifications and altered gene expression. This study examined whether adolescent nicotine exposure alters adult hippocampus-dependent learning, involving persistent changes in hippocampal DNA methylation and if choline, a dietary methyl donor, would reverse and mitigate these alterations. Mice were chronically treated with nicotine (12.6 mg/kg/day) starting at post-natal day 23 (pre-adolescent), p38 (late adolescent), or p54 (adult) for 12 days followed by a 30-day period during which they consumed either standard chow or chow supplemented with choline (9 g/kg). Mice then were tested for fear-conditioning and dorsal hippocampi were dissected for whole genome methylation and selected gene expression analyses. Nicotine exposure starting at p21 or p38, but not p54, disrupted adult hippocampus-dependent fear conditioning. Choline supplementation ameliorated these deficits. 462 genes in adult dorsal hippocampus from mice exposed to nicotine as adolescents showed altered promoter methylation that was reversed by choline supplementation. Gene network analysis revealed that chromatin remodeling genes were the most enriched category whose methylation was altered by nicotine and reversed by choline dietary supplementation. Two key chromatin remodeling genes, Smarca2 and Bahcc1, exhibited inversely correlated changes in methylation and expression due to nicotine exposure; this was reversed by choline. Our findings support a role for epigenetic modification of hippocampal chromatin remodeling genes in long-term learning deficits induced by adolescent nicotine and their amelioration by dietary choline supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miri Gitik
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Erica D Holliday
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, Weiss Hall, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Ming Leung
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Qiaoping Yuan
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Sheree F Logue
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Roope Tikkanen
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David Goldman
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Thomas J Gould
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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46
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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.
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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
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Jacobson SW, Carter RC, Molteno CD, Meintjes EM, Senekal M, Lindinger NM, Dodge NC, Zeisel SH, Duggan CP, Jacobson JL. Feasibility and Acceptability of Maternal Choline Supplementation in Heavy Drinking Pregnant Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1315-1326. [PMID: 29750366 PMCID: PMC6028314 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choline, an essential nutrient, serves as a methyl-group donor for DNA methylation and is a constituent of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and a precursor to major components of cell membranes. Findings from animal studies suggest that choline supplementation during pregnancy can mitigate adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on growth and neurocognitive function. We conducted a randomized, double-blind exploratory trial to examine feasibility and acceptability of a choline supplementation intervention during pregnancy. METHODS Seventy heavy drinkers, recruited in mid-pregnancy, were randomly assigned to receive a daily oral dose of 2 g of choline or a placebo from time of enrollment until delivery. Each dose consisted of an individually wrapped packet of powder that, when mixed with water, produced a sweet tasting grape-flavored drink. Adherence was assessed by collecting used and unused drink packets on a monthly basis and tabulating the number used. Side effects were assessed in monthly interviews. Blood samples obtained at enrollment and at 4 and 12 weeks after randomization were assayed for plasma choline concentration. RESULTS Adherence was good-to-excellent (median doses taken = 74.0%; interquartile range = 53.9 to 88.7%) and was not related to a range of sociodemographic characteristics or to alcohol consumption ascertained using a timeline follow-back interview. By 4 weeks, plasma choline concentrations were significantly higher in the choline supplementation than the placebo arm, and this group difference continued to be evident at 12 weeks. The only side effect was a small increase in nausea/dyspepsia. No effects were seen for diarrhea, vomiting, muscle stiffness, blood pressure, or body odor changes. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that a choline supplementation program with very heavy drinkers during pregnancy is feasible even among highly disadvantaged, poorly educated women. The broad acceptability of this intervention is indicated by our finding that adherence was not related to maternal education, intellectual function, depression, nutritional status, or alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra W. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - R. Colin Carter
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York, and Institute for Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher D. Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ernesta M. Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marjanne Senekal
- Division of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nadine M. Lindinger
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Neil C. Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Steven H. Zeisel
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Christopher P. Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph L. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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48
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Jacobson SW, Carter RC, Molteno CD, Stanton ME, Herbert J, Lindinger NM, Lewis CE, Dodge NC, Hoyme HE, Zeisel SH, Meintjes EM, Duggan CP, Jacobson JL. Efficacy of Maternal Choline Supplementation During Pregnancy in Mitigating Adverse Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Growth and Cognitive Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2018; 42:1327-1341. [PMID: 29750367 PMCID: PMC6028282 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We recently demonstrated the acceptability and feasibility of a randomized, double-blind choline supplementation intervention for heavy drinking women during pregnancy. In this study, we report our results relating to the efficacy of this intervention in mitigating adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on infant growth and cognitive function. METHODS Sixty-nine Cape Coloured (mixed ancestry) heavy drinkers in Cape Town, South Africa, recruited in mid-pregnancy, were randomly assigned to receive a daily oral dose of either 2 g of choline or placebo from time of enrollment until delivery. Each dose consisted of an individually wrapped packet of powder that, when mixed with water, produced a sweet tasting grape-flavored drink. The primary outcome, eyeblink conditioning (EBC), was assessed at 6.5 months. Somatic growth was measured at birth, 6.5, and 12 months, recognition memory and processing speed on the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence, at 6.5 and 12 months. RESULTS Infants born to choline-treated mothers were more likely to meet criterion for conditioning on EBC than the placebo group. Moreover, within the choline arm, degree of maternal adherence to the supplementation protocol strongly predicted EBC performance. Both groups were small at birth, but choline-treated infants showed considerable catch-up growth in weight and head circumference at 6.5 and 12 months. At 12 months, the infants in the choline treatment arm had higher novelty preference scores, indicating better visual recognition memory. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study is the first to provide evidence that a high dose of choline administered early in pregnancy can mitigate adverse effects of heavy PAE on EBC, postnatal growth, and cognition in human infants. These findings are consistent with studies of alcohol-exposed animals that have demonstrated beneficial effects of choline supplementation on classical conditioning, learning, and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra W. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - R. Colin Carter
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York, and Institute for Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christopher D. Molteno
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mark E. Stanton
- Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Jane Herbert
- Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nadine M. Lindinger
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Catherine E. Lewis
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Neil C. Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - H. Eugene Hoyme
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Steven. H. Zeisel
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Ernesta M. Meintjes
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Christopher P. Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph L. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Nonprotein-coding RNAs in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 157:299-342. [PMID: 29933954 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Early developmental exposure to ethanol, a known teratogen, can result in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, collectively referred to as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). Changes in the environment, including exposure to teratogens, can result in long term alterations to the epigenetic landscape of a cell, thereby altering gene expression. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) can affect transcription and translation of networks of genes. ncRNAs are dynamically expressed during development and have been identified as a target of alcohol. ncRNAs therefore make for attractive targets for novel therapeutics to address the developmental deficits associated with FASDs.
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50
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Helfrich KK, Saini N, Kling PJ, Smith SM. Maternal iron nutriture as a critical modulator of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder risk in alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 96:204-212. [PMID: 29017023 PMCID: PMC5914169 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy places the fetus at risk for permanent physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments, collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). However, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) outcomes vary widely, and growing evidence suggests that maternal nutrition is a modifying factor. Certain nutrients, such as iron, may modulate FASD outcomes. Untreated gestational iron deficiency (ID) causes persistent neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring that affect many of the same domains damaged by PAE. Although chronic alcohol consumption enhances iron uptake and elevates liver iron stores in adult alcoholics, alcohol-abusing premenopausal women often have low iron reserves due to menstruation, childbirth, and poor diet. Recent investigations show that low iron reserves during pregnancy are strongly associated with a worsening of several hallmark features in FASD including reduced growth and impaired associative learning. This review discusses recent clinical and animal model findings that maternal ID worsens fetal outcomes in response to PAE. It also discusses underlying mechanisms by which PAE disrupts maternal and fetal iron homeostasis. We suggest that alcohol-exposed ID pregnancies contribute to the severe end of the FASD spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylee K Helfrich
- a UNC Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Nipun Saini
- a UNC Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pamela J Kling
- b Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Susan M Smith
- a UNC Nutrition Research Institute and Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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