Prenatal choline supplementation improves biomarkers of maternal docosahexaenoic acid status among pregnant participants consuming supplemental DHA: a randomized controlled trial

FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:

This new study of women during pregnancy confirms that dietary supplementation with choline increases blood levels of the long-chain omega 3 fatty acid DHA, and a special form of this, known as PC-DHA.

Previous research has shown that choline is needed to transport DHA across the placenta to the unborn child; and also to help DHA reach the brain. This is because for both placental transport from the mother to her foetus, and to cross the 'blood-brain barrier', omega-3 DHA needs to be in the PC-DHA form (i.e attached to phosphatidyl choline). 

Both DHA and choline are essential for normal brain development and function, but seriously lacking from modern, western-type diets. Fish and seafood are the main natural source of preformed DHA (where it is found together with choline, and other key brain nutrients including iodine, selenium, zinc, Vitamins A and D, and B vitamins). Similarly, the richest dietary sources of choline are animal foods such as meat (particularly liver), fish, eggs and dairy products.

DHA is a major structural component of brain and nerve cell membranes, and its many derviatives also play a huge number of functional roles in the brain and nervous system (as well as other vital organs and systems of the body).  Adequate supplies of DHA are needed to support normal brain development, and cell signalling - and to support visual and cognitive development in particular.  

The 'synergistic' effects of choline in boosting DHA availability - as shown in the current study - may help to account for some of the long-term benefits for children's cognitive development shown in human clinical trials of maternal supplementation with choline during pregnancy. However, choline, like omega-3 DHA, also plays numerous different roles in the brain and body - including being a key ingredient for the major neurotransmitter, acetylcholine.

See:

• Caudill et al 2018 - Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed

• Bahnfleth C et al 2022 - Prenatal choline supplementation improves child sustained attention: A 7-year follow-up of a randomized controlled feeding trial

For the related news article please see:

• Choline makes a key nutrient available for baby development

For a summary overview of how DHA and choline work together to promote brain health – and the best dietary sources of each - as well as summary findings from the clinical trials showing maternal supplementation can benefit children’s cognitive development, see:  

• FREE FAB VIDEO - The Benefits of DHA and Choline for Brain Development and Function

• Derbyshire 2019 - Could we be overlooking a potential choline crisis in the United Kingdom?

• Iannotti et al 2017 - Eggs early in complementary feeding increase choline pathway biomarkers and DHA

• Choline - News

• Choline - Research