An overview of evidence for a causal relationship between dietary availability of choline during development and cognitive function in offspring.
McCann JC, Hudes M, Ames BN. (2006) Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 30(5): 696-712. Epub 2006 Feb 28
Abstract:
This review is part of a series intended for non-specialists that will provide an overview of evidence for causal relationships between micronutrient deficiencies and brain function.
Here, we review 34 studies in rodents linking the availability of choline during gestation and perinatal development to neurological function or performance of offspring in cognitive and behavioral tests. Experimental designs, major results, and statistical criteria are summarized in Tables 1-4.
Based on our reading of the literature, the evidence suggests that choline supplementation during development results in improved performance of offspring in cognitive or behavioral tests, and in changes in a variety of neurological functional indicators:
(1) enhanced performance was observed, particularly on more difficult tasks;
(2) increases (choline supplementation) or decreases (choline deficiency) were observed in electrophysiological responsiveness and size of neurons in offspring; and
(3) supplementation resulted in some protection against adverse effects of several neurotoxic agents (including alcohol) in offspring.
Discussion topics include methodological issues, such as the importance of independent replication, causal criteria, and uncertainties in interpreting test results.
FAB RESEARCH COMMENT:
This review summarises the evidence from animal studies showing that the availability of choline during prenatal development can significantly impact brain development and function, with potentially lifelong consequences for cognition and behaviour.As the authors emphasise, caution is always needed in intepreting findings from animal studies, and the current findings - while showing remarkably consistent effects of dietary choline availability during pregnancy on cognitive development and function - still need further replication.
Importantly, general awareness of the importance of dietary choline is very low, even among nutrition pracitioners - so very little attention is currently paid to dietary intakes of choline during pregnancy (or more generally). These findings suggest that this neglect may not be wise in terms of the potential implications of dietary deficiencies for brain development and function.
Humans - like most animals - can make some choline for themselves, so this vital nutrient is still not regarded as a dietary essential, or even included in most 'pregnancy supplements'. But dietary changes over recent decades have significantly reduced choline intakes, as the main dietary sources by far are liver and organ meats, followed by eggs, other meats and fish - and most plant-based foods contain very little.
See also this recent review for more information on the numerous different ways in which the availability of choline affects brain development and function throughout life:
And for more information on choline, please see the following lists of articles, which are updated automatically when new articles on this topic are added:
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