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Fetal stress markers are lowered by maternal choline intakes exceeding recommendations
Author(s) -
Yan Jian,
Jiang Xinyin,
West Allyson A.,
Perry Cydne A.,
Malysheva Olga V.,
Devapatla Srisatish,
Pressman Eva,
Caudill Marie A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.990.5
Subject(s) - choline , endocrinology , medicine , betaine , fetus , umbilical cord , chemistry , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , genetics , anatomy
To evaluate the impact of varied maternal choline intake on indicators of maternal and fetal well‐being, a 12‐week controlled feeding study was conducted. Healthy pregnant women (n=26, 27wk gestation) were randomized to controlled choline intakes of 480 (~ choline Adequate Intake) or 930 mg/day. Fasting maternal blood, placental tissue and umbilical cord venous blood were collected. A higher choline intake increased maternal plasma choline (P=0.047), betaine (P=0.011) and dimethylglycine (DMG) (P=0.068). Fetal plasma DMG (P=0.02) and the ratio of DMG to betaine (P=0.001) were also elevated in the 930 mg/d intake group. A higher choline intake altered products of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ adrenal (HPA) axis with lower fetal plasma levels of cortisol (56%, P=0.06) and cortisone (74%, P=0.02) as well as higher levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) (140%, P=0.05). A higher choline intake also tended to increase (P=0.064) promoter region methylation of placental corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) (the key regulator of HPA axis activity) and to decrease (P=0.097) its mRNA levels. These data show that a maternal choline intake exceeding the choline AI increases the availability of labile methyl groups and decreases fetal indicators of stress‐responsive HPA axis activity (i.e. cortisol, CRH) probably through epigenetic mechanisms. Grant Funding Source : Funded in part by USDA, ENC and the Beef Checkoff through NCBA