BUILDING BETTER BABIES WITH CHOLINE

Choline plays a fundamental role in normal fetal development through its roles in membrane synthesis, hepatic lipid export, neurotransmission and cellular methylation. A higher intake of choline during pregnancy is associated with a lower risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, and has been shown to improve placental function, lower stress reactivity among newborns, increase information processing speed among infants, enhanced attention and memory in children, and even to mitigate some of the cognitive deficits observed in children with prenatal alcohol syndrome. Supplementing the maternal diet with additional choline can also increase DHA supply to the developing fetus and overcome some of the metabolic disturbances associated with genetic variants in folate-metabolizing enzymes. The majority of pregnant women in the US are not achieving choline intake recommendations and would likely benefit from increasing their intakes of choline-rich foods (primarily animal source foods). Consuming a prenatal choline supplement when target intake levels cannot be achieved through diet alone may also be necessary.

Upon successful completion of this one-hour course, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the role of choline in fetal development.



• Identify pregnancy and child outcomes that are improved by a higher maternal choline intake.



• Appreciate that most pregnant women are not meeting choline intake recommendations.



• Identify foods rich in choline.



• Guide expecting mothers on choline supplement use.

Live Event Date: Jul 30, 2020

Expiration Date: Jul 30, 2023

Performance Indicators/Learning Objectives: 8.3.1, 8.3.3, 8.3.6, 8.3.7

Target Audience: RDs, DTRs, Health Professionals

Number of Credits: 1.0

Level(s): 1, 2

Total Cost: $18 ($18.00 per credit)