title: Choline intake influences phosphatidylcholine DHA enrichment in nonpregnant women but not in pregnant women in the third trimester.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phosphatidylcholine (PC) produced via the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) N-methyltransferase (PEMT) pathway is enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA plays a critical role in fetal development and is linked to health endpoints in adulthood. It is unknown whether choline, which can serve as a source of S-adenosylmethionine methyl groups, influences PC-DHA or the PC:PE ratio in pregnant and nonpregnant women.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study tested whether choline intake affects indicators of choline-related lipid metabolism, including erythrocyte and plasma PC-DHA and PC:PE ratios, in pregnant women in the third trimester and nonpregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant (n = 26) and nonpregnant (n = 21) women consumed 480 or 930 mg choline/d and a daily DHA supplement for 12 wk. Blood was collected at baseline and at the midpoint and end of the study. PC-DHA was analyzed as the proportion of total PC fatty acids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant women had greater (P = 0.002) PC-DHA concentrations than did nonpregnant women at baseline. The proportion of erythrocyte and plasma PC-DHA increased (P ≤ 0.002) in pregnant and nonpregnant women regardless of choline intake. However, in nonpregnant women, consumption of 930 mg choline/d led to greater (P < 0.001) erythrocyte PC-DHA and a more rapid increase (P < 0.001) in plasma PC-DHA. Lower (P = 0.001-0.024) erythrocyte and plasma PC:PE in pregnant women was not modified by choline intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A higher choline intake may increase PEMT activity, resulting in greater PC-DHA enrichment of the PC molecule in nonpregnant women. Increased production of PC-DHA during pregnancy indicates elevated PEMT activity and a higher demand for methyl donors. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01127022.
authors: Division of Nutritional Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors: Allyson A
authors: AA
authors: West
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Yan
authors: Xinyin
authors: X
authors: Jiang
authors: Cydne A
authors: CA
authors: Perry
authors: Sheila M
authors: SM
authors: Innis
authors: Marie A
authors: MA
authors: Caudill
mesh_terms: D002794:Choline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008082:Lipotropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood*; D050918:Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
chemical_list: D008082:Lipotropic Agents; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine; D050918:Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D002794:Choline